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• The
Bishop writes .....
• Fun and education at camp
• Cradock parishes separated
• The view from Pulpit and Pew
• Tag lines
The
Bishop writes ...
Cry credible leaders!
My Dear People of God,
It is a matter of public interest to note that in the
political arena of South Africa leadership is of a great concern.
This is particularly so in the ANC. There seems to be no sense of sin
at all. It does not seem to matter what one does, for as long as the
law courts have not put the person in jail. Even so the support shown
in accompanying the convicted person to jail is very damaging to the
moral life of the nation. People of high profile dance their way as far
as the prison doors in solidarity with the offender. Many of those in
the top brass of the governing party have had a good brush with the
law. The public conduct of their youth causes us heartache. The way our
political stalwarts and Christian leaders like Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu, Mama Mbeki, the Revd Professor Barney Pityana etc, are
addressed is unbecoming of our African respect of the old and people of
stature. This respect is also enshrined in the philosophy of UBUNTU. If
the leader of the ANC is innocent, why bother stopping the access to
the files kept in Mauritius? To sight but one case.
In our media almost every day cheating, fraud, untruthfulness and crime
is reported. This 'scum' runs through our civil service and
municipalities. The perception seems to be that if the 'fat cats'
continue to enrich themselves with big salaries, then those in the
bottom rung of the service must grab for themselves as long as the arm
of the law can be dodged successfully. The embezzlement of old age
pension funds, feeding schemes monies and medicines at clinics that are
sold for personal gain are a cause for alarm. The list goes on.
The greatest sadness is that most of these people are baptized members
of many Christian churches. They sit in the pews to listen to the word
which in actual fact is not put into practice even by those who preach
it. Those who come from good moral background of Christian homes and
mission schools, together with those whose lives have been truly
nurtured in the rule of Christ, are left helpless. Moral life is
declining day-by-day. There seems to be no good news in sight in this
regard. What shall we do? There is no other way except to turn to God.
All power and might, dominion and rule belong to his hand. Like King
Jehoshaphat who defeated Moab and Ammon, together with men from Mount
Seir, in battle, we need to desperately put our eyes upon God, through
whom alone victory can be realized (read his prayer in 2 Chronicles
20:5-12). In our helplessness in tackling the giants SACLA identified,
let our eyes be upon him. Just like King Jehoshaphat, "We do not know
what to do, but our eyes are upon you." (vs 12b).
Israel was a restored community like us in South Africa. They were
harassed by the descendants of these same people the Lord said they
should spare. We are harassed by a moral life from the following
generation of liberation stalwarts who purported to make South Africa
the best place to live in for all her people. Greed for power and
selfenrichment is overtaking us. Some young politicians are projecting
no good future for a better life for all in our land. It is indeed
anarchy at its infancy. God forbid! This makes the liberation struggle
against apartheid cheap and purposeless. Cry credible leaders!
Christians have a mandate from Christ "to go and make disciples of all
nations". (Mtt 28:16ff). It is in his authority that in fervent prayer
in our helplessness we put our eyes on him who died our death. (Gal
2:20). People of God we can do all things through Christ in prayer,
because he gives us strength. We must begin at the homes of our
parishioners to make sure that these values are passed on to the young.
The family that prays together, lives together. We count on you in the
market place to vow to be always on the side of the good (Gk
àgathon). We expect every follower of Christ to shun the bad (Gk
kakon) and rebuke it for the sake of good morals in promoting Ubuntu.
May I commend this prayer to you to include in your daily devotions:
Lord our God,
we are powerless,
we do not know what to do,
But our eyes are upon you.
May your kingdom come in Southern Africa,
May your will be done among us,
Both at home and in the market place,
And grant us credible leaders.
Amen.
Yours in the love of Christ,
Fun and education at camp
[ Mario Hendricks ]
Young people from St Boniface, Kruisfontein, in the Parish of the Good
Shepherd, Humansdorp, recently went on a week-end camp. The Camp was
hosted by the Tsitsikamma National Park at their Storms River Mouth
Rest Camp. The Social-Ecology team of SANPARKS at Storms River Mouth
facilitated the weekend programme. It included many fun activities as
well as a three hour educational hike through the forest.
It is the first of the 'formation camps ', initiated by Mario
Hendricks, associate rector of the parish. The intention of the
'formation' camps is based on the belief that every individual has a
right to further his/her cognitive development.
The Objectives of the Formation Camps is to:
- Provide a safe and educational platform for young people to socialize.
- Provide a wide range of educational activities, mentoring
that promotes a healthy learning experience both physically and
intellectually.
- Develop the cognitive and emotional potential of children.
- Develop leadership potential.
Programme outline and work plan
Camps run from a Friday to a Sunday during school time and will alter during the holidays.
The aim of the camps is to teach life skills in a fun and safe environment for the children.
The skills that will be taught will be Leadership, Communication, Life Skills, Study Skills, Time Management, etc.
The format utilized will consist of educational games, professional
facilitators and the utilization of other creative social development
tools such as drama, music, etc.
Picture: These young folk really enjoyed the educational camp.
Cradock parishes separated
At the recent Diocesan Council
meeting, the proposal that the Great Fish River Parish, comprising St
James' and St Peter's, be separated from the Church of the Ascension in
Cradock was accepted.
The amalgamated parishes were previously known as Christ Church.
Archdeacon Michael Julius has accepted the position of rector of the
Great Fish River Parish. As the Church of the Ascension is currently
busy with upgrading the rectory, a decision will be made to fill the
clergy vacancy when the rectory is ready.
The meeting agreed with the proposal by Roger Schärges, the
Diocesan Registrar, that a provisional decision be made that Christ
Church be abolished as a parish - and the parishes of Great Fish River
be restored to the same boundaries as they were previously - pending
the next Synod.
The
view from pulpit and pew
-
Just when we thought ..! Jacques Nell, son of Piet and
Sharon, broke his left arm, as reported in the last iindaba. Well, last
month the plaster was taken off, and a few days later he had a fall,
and his brother Pieter said he heard the CRACK! The same arm Jacques
broke before and in the same place, so he had to undergo further
surgery, and his arm is back in plaster. Fortunately he is right-handed
and can continue his studies at NMMU, but Mama has to take him to
varsity each day!
-
It's good to see our university chaplain and assistant at
St Margaret's back on her feet after undergoing an operation. Gill
Bowman is now back at work, and iindaba wishes her a complete recovery.
At the time of printing, her husband Roy was in South America on
business.
-
There are some parishes which are without rectors. Please
uphold them in your prayers - that God sends the persons he has chosen
to serve his people. Included is one of the oldest parishes in the
diocese, St Katharine's in Uitenhage (over 100 years old), and one of
the youngest, St Luke's, Palmridge.
-
One of our clergy, who shall remain nameless as surely
he's got egg on his face, made a 'blue' recently whilst presiding at
the Eucharist, using the form of service 'Unity in Worship', which is
being used in United Church services. The Eucharistic prayer says: "How
wonderful the work of your hands, O Lord! As a mother tenderly gathers
her children you embrace a people as your own." However he said: "How
wonderful the work of your hands, O Lord! As a mother tenderly gathers
her chickens you embrace a people as your own." There was a muted
silence before the congregation burst out laughing. Chickens? Hence the
egg on his face!
-
Ethel Schulz Pittaway, a lay canon and chairman of the
Gender Desk, is visiting clergy to explain what it's all about. With
the terrible scourge of abuse against women and children in South
Africa, she has resources to aid parishes in their quest to ensure our
families are made aware of the problem, and the means to overcome them.
In South Africa, one in four wives is physically abused, which means
that in our very congregations, there are families damaged by violence
and abuse!
-
I wonder how many realised that when Mark Derry was
appointed to the cathedral that he had links to the parish in history?
Mark's greatgreat-grandmother, Elizabeth Frost, was baptised by Frances
McCleland, the first rector of the parish in 1827! Not only that, Mark
and Debbie (née March) were married there in 1988 by Christopher
Holmes. Elizabeth Frost died aged 104, so we can expect Mark to be
around for some years to come!
-
Our diocesan secretary/treasurer, Keith Rae, who is an
ordained deacon (self-supporting) was made an honorary canon by the
bishop in the chapel at St Hugh's last month. The honour was conferred
upon him in recognition of his dedication to his duties and diligence
as diocesan secretary. Unlike a canon serving in a chapter (or the
Bishop's Consultative Council in this diocese), which is for
time-specified period, Keith will keep the title Canon as he goes into
retirement in a few months time. He is certainly one of the treasures
of the diocese. Congratulations, Keith, from iindaba and all its
readers.
-
iindaba congratulates Sipho Bodlani who was ordained to
the diaconate on 17 May. Sipho, who is self-supporting, is from St
Matthew's.More in the next issue of iindaba.
Tag
lines
Life is made up of marble - and mud.
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