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• The Bishop writes ...
• The view from pulpit and pew
• Tag lines
• The poor are top priority say laity
• Collect for our mission
• Thank you
The Bishop writes ...
Lent
Greetings in the name of Christ, our Lord and Saviour in the wilderness as at this time!
Since
the early centuries of her life, the Church has commemorated the
Passion of Christ with the Forty days in which Jesus fasted and prayed,
in preparation for the work of the salvation of human kind the Father
had entrusted on him(Matt 4:1ff). This time has been basically taken
for preparing the catechumen for baptism and confirmation by the
bishop at Easter. This practice is still kept where possible; the
bishop baptizes and confirms the candidates himself. The priests are
still required to inform the bishop of any adult candidate (over 15
years) to be baptized.
The season of Lent has come down to us
from these roots. The story of Jesus' fasting period becomes our story
as a disciplinary period in our journey of faith. We may not
necessarily go to any geographical wilderness, but spiritually we enter
into a pilgrimage with our Lord in the spirit of discipline, with acts
of devotion and self-denial. It is in this twofold meaning and purpose
in Lenten pilgrimage that we are brought to a closer walk with God and
render to him an unceasing and indiscriminate service, even for the
least of our sisters and brothers, filled with the spirit of UBUNTU.
UBUNTU
I
am becoming more convinced day by day that the onus to live out the
practical service of UBUNTU rests with the Church people. The Lord has
called us to worship, witness and render the necessary service wherever
our call may take us. Our acts are of obedience in humbleness to Christ
and his Church in directing that call for Mission, Evangelism and
Spirituality. On my way to the Provincial Mothers' Union Executive I
met a young man of about 35yrs, filled with enthusiasm for the
building of God's Kingdom among Moslems of Arabia "in the name of
Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit". It was very heart
uplifting to hear such keenness for the spread of the gospel even in
risky situations. Early Church Christians wasted no time, but spent
their time and themselves in the programmes of saving human race. God
was with them. God blessed their endeavors. People came to love Jesus
in their scores and hundreds. They grew in quality of life. For them it
was "first things first" (Acts 2:42-47). Sometimes when we are called
out to serve we do not want to leave our cozy corners and the support
bases we make for our selves. Yet we forget that God provides us with
everything when we are ready to obey him and his church.
Let us
recall our faith in God from the time we first believed and were
baptized, bringing to mind the promises we made as an expression of our
love for God and our seriousness to please him. Let us follow the
example of Christ by repentance and the offering of our lives as "a
living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to him" (Rom 13:1ff). By our
actions our country will be a better place to live in; crime, poverty
and disease will be a thing of the past. 
Let us live Lent
every day after the obedience of Christ who pleased not himself, but
him who sent him to do his will (Jn 6:28; Mtt 27:39, 42, 44).
May the Spirit of discipline and repentance fill your hearts this Lent and always.
Yours in the love of Christ,
Bishop Bethlehem Nopece
Pic: Time out - Bishop Bethlehem and Bishop Martin took time to relax after the launch of the "Year of Mission" service.
The view from pulpit and pew
- There have been some deaths in the diocesan family and we commit all
the following to the merciful keeping of a loving and caring Father.
iindaba also extends condolences to all their families:
- to Debbie,
Chad and to Winston’s mother Millicent and her family on the
devastating news of the murder of SAPS Inspector Winston Vencencie,
husband of Debbie from the Diocesan Office. Winston was gunned down
after being forced to lie on the ground after responding to a call
about a vehicle accident in Njoli Square, New Brighton.
- iindaba
is also sad to record the death in January of Joseph Mcilongo, former
rector of St Stephen’s, New Brighton. Joseph, who was retired, lived in
Gauteng with his wife Mpumi.
- To Sheila Lancaster, wife of
Howard, rector of All Saints’, Kabega Park, on the death of her mother,
Aileen (Tiny) Nunneley. Tiny’s funeral took place from her home parish,
St Paul’s in Parsons Hill, although she was an honorary member of All
Saints', and of St Hugh’s in Newton Park, where she often attended when
staying with her children.
- Stanley Nkumanda, who had been
accepted for ordination, but had to withdraw after suffering a stroke,
died last month soon after joining the Parish of St Matthew,
KwaMagxaki, after being a member of St Matthias in Motherwell. Stanley
is survived by his wife, Hazel, and their children.
- Bishop George
Swartz, known to many in the diocese. Died in Cape Town on the last day
of December. He is survived by his wife Charlotte.
- Diana
Nkesiga has been appointed vicar of All Saints’ Cathedral in Kampala,
Uganda, with her husband Solomon as a self-supporting priest in the
parish - a somewhat reversal of roles! The parish has 10 000 members,
and seven clergy, five of whom are directly under Diana, including
Solomon!
- The Parish of the Zwartkops River Valley -
incorporating St Agnes in Swartkops and St Nicholas in Redhouse, now
has its own e-mail address - zrv@alphaworld.net.
- Speaking of
the ZRV Parish, Jacques Nell, younger son of Piet and the rector,
Sharon, has recovered well enough to return to university to continue
his course. This brings so much joy to those who have been holding him
and his family in prayer for such a long time. How wonderful it is that
God answers our prayers. Praise be to him for Jacques’s recovery.
- Alwylene Allwright, wife of Ronnie, rector of the Parish of the Good
Shepherd, leaves for Rhode Island, USA, early in March. She will be
attending the birth of a grandchild, the first child for their
daughter, Charlene. iindaba wishes her a happy trip, and reminds her to
take her camera, so that grandpa Ronnie can see how much the child
looks like him.
- It’s good to know that iindaba is widely
read. Every month a hard copy is passed on to Elizabeth Condon,
formerly from Port Elizabeth, and now living in Durbanville in the
Cape. Barbara Evans from St Paul’s, Parsons Hill, sends a copy to
Elizabeth who in turn passes it on to Adrian Green, dean of George, and
a former priest in this diocese. The editor also gets many comments
from people from all over the world who read it on the web.
- The PE Chinese community was shocked to learn of the brutal attack on
Father Ignatius Ou, 83. Father Ou, (pronounced Ooh) runs the Chinese
Catholic Society in Port Elizabeth, and is a good friend of St Francis
Xavier. He is recuperating at Nazareth House. iindaba wishes him a
speedy recovery.
Tag lines
He who angers you, controls you!
The poor are top priority say laity
During the Mission workshop
held at St Mark and St John on the Tuesday evening Bishop Martin asked
the participants what they thought the priorities of a vibrant church
are.
Top marks went to ‘Reaching out to the poorest of the
poor’, followed by ‘Youth and training youth leaders’
then ‘Repentance and faith’ ,‘Developing small
groups’ and ‘A new leadership style (an empowering
one)’.
During the morning clergy and leaders workshop the priorities for the
clergy had been: ‘Become more like the Body of Christ
(empowering)’, ‘Learn to use church property more
effectively’, ‘Leaders must become servant teachers’
and that ‘The Liturgy needs to serve the worship’.
Workshop participants looked at what our mission is, when should we do
mission and what the results of effective mission are. At present most
of our churches are concentrating on a ministry of maintenance instead
of mission. The church cannot grow without mission, and parishes need
to reach out and make disciples through sharing the Word of God and
loving, caring and healing those in need.Go make disciples!
Pic: Taking
up the challenge - Calvin Lentoor of St Mark and St John shared a table
with Margaret Roskruge and Lorraine and Paul Fraser of St Luke’s.
Collect for our mission
The Collect used by Bishop Bethlehem at the launch of our Year of Mission was:
Heavenly Father
You revealed your love
By sending your only Son into the world
That all might live through him;
Grant that by the power of the Holy Spirit
We, your church may obey his command
To make disciples of all nations;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
iindaba prints it in the hope that everyone will use it daily and so build up the 'power base' for effective mission.
Thank you
From Debbie Vincencie in the diocesan office:
Thank you to everyone who supported me with prayers, visits,
flowers, cards and telephone calls during this time of bereavement.
Your prayers have sustained me through this difficult time, please
continue to pray for me and Chad. There are so many difficult decisions
to make! Among the many to thank are: Bishop Bethlehem, the diocesan
staff, clergy, churchwardens and parishioners from so many parishes,
family and friends - thank you for the love you have showered on
me!
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