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Vol 19 No 4 May 2008 ONLINE The official gazette of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth: Anglican Church of Southern Africa

Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage PAGE 3  •  The Bishop writes .....  •  Clergy thanked for their support  •  The view from Pulpit and Pew  •  Tag lines The Bishop writes ... My Dear People of God, Greetings in the name of the Risen Conquering Christ, Alleluia!  Installation and Dedication The installation of the 12th Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of The Anglican Church of Southern Africa took place at St George's Cathedral in the Mother City, in the afternoon, on the 30 March. What an august occasion! Mazoe and I were among other bishops and their spouses. The Provost of our Cathedral, Mr Charles Qoto and Vashti Damon represented the diocese as a priest, a lay person and a child of 18 years and younger. They carried with them a small bottle of water for the Rededication part of the service. There were seven processions, beginning with the clergy of the Diocese of Cape Town in the first, then the bishops of TACSA together with the retired bishops, the Archbishop Emeritus Desmond, and the visiting bishops of the Anglican Communion together with the primates from the same, were in the third procession. The seventh procession came through from the Cathedral Vestry through the Labyrinth Cloister to the North-West Door. The Archbishop of Cape Town together with Readers, Intercessors, Eucharistic Ministers, Gospellers and his Chaplains were in this procession. On the right hand chairs facing the Main Altar were, inter alia, the State President, the First Lady and the Deputy President plus other political dignitaries including a former St Mary's Mqanduli altar boy and leader of the UDM Bantu Holomisa.  The Cathedral bells echoed the invitation to the whole City, as if informing every one of the dawn of a new era in TACSA. Bishops, priests and people had come from all over the province to witness the installing the new Metropolitan and rededicate themselves, in the mood of a new commitment to Christ and his Church. Water from the twenty five dioceses was put together in a bowl and was blessed for sprinkling over those in attendance as a symbol of "the living water, the Holy Spirit, as in John's gospel....providing drink for the thirsty, and also transforming the various ingredients into sustaining nourishment." (Archbishop's Charge 30 March 2008). May God continue to make us holy, and grant us peace, wisdom, unity and prosperity. The Metropolitan having knocked three times at the North-West Door, the Dean opened the door and fanfare sounded. The Wardens bowed to welcome the new Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of TACSA. Interesting and very appropriate was the participation of both the Dean of the Province and the Dean of St George's Cathedral in ushering in the new Archbishop and Metropolitan. With the Legal Fraternity having done their part in receiving both the Certificate of Confirmation and the Deed of Collation from the Dean of the Province, and affirming Abp Thabo Cecil Makgoba as "our undoubted Archbishop", the Archbishop then, having given his response, proceeded to light a candle for each of his predecessors beginning from Abp Robert Gray to Abp Njongonkulu. Built into the service of the Holy Eucharist was Declaration and Installation, Expressions of Loyalty and Greetings from, inter alia, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Iowa, the Archbishop of the Indian Ocean, the State President and the Local Government of Cape Town; Anointing of the Archbishop and his Family by the Most Revd Desmond Tutu, the Rt Revd Dinis Sengulane and the Rt Revd Martin Breytenbach; and the Rededication of the People of God, followed by sprinkling.  The Charge having been given and Eucharist celebrated, the service concluded with the blessing of the City of Cape Town, the Diocese of Cape Town, The Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Republic and its people. Everyone was dismissed to go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia! In the name of Christ. Alleluia. Alleluia! We carry this rededication through to our parishes from the Corpus Christi. We are asking the wardens together with their rectors to bring a bottle of water not bigger than 500mls for blessing at this service of renewal of diaconal and priestly vows. The priests shall on the 8th Sunday of the Year rededicate and commit the believers to Mission and Evangelism and ministry in the spirit of the new dawn in our Province. May our God the Creator and Saviour of all who believe, continue to give life and increase both numerically and in quality to us his Church and bind us with the cords of love that cannot be broken. Yours in the love of the Risen Christ, Clergy thanked for their support At the annual clergy dinner hosted by Bishop Bethlehem and Mazoe, he thanked the clergy for their support of him, for their faithfulness to the Master who had called them to this ministry and for looking after the needs of the people. He spoke of the challenges of the present times - poverty, unemployment, colour and sexual discrimination, crime, abuse and that a generation of un-churched people is being bred. He went on to say, "If I have been unloving I apologise ... I'm trying to be supportive to the clergy. Thank you for your support, you've seen the loneliness of this job." He asked that the clergy be part of the solution instead of running away from the problem. He also thanked Mazoe for her support of him as well as all the clergy spouses for their support of their partners. He thanked the clergy who are said to be retired but who have taken up the challenge and are helping run parishes during their interregnums, as well as the self-supporting clergy who play a vital part in so many parishes and the diocese. Bishop Bethlehem closed by appealing to everyone to pray fervently for the Lord to take control of our land. The dinner, held at St Francis Xavier on 28 March, was well attended, although school holidays meant some couples were away.  Fun was had by everyone trying to use the chopsticks to eat their food! Pictures: (top) The art of eating with chopsticks elicited much laughter from some of the clergy and their spouses! (left) Nomawethu Molema tries out her chopsticks while Nomathemba and Mthetheleli Vena look on. (bottom) David Molema seems to have mastered the art, but Mngomezulu and Zanele Thokoza are struggling, and Weleli Kani watches it all happening. The view from pulpit and pew Debbie Derry, wife of Mark, assistant at the Cathedral, had a rare treat for her 20th wedding anniversary. Mark took her to see Winston Ntshona and John Kani in the play Sizwe Banzi is Dead at the Opera House. They were doubly honoured in that our State President, Thabo Mbeki, was seated in the row behind them. Mark now doesn't know how to top that for their silver wedding anniversary in 2013! Welile Kani, rector of Christ the King in Gelvandale and Christopher Holmes, rector of Saint Hugh's in Newton Park, were also honoured when they had lunch with John Kani and Winston Ntshona at the Port Elizabeth Saint George's Club. John, known as the grandfather of South African theatre, is Welile's elder brother - the likeness is ever so apparent, even down to the 'bok-baard' both wear! Jacques Nell, who made a spectacular recovery from cerebral problems over the past two years, was brutally attacked at Brooke's Hill recently, and his right arm was broken when hit by a baseball bat, necessitating surgery. Fortunately he was able to protect his head, as there could have been serious consequences. He needs further surgery to remove wires inserted to aid recovery, iindaba commends him to the prayers of the diocesan family. Jacques' parents, Piet and Sharon, were in the USA when iindaba went to print. They flew via Dubai where they spent four days, and, from what one hears about that spectacular city, spent quite a few dollars as well! Sharon is the rector of the Parish of the Zwartkops River Valley, and newly-appointed archdeacon of The Bay.  Congratulations to SydneyGiles, elder son of Vaughan and Judy of St Agnes, Swartkops, who was recently recognised with a Paul Harris by the Rotary Club of Algoa Bay, the highest recognition a Rotary Club can make. Sydney, who resides at Lake Farm, made a large hanging with the Rotary Badge in 1958 to celebrate its 25th anniversary, has now updated it to 2008, as the club celebrates its golden jubilee! Well done, Sydney. Two of our clergy need special prayers of the Church at present - David Kiviet, rector of St Andrew's, KwaNobuhle; and Nicolette Leonard, assistant priest at Saint John the Baptist, Walmer. David is undergoing chemotherapy at the Provincial Hospital; and Nicolette is awaiting a suitable donor for bone marrow, iindaba prays that by the time this edition goes to print, Nicolette is in Cape Town for the procedure. Tag lines We ire not rich by what we possess, but rather by what we can do without. Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage