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Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage PAGE 4 • 150 years of worship All Saints’ is the fourth oldest church building in the diocese, and although it is now a United Church, services are still held in the original Anglican building every week. As part of the 150 years celebrations the Somerset East Garden Club is hosting a Rose Show at the church on 21 and 22 October. On 6 November, Bishop Bethlehem will visit to celebrate their Patronal festival at an evening service (18h00), after a bring and braai in the church grounds. They hope that many former members will be able to join them. Some background Iindaba asked the rector, Dudley Greenshields, to fill in the background of this historic church. Bishop Robert Gray first visited Somerset East on 1 November 1848 to conduct a morning service. He said that in 900 miles of travelling in the Cape Province, he had only seen one clergyman. To meet this deficiency, he arranged to bring 20 clergy from England. He felt that as there were many English settlers at Somerset East, an Anglican Church should be built. The church was designed by his wife, Sophie Gray, and built in 1854, an estimated cost of £600, by Robert John Thatcher. It was consecrated by Bishop Armstrong on 9 May 1855. The first rector was Edmund Pain. In his memory, a stained glass window of St Matthew (actually portraying Edmund Pain) can still be seen on the north side of the chancel. Pic: Dudley Greenshields and Adele Erasmus The bell is 120 years old, and the organ more than 100 years old. Last year, R10 000 was spent on repairs to the organ, the first major repairs in 100 years! The stained glass windows were refurbished in 2002, and the reredos was french-polished and moved to the side wall of the sanctuary to reveal the stained glass window showing Jesus the Good Shepherd, which had previously been hidden. Bishop Gray’s dream was “that this would not be a mere building, but a temple dedicated to Jehovah - the threshold to the presence chamber of the great King, the Gate of Heaven, and therein our prayers may be a channel of union and communion, and glory and praise to His most Holy Name.” Also celebrating McCaughey’s Pharmacy is also celebrating. Kevin McCaughey is a parishioner of All Saints’, and the third generation pharmacist in his family to serve this special town. They are celebrating their 130th anniversary from 24 October to 4 November. Remember - 6 November braai followed by service
Unfortunately the Rector, Archdeacon Ronnie Allwright, was not able to welcome us, as he was in hospital recovering from cardiac by-pass surgery. One of the main functions of Diocesan Council is to receive reports from the various bodies within the Diocese. • Nomonde Qoto, Diocesan President of Mothers’ Union Christian Family Life, reported that a successful cluster meeting had been held at the YMCA in Gelvandale, as representatives from the Dioceses of Grahamstown and Saint John joined our members. She also reported on their successful Open Day, held at St Cyprian’s, KwaZakhele in July. Nomonde reported that she and the vice-president, Nomfundo Tuku, had attended the Provincial Council meeting in Pretoria. A successful Women’s Day service, conducted by Bp Bethlehem, was held at Christ the King. Members of the AWF also joined them for the service. • Sylvia Frans, the AWF President, reported that Unit Committees had been formed, and members were very enthusiastic to work within their units. Some of the members had attended bereave-ment counselling workshops at Hospice during June, and these women are now equipped to train others in this important and sensitive ministry. Several of the branches held soup kitchens at various venues, feeding both the elderly and the very young. They also aid those faced with crises, such as having their homes burnt down. AWF members enjoyed the Women’s Day celebrations at Christ the King. • The report for the Church Men’s Society was tabled under the name of the secretary, Anthony Barry. He reported that two general meetings had been held during the year. The CMS was grateful that Bishop Bethlehem had appointed Mario Hendricks as their chaplain. He also reported that the 4th Diocesan Triennial General Meeting will be hosted at St Boniface, Kruisfontein, on Saturday 12 November. • Diocesan HIV and AIDS Committee: Sipambo Ludidi reported on various workshops that had been held in the diocese. Also tabled was an Evaluation Report on Sipambo issued by the Christian AIDS Bureau. In the report, it was stated that he is now a Level 2 Facilitator, which requires 30 hours training, with skills in (i) knowledge of HIV and AIDS; (ii) understanding of a Christian response; and (iii) Facilitation skills. The report ended “This person would be able to facilitate the mobilisation workshops and information sessions as part of the Church’s ‘Channels of Hope’ programme "monthly", to publish articles for this portfolio." More next month.
On the first Friday of March 2006, millions of women (and men) from over 170 countries will join together in prayer as they commemorate World Day of Prayer (WDP). Prayers are said in more than 1000 languages, beginning at dawn in Tonga, and finishing more than 40 hours later in Alaska. For the first time in its history of almost 80 years, the women of South Africa have been granted the opportunity to prepare the programme, the theme of which is “Signs of the Times”. Since the beginning of 2003, an ecumenical group, the Worship Writing Committee consisting of 42 South African women has been working on the programme. The three texts chosen are the main text, Luke 21:5-17, with Ezekiel 37:1-10 and Matthew 26:6-13 as supporting texts. In all three texts God reveals certain signs. He calls Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, bringing them to life as a sign to God's people that he is the Lord God. In Matthew 26, God uses the woman prophetically to anoint Jesus for his burial; she becomes a sign of hope, and her loving act points towards Jesus as the true Sign of the times. In Luke 21, the disciples are shown the signs of Jesus’ second coming, and are challenged to become signs of new life. South African women are deeply challenged by the need for reconciliation and healing in a world suffering from the realities of HIV/AIDS, civil war, ethnic conflicts, worker exploitation, religious intolerance, and so on. This World Day of Prayer they will be inviting Christians to be "Signs of the Times", as a reminder to the world that God has an alternative reality, that of love and hope. Website source: www.churchwomen.org/worldday of prayer
He says, "I have been asked to stay aboard until June next year when the Anastasis will be decommissioned, after the Liberia Outreach, and taken out of service due to her age.” Quentin says he has settled in well, and is working as a water man and deck hand. “A water man does water purification, transfers water throughout the ship into various tanks, checks water levels, and takes water on from shore, chlorinating it first. We start our day with department devotions which last for about half an hour, then I go and sound the tanks, and proceed to transfer water to the supply tanks from the holding tanks. After that, I fill water from shore. I also get to do a gangway duty once in a while and night patrol (security rounds) too.” The Anastasis is in Monrovia, Liberia until 23 June 2006 New on the web! Iindaba is proofread by Are
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150 years of worship
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