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PAGE 3 • The Bishop writes ...
•
The view from pulpit and pew
• Marriage law under review
•
Trinity tea
•
RIP Philbert Mzileni
•
Coral tree guest house
•
Pray for Special Provincial Synod
•
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The Bishop writes ...
My dear people of God,
Greetings in the name of Christ, our Lord and Saviour!
Recently
we were submerged in floods. I was in Rosettenville leading the
Provincial Mothers' Union Executive Retreat. When I was informed that
the Bishop’s House and Summerstrand were in darkness, water had come
into houses and homes, informal settlement dwellings were under water
or washed away, cars drifted down the streams and rivers, I felt so
helpless. I asked myself what this all meant. Surely it could not be
judgment. God vowed never to do it that way again (Gen.9:11). God is a
gracious God. He keeps his promises.
Our reaction to such an
ordeal is to shift the blame to others. Yet, “there is nothing that
kills a man so soon, having nobody else to find fault with but
himself”, says Mary Anne Evans in Silas Marner, the weaver of Raveloe.
Blame has been leveled against the local government authorities for not
being prompt and consistent in giving warning of the flooding Zwartkops
River; for allowing people to build their informal homes on the river
banks and for not being tough enough in forced removals, at least in
this regard. Fair enough, these allegations carry substance. The gong
has not been sounded far and wide.
When such natural disasters
strike, we have our share of the blame. We continue to spoil the
natural beauty of the planet earth by the destruction of vegetation
under the pretext of job creation. The global warming as part of the
Millennium Development Goals is a great cause for concern. We destroy
trees that keep moisture and regulate it. The rest would be presented
to us by environmentalist, and other experts in this field. We need to
repent, and take our responsibility in this sphere of our life. We must
render support to those who fight for nature conservation. It is an
obligation to keep our environment intact, to the delight of the
Creator.
The eschatological appearance of the expected Christ
is to be preceded by signs which may accompany that coming. Jesus
points to these as aids to discern the times. (Matt 24:2ff). I am
encouraged by the spirit of UBUNTU which prevails when disasters such
as these occur. I believe that action is what we should practice in our
waiting for the coming Jesus (Matt 25:31ff). We are faced with many
challenges that demand our Christian action. I am encouraged by the
strategy of the Christian leadership of the Metropole to target
individuals in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Be part of that by
practicing abstinence from all sexual activity if not married, and be
faithful, if married, and be responsible.
Finally, DO NOT FORGET
TO PRAY. Pray the Litany at least twice a month (APB pp 73-77).
Remember as well ora et labora (pray and work). God is to transform our
life through us, only if we believe.
Yours in the love of Christ,
Bishop Bethlehem Nopece
The
view from pulpit and pew
- iindaba reports that Nolan Damon is still in the
Mercantile Hospital with neck injuries, and has his head secured by
screws to hold it firm. iindaba asks for continued prayers for him. He
is the son of Elroy (the rector of St Francis Xavier) and Lynn.
- iindaba
congratulates Mario Hendricks rector of St Mark and St John, Parkside,
on his appointment as Dean of Studies, and thus serves on the
Bishop’s Chapter.
- iindaba is sad to record the deaths of :
- Ambrose
van der Merwe, a former rector of St Barnabas parish in Sydenham. He
had an operation during July to remove cancer, and Doreen had to rush
him back to hospital at the beginning of August. He was rector of
Church of the Ascension in Cape Town;
- Joan Anderson of the
Zwartkops River Valley Parish. Joan was a founding member of the Aloe
Circle - a group of ladies who met in the lounge of her Bluewater
Bay home when her first husband Athol Booth was alive. After his death
she married Jimmy Anderson who died last year. The ongoing ministry of
the Aloe Circle is largely due to her enthusiasm and faith. Her
daughter-in-law, Ann Booth, is a lay minister in the parish;
- Joyce
Anderson, sister of Burness Lear, retired secretary to +Philip and
+Bruce. Joyce worshipped at St Hugh’s in Newton Park, and was a
resident at Maranatha in Pickering Street;
- Edith Adams, wife of
Keith who is churchwarden of the Cathedral. Edith had been ailing for
some time, and was lovingly cared for by Keith.
- iindaba extends condolences to all the families.
- It
was with shock that iindaba heard of the death of the Presiding Bishop
of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church (formerly the Order of
Ethiopia) Bishop Sigqibo Dwane and his wife Ntombi, who were killed in
a road accident during July. As we commend them to Almighty God, we
pray for all members of the Church who have lost a much-loved leader.
- Congratulations
to David McCoy, younger son of Mike and Lorna, and Katharine Holmes,
daughter of Christopher and Susan (St Hugh’s, Newton Park).
David, a musician of note (a family trait), has been selected with six
other pupils from Alexander Road High School to play in the National
Youth Orchestra. Katharine, also at ‘Alex’, has been chosen
to attend a Maths Olympiad in India during November. Rumour has it that
she gets her mathematical brain from her mother rather than her father!
- The diocese welcomes Peter and Maureen Evers. Peter is a
recently retired priest from the Diocese of Grahamstown, and he and
Maureen have settled at 4 Bela, Framesby. Their telephone number is 041
369 0458. They join a wonderful group of 19 retired clergy. Peter was
from the Parish of St Peter, West Bank, East London.
- Peter
Bowen, past senior priest of the diocese now living at Bushmans River,
recently underwent a double hernia operation, but typical of him has
bounced back, and he and Valerie are visiting family and friends in the
UK and Canada.
- Margaret Gwilliam, wife of retired priest David,
also living at Bushmans, has likewise had a spell in hospital. iindaba
wishes her a complete recovery.
- Ruth Harker, whom we thought
had left the diocese for Port Alfred (June iindaba), is in fact living
at Dolphin Coast Village in Kenton-on-Sea.
Marriage law under review
The
Marriage Alliance of SA has asked Parliament to adopt an amendment to
the Constitution that will define marriage as the voluntary union of a
man and a woman.
The Revd Moss Ntlha, one of the
co-chairpersons of the Alliance writes, “We believe that a
constitutional amendment is the only way in which Parliament can
effectively safeguard the institution of marriage as ‘the
voluntary union of a man and a woman’. In addition to this, the
Marriage Alliance believes that Parliament should write a new law,
separate from the Marriage Act, which will provide a statutory
framework for the regulating of civil or same-sex partnerships.”
Dr Michael Cassidy and Cardinal Wilfrid Napier are the other two
co-chairpersons.
Moss says, “It is important that all our
partners be mobilised to take similar action and help us to generate
awareness and debate about the future of marriage and the family in
South Africa." He said that this can be done by mobilising marches,
writing letters, signing petitions and through the media.
Get involved
If you are serious about keeping marriage Biblical - a union between a man and a woman - then write a letter to:
The Minister of Justice,
The Honourable Minister, Ms B S Mabandla, MP. Minister of Justice & Constitutional Development,
Private Bag X276, PRETORIA 0001
or fax: Mr Pule Maoke - 012 315 1765.
The
Marriage Alliance of SA need our immediate support or the new Bill,
allowing same-sex marriages, will come into effect on 1 December.
Trinity tea
 Retired priest Roy Snyman tssf reports on a wonderful tea for retired clergy which was held at St Hugh's.
While
two new deacons were being ordained into the 'Serving Ministry' in the
Cathedral, those who had been serving for many years, and are really
the 'Diocesan Golden Oldies' were entertained to a special 'Tea' at St
Hugh’s, Newton Park. (Mind you, we are delighted to be used,
still.) Churchwarden Keith Burns and the rector, Christopher Holmes,
welcomed a number of retired clergy and their spouses, if they had
them, to a loving and lovely event.
A group of very talented
young musicians gave a short, lively and fun concert to welcome us.
This was followed by a sumptuous tea. After Sunday lunches we wondered
if we would do justice to the spread, but the reduced plates of goodies
attested to both the excellence of the eats and the lack of discipline
of some of us 'vultures'.
 We went home with a great spirit of ‘Bon-ami’. Thank you, St Hugh’s!“
Pics: 1)
Finger
licking good - Doreen Collett certainly felt the eats were! She joined
Evelyn Kibble in listening to one of Eric Kleb's tales; 2) Theo
ann Rosalie Thomas relax while enjoying the music laid on by the
talented musicians of St Hughs.
RIP Philbert Mzileni
One of the most colourful lay members of the diocese, Philbert Mzileni, died last month.
Philbert,
a widower, trained as a teacher, became one of South Africa’s
best interpreters, and was the first black to graduate with a B A from
the University of Port Elizabeth. He was one of the chief translators
of the Canons into isiXhosa, and served on many committees and boards
of the Diocese. Philbert was buried at Ngqamakhwe near Butterworth, and
a Memorial Service was held at his home parish, St Stephen’s in
New Brighton. iindaba extends condolences to his family.
Family coming to stay?
CORAL TREE GUEST HOUSE
in Parsons Hill
offers well-equipped, comfortable self-catering facilities.
Close to Greenacres and St George’s hospitals and 10 minutes from King’s Beach.
It’s VERY child-friendly!
Contact Barbara at 041 373 4469 coraltreepe@lantic.net
“We’ll make them feel at home!”
Special Provincial Synod
9 September in Johannesburg
Please pray for our representatives.
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Forbidden fruits create many jams.
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