Newsletter-December-Final
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Green Anglicans Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Environmental Network CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2016 CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2016 Historic gathering of the Portuguese speaking Dioceses of Africa The Diocese of Angola’s Executive and Provincial represantives The Youth Executive from the diocese of Lebombo and Chaplains Young people from three Portuguese plans for the year ahead: in their churches, districts and schools. This speaking dioceses in Mozambique The diocese of Lebombos in southern Mo- programme will be monitored by the young and Angola have this week taken part zambique are going to take up the challenge women’s network who will assist the children in an historic first joint meeting. The to be Green Anglicans and will have a tree with the planting. two countries are both Portuguese-speaking, planting campaign between January and The diocese of Niassa is going to use their di- but as they are separated by more than 2000 March and will develop a nursery. The dio- ocesan youth conference this month to pre- km, contacts between them have been few cese has a Sunday School project called Little pare and train the young people and to do a up to now. But now young people from the Seeds of God, which teaches children to save clean-up campaign in the host city of Cuam- dioceses of Lebombos, Niassa and Angola and plant seeds whenever they eat fruit. This ba. They will take the opportunity of the con- gathered from 25 to 30 November at the di- project will be rolled out during the whole secration of the bishop when the clergy will ocesan centre in Maciene, in the Mozambique year. They will have quarterly clean-up days, all be gathered to run a workshop for clergy province of Gaza. and then environmental training in April and on environmental ministry. They will call Green Anglicans led a workshop on environ- November. In the first quarter of next year upon families to plant a tree at every baptism. mental mission. All these dioceses have been they plan to establish parish vegetable gar- They will do awareness campaigns and clean badly affected by climate change. Mozam- dens. They plan to roll out recycling during up campaigns in the communities. bique has suffered from devastating floods, the next two years. They will run an aware- The workshop concluded with the planting whereas Angola has undergone crippling ness campaign in December, March and July. and blessing of trees donated by Anglican drought. The diocese of Angola is calling their pro- Social Action. The workshop started with a presentation gramme “O verde no meu habitat” – “Green- looking at the effects of climate change, and ing my habitat”; and they plan to celebrate the theology of caring for creation. The meet- “Green June” at their youth conferences in ing also included a workshop on the actions June. They are going to call on each and every that young Green Anglicans can take; and young person to bring a tree to plant in their a presentation on the Anglican Church of local church every year. The young women’s Southern Africa’s Sunday School Portuguese network is going to take up the Little Seeds of manual, Ryan o Rinoceronte. God project and teach children to save seeds The three dioceses then prepared action from fruit so that they can plant fruit trees Page 2 Green Anglicans Diocese of Christ the King Green Anglicans Ablaze Youth Day Event Conference 2016 One thousand five hundred not only create awareness and business community groups people gathered for the bi- save energy, but are fun, deep- and NGOs, are often ecumeni- Diocese of Christ the King, hosted their annual Anglicans Ablaze in en our relationship with our cal. June 16 event at St Francis Walkerville. Cape Town. It was a wonderful Creator, and save money too. The delegates were pleased With the aim of growing their environ- chance for people from differ- Lessons learned include the im- to hear the provincial synod in mental ministry, green Anglicans was the ent Dioceses to discuss the fifth portance of building on a foun- September announced it would theme for the day. A diverse group of mark of mission – to care for cre- dation of eco-spirituality, start- voice its opposition to the young people attended the training com- ation. Some of Anglicans Ablaze ing small in your parish with nuclear energy deal; divest its ing from all corners of the diocese. Start- delegates were part of over 70 one or two projects, and then reserves and investments from ing with a praise a worship, the spirits of people who attended the Care getting involved in advocacy fossil fuels the 300 participants were lifted and were for Creation workshop held on and community issues. and revise the canons to in- ready for the day. 7 October as part of Anglicans Successful green projects are clude greener elements. Rev Mpho Mohale introduced care for crea- Ablaze. Rev Rachel Mash spoke supported but not led by the It is part of our faith to do what tion to the young people as a ministry that on why Creation is a foundation clergy, involve different minis- we can to care for creation. needs delicacy and dedications, pleading of our faith. Co-presenter Ncu- try teams such as youth, wor- with the young people to join hands and misa Magadla facilitated talks ship, outreach and evangelism; -Rev Martha Gordon- to preach and advocate for the environ- by representatives from various are fun and build fellowship Diocese of Johannesburg ment in the diocese and their respective parishes and dioceses who ex- are community led, with the communities. plained to the inquisitive group support of the church; include We began with an outdoor activity, which how their innovative projects partnerships with government, assists people to understand the effects of climate change they are already living with. A lot of them were shocked at some of the things they took as just minor changes to Provincial Launch of St Mary Magdalene the weather or riising food prices as the result of climate change. Going into the A prestigious historical event, the guild of St elected. In his word, he encouraged the guild day with an open mind, the young people Mary Magdalene (MMG) was launched officially to continue doing the great, be strong and rig- were able to think creatively on what they as a provincial guild after decades of existence. id in their ministry. Green Anglicans was one of will do in response. Hosted from the 10th - 13th of November 2016 the partners who were invited to come and be To everyone’s surprise Bishop Peter Lee, in the Eastern Cape, the Diocese of Mthatha were part of this occasion and in the spirit of caring joined the event and encouraged the the hands and feet of this events success, work- for God’s creation, three trees were blessed and young people to continue with their efforts ing with all the executives from the dioceses, planted by the Bishop. This act is to mark the be- to respond to the environmental crisis, the venue was overflowing with members of ginning of a new life in the guild and as the trees thanking them for taking part in the global this guild. Visitors and delegates were welcomed grow they will remind the members where they action. They later on sat down as parishes with a very classy gala dinner on Friday evening come from and the growth of the guild. Two of to discuss their actions plans, which will be and entertainment from a local dance group. We the trees were planted at the diocesan centre and implemented at parish level. saw members of different guilds in the diocese one at the Cathedral of St Johns. come in numbers to support MMG. Dioceses represented included Lesotho which came in numbers, Cape Town, Mzimvubu, Mbashe, Gra- hamstown . The Diocesan Bishop who is also the dean of the Province, Bishop Sithembele Mza- mane graced the morning service on Saturday morning with a wonderful sermon and officiat- ing the provincial executive which was newly Green Anglicans [email protected] 021 763 1300 december 2016 Page 3 Diocese of Natal’s Annual Environmental Conference On the 5th November 2016, the Diocese of Na- tal had an annual environmental workshop "The Environment - the church making a difference". It was organised by the environmental team which is headed by Fr Andrew Warmback. It was held at St Alpheges Anglican Church in Pi- etermaritzburg. It started with a Eucharist led by Bishop Ndwandwe. Church of the Province of Central Africa ‘s Green Church movement It looked at some important sections from Laud- On the 20th of October 2016 the Church of the Prov- ato Si', the papal encyclical on the environment. ince of Central Africa held a 3 day environmental There was a speaker from the University of Kwa- conference in Harare. With all the dioceses in Zim- Zulu - Natal who addressed the problem of plas- babwe represented, the conference commenced with tic pollution. Fr Andrew conducted a session of a high note with some major role players in the envi- exploring issues relating to eco-theology. Pearl ronmental sector in the country in Rockwood Catho- Nzuza spoke about young Green Anglicans and encouraged young people lic Centre, Harare. Green Anglicans was part of the to get involved. conference, and I had an opportunity to share how we respond to environmental issues in our province. Bishop Ndwandwe and Bishop Tsietsi were given trees to plant as a gift of We discussed their major environmental concerns appreciation for their presence.