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Consecration and enthronement of our new bishop
Diocesan Clergy & Spouse Retreats for 2008
Congratulations, news, joys and sorrows.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ
At a special meeting of Diocesan Council held on Wednesday 18th June 2008, we focused on the process leading to the sub-division of our diocese, and have put together a time-frame that should see this happening towards the end of this year. With the date of the consecration and enthronement of our new bishop set for Saturday 20th September 2008 (see below), we have planned a big combined event on Wednesday 24th September: a Family Day for the entire diocese, the diocesan launch of Growing the Church, and the liturgical celebration of the formation of the two new dioceses of Ukhahlamba and Grahamstown. A task team from Diocesan Council is planning this.
We are also looking at two more imbizos this year, towards the end of October: one in the North and (for the first time) one in the South. The southern region (i.e. the part of our diocese that will form the Diocese of Grahamstown) has never had an imbizo, and it is crucial that the people of this region engage in visioning and planning for the way ahead. With the formation of the Diocese of Ukhahlamba, and all the new beginnings that we shall be seeing there, it is also a new beginning for Grahamstown in its mission and ministry.
To read the dates and time frame for all the above events, as discussed at the meeting of Diocesan Council, click here…
In our prayers, let us ask God to guide us in our planning and visioning, as we discern the way forward in these challenging times. We continue to pray for our Bishop-elect, and for his family. We also extend our sympathies to the Ntlali family following the death, on Sunday 15th June 2008, of Noncedo’s mother, Eleanor Panjwa. She was buried on 26th June 2008, at Elliotdale. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with them all at this sad time.
As always, there are a number of issues that I need to bring to your attention, for information and for your prayers. Let us be a praying community as we hold one another in the love of God, and in our love.
This will take place on Saturday 20th September 2008, in the Cathedral of St Michael & St George, Grahamstown. The time of the service, and further details, will be communicated in due course. A small task team has been put together to plan this landmark event in the life of our diocese.
To see a copy of the most recent Ad Laos, from Archbishop Thabo, click here….
The bishop’s house in Grahamstown is in need of some serious attention, in preparation for the arrival of the Ntlali family. Maintenance has been rather haphazard over the years. We shall be tabling the matter at the next meeting of Diocesan Trusts’ Board. We also ask parishes and diocesan Organizations to consider a generous gift to enable the work of refurbishment to proceed.
It is customary when someone is elected as a bishop, that the parishes of the Diocese from which they come (in this case of course our own Diocese of Grahamstown) are invited to make a contribution towards the costs of his episcopal vestments. I am requesting you to discuss this with your parish council, and I am inviting you to make out a cheque to the Diocese of Grahamstown (clearly marked “for gift for Bishop Elect Ven. Ntlali”), and sent it to the Bishop’s Secretary. Then we can hand over the collected amount to Bishop Elect Ven. Ntlali, to help cover the fairly considerable costs of the episcopal vestments.
The Bishop-elect has given his warm support to the appeal I made at the Elective Assembly, in my capacity as Dean of Grahamstown, for help with refurbishment costs for the Cathedral. As the mother church for our diocese, and the venue of choice for diocesan events and services, the Cathedral is worthy of your support. Please help where you can. All who attended the Elective Assembly received our appeal brochure. Further details are available from the Cathedral parish office.
Diocesan Chapter agreed that when a parish is in an interregnum, i.e. it does not have a rector, the local archdeacon is ex officio the rector, and responsible for matters of governance and oversight. The archdeacon would normally chair meetings of parish council and vestry, and would need to ensure that the pastoral and worship life of the parish is maintained. The day-to-day running of the parish would be in the hands of the parish leadership team, ordained and lay, but accountable to the archdeacon. This would also apply in cases where the incumbent is licensed as priest-in-charge.
If you are on email, please ensure that the diocesan office has your correct email address, to enable us to communicate swiftly and directly with you (and your parish.) We look forward to the day when all clergy and all our parishes have computer and email access. Please discuss this at parish council, and encourage parishes to implement this.
The Retreats will take place at Hillandale.
Weekday Retreat: Tuesday 9 September 12noon to Friday 12 September 13h00 led by the Very Revd Fed Pitout, Dean of Pietermarizburg. Cost: R840 per person, including all meals.
Weekend Retreat: A Celtic Retreat – Friday 19 September 16h00 to Sun 21 Sept 13h00 led by Brother Andrew OHC. Cost: R560 per person, including all meals.
Bookings for the Retreats are to be made through the Guestmaster at the Guesthouse, Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery, Grahamstown.
Address:
Email: guesthouse@umaria.co.za
Phone: 046 622 8111
Fax: 046 622 6424
One of our COTT lecturers, the Revd
Isaias Chachine, was
awarded his PhD (in Theology) by
We continue to pray for the full recovery of Archdeacon Moses Madywabe and
Ntsikelelo Ngcwegcwe.
Diocesan website
Do look at it. It is updated on a daily basis and has statements by the Archbishop, news and other items of interest, as well as links to other sites. Thanks, Maggy, for your work on this.
The Year Book for 2008-9 will be going to press shortly. If you have noticed a mistake or out of date information in the 2007-8 Year Book which should be corrected, and have not yet notified the Media and Publications Officer, Maggy Clarke, or the Diocesan Office, please send it to Maggy as soon as possible at P O Box 181, Grahamstown, 6140, Tel. 046 622 7803, Fax 086 685 3968, Email: umbuliso@diocesegrahamstown.co.za
Traveling along the
Copies of the new edition (in English) are now available. An
edition in Afrikaans is also ready. An edition in isiXhosa
is being prepared. Prices and orders directly through Fr Roy Snyman, tel/fax 041-373-1283;
Please continue to pray for clergy to be found for the following parishes, and for those who are leading the search processes:
Good Shepherd,
Holy Cross, Mdantsane (Archdeacon Wilson Ntlola & Peter Lenkoe)
St Alban’s,
St Barnabas, Sada (Archdeacon Reg Morgan)
St Peter’s, Ezibeleni (Archdeacon Reg Morgan)
St Nicholas Beacon Bay, our Ecumenical Parish, needs to appoint a self-supporting Anglican assistant priest with effect from March 2009, with an initial contract of 2 years renewable annually. Interested candidates to send CV to the Diocese. For further details please contact Archdeacon George van der Merwe.
Yours in the love and service of our Lord
The Very Reverend
Andrew Hunter
Dean of Grahamstown
and Vicar General
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