Ad Clerum
Advent 2006
My dear Colleagues,
There is time for everything and Advent is time of great expectation and thanksgiving. So as we approach the end of the year, we reflect on God’s gift to humanity. It is therefore important to thank God for others in our lives as we remember with gratitude people who have contributed towards enriching of our lives and show our appreciation to them for who and what they are to us.
Therefore, I take the opportunity provided by God’s generosity to us to say, ‘THANK YOU’. I want you to know how much I appreciate your contribution to my efforts to serve the Lord in and through the Church in this Diocese. I am very much aware that if it were not of your assistance, I would not have been able to have done the least that I was able to do throughout the year. It has not been an easy year but nobody ever promised that it would be. All I know through experience is that the Lord made a promise to be with his disciples always, and that he kept it and, he was with them in every context and at all times, ‘to the end of the age’ (Mt28: 20), and he worked with them and confirmed their message by the signs that accompanied it (Mk 16:20). The same is true to us today.
The prayers that you say for us are working and we are aware of their powerful outcome in our lives and work of ministry. We count more blessings than the problems that we have encountered on our journey to the other side where the gospel needs to be proclaimed also. Your prayers and support are much appreciated by all of us here at KwaMalusi. We want you to know that nothing will fail us from holding you in our prayers also and that we will try by all means to support you in the ministry we share for Christ’s sake and for the extension of God’s kingdom. It is our prayer that we grow together in the knowledge and love of God.
Year of EvangelismThe Synod Advisory Commission on Mission and Evangelism has now finished and has submitted its report and recommendation, which was approved by the Diocesan Standing Committee. It has been agreed therefore that we start with the Mission and Evangelism campaign on Epiphany Day, 6 th January 2007. Please begin to encourage your Parishioners to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the Diocese at this time.
The campaign should:
- Start at home with every active Anglican bringing a member of their own families who have elapsed back to the church;
- Ensure that everyone who has been on the Parish Roll for the past five years receives a pastoral visit from an Anglican; and
- Plan that all who have been confirmed and disappeared in the last five years be visited.
It is my wish to hold a retreat with your wives/husbands in January 2007, from the 20 th to the 21 st. It will be a non-residential retreat over two days at Irene Homes. Please let your wife/husband know about this and encourage her/him to register early. The closing date is the 12 th January 2007.
Clergy School
I am negotiating with UNISA once again, to help us with the Clergy School next year. We hope to start at 09h00 on 26 th March and finish at 14h00 on the 30 th. I have taken into consideration the suggestions you made at our last Clergy Day at St Francis, Waterkloof. It will be non-residential in order to reduce fees. Please budget for this very important learning experience.
Financial support for the poor
I am very disappointed that even though I invited you to request money from my Charities to support the poor in your Parishes, none of you has done so. I cannot believe that we do not have AIDS orphans, children of unemployed or to put it mildly, the poor in our communities. The bible is clear about what God says about ministry to the widows, orphans and the poor in general. What is happening? Are we in denial to the reality of our society? Have we become blind to the needs of the people? I urge you to reread your Ordination Charge and once again Matthew 25:31-46. As Paul said, ‘I have given you example that by such work we must support the weak and poor, remembering the words of the lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Think again!!! You and your family will probably have a turkey for Christmas lunch after having preached about God’s gift of himself to us. Do you seriously think that’s enough? Please let us help each other to count our blessings and be thankful to God by sharing what we have freely received from God’s bounties.
Food HampersI have some money for you, if your parish does not have enough resources, to provide for the basic needs of the poor within the Parish such as food hampers. The recipient does not have to be an Anglican but a needy person. I have raised this money through my Charities to help those who have limited income. I do not wish to know who the beneficiary is but will appreciate to learn how the money was used.
School fees
In January 2007, I will still have limited funds available for you to assist the vulnerable children pay their school fees and/or buy some prescribed books.
Thought for you : There are 1.2 million orphans, most of whom lost their parents to Aids and some are in your church backyard.
Youth AssemblyThere will be a Youth Assembly on the 16 th June 2007. Parishes are requested to send five young people to this gathering. Registrations forms are enclosed and are to be returned to us no later than May 15 th 2007.
Parish Visits
It my wish that visitations to Parishes next year are arranged to provide me with a space for an “After Worship Seminar”. I encourage you also to have such a space with the Parishioners every other Sunday of the month. This space will afford us teaching opportunities or discussions on topical subjects on which we need to guide the faithful.
Christmas wishes
I take the opportunity to wish you and the faithful entrusted to your care, a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the Lord continue to bless you and your work. I personally feel blessed to be your spiritual leader and father in God and to have you as fellow Sojourners in the faith of Christ Jesus. Peace and joy.
