Traditional Celebration

Yesterday I attended the traditional wedding of a couple who were married about three weeks ago. What a lovely, lively, colourful celebration and blending of cultures. When you put together Sotho, Sepedi, and Irish what else can you expect but a great party!

Unusual Farewell

I conducted a memorial service for an 83 year old lady this afternoon. As the hearse was driving away, with everyone having said 'goodbye' by placing rose petals on the coffin, two Hadedah's flew overhead and landed in a tree over the road. They were making their usual calls, which at that moment sounded like 'Good-bye, Good-bye'. Not often that we have an official send-off like that!

Moz. trip 2008 - On the way to Espungabera

The team left at 04h45 on Saturday 28th June, and got to the Komatipoort border at 11h30. After 3 hours delay, they were on their way. They took the long way around this year due to the upheavals in Zimbabwe so the trip took 3 days instead of 2, and much more fuel was needed as a result. Here are a few photos of what they encountered along the way:

The Buzi River outside Dombe had to be crossed by ferry - an awesome experience when your vehicle is pulling a horse-trailer full of supplies and donations to the mission station! When the bridge upstream has been rebuilt, I wonder how these people will earn a living.


Roger (with glasses on his head) and Angela (the lady holding the fish's tail) are part of the team. A big tiger fish has been caught - a foretaste of what is to come on the Outreach?!

Kairos ministry

I was part of the Kairos team to Jo'burg South Ladies prison from 15 - 18 May. This time we were ministering to 42 participants from D-section (medium-term residents). There are only 9 in the maximum section that have not yet been on Kairos, so we have to wait until there are more there before we can minister in max. The impact of the various forms of Christian work at the prison is, from what I can see, amazing. Although the residents that come on the weekend do not really know what to expect and what it is all about, there is a tangible eagerness that underlies their initial discomfort and fear when we first meet them on the Thursday evening. From the time that I first became involved with Kairos there in 2002, I am aware of an atmosphere which is cleansed of animosity and tension. It's always a WOW experience to hear how the journey that we have them on for the weekend brings deep encounter with the Living God, healing and inner release from unforgiveness and rejection. As always, the testimonies at the closing ceremony on Sunday evening were very moving, and I could see that some of the first-time team members were really finding it difficult to say good-bye and move on. This is not the end for these residents - they form prayer and share groups and are encouraged to join other prison ministry opportunities like Alpha, to attend the services that are held regularly, and to attend the Kairos reunion meetings that take place every month.

One of the outcomes of Kairos is that they move on a journey from mistrust to trust through being formed, from the beginning of the weekend, into families (each with the name of a significant woman of the bible, like Lydia, Elizabeth, Hannah etc). these 'families' become prayer and share groups (in the outside world we call them cell-groups!!) and the residents begin supporting and caring for each other in a way that was not there previously.

Not everyone, of course, fully participates but there is always a change. One of the ladies that I 'sponsored' (i.e. welcomed to the weekend, paid special attention to, and kept checking how they were doing through the weekend) was quite open with me about how she isolated herself and would continue to do that - she gets up, when the cells are unlocked she goes to the library where she attends to her studies through Unisa, and at lock-up time retires to her bed and keeps to herself. She is intent on keeping a low profile and not causing any disruption in the hopes of an early parole. I really don't know if I could envision a sentence of say 10 years doing that. My prayer is that she will see the value of fellow Christian support and be a human amongst humans. Isn't that what being human is all about? - communication and community?

I pray that I have added value to that community beyond my ordinary labour.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day - and it is also Pentecost. A friend's daughter was singing in a choir at a church - in which Mother's Day was celebrated as well as the Global Day of Prayer. Not a mention was made of Pentecost! I know that in the USA Mother's Day is a very high profile celebration - but I wonder whether it is really justified in taking priority over the celebration of Pentecost?!! Just goes to show how the world encroaches on the church and calls the tune instead of being the other way around where the church provides the prophetic voice to the world.

I was blessed by receiving an sms from Ian and Juliette in Bali where they are honeymooning. Didn't know it was possible to sms here from there - just goes to show how un-techno-savvy I am!! Our Women's Auxilliary handed out bookmarks with a poem about the virtues of mothers, and we thanked God for mothers (and mothers-in-law!) - but apart from that our services were a celebration of the fulfilled promise of God in sending the Holy Spirit to dwell with and in us - to enliven and equip us for God's work in the world.

Come, Holy Spirit. Amen.

Ian & Juliette's Wedding

Saturday 3 May at 15hoo. The day was overcast and getting cooler. The cold front that had been promised by the weather bureau had arrived - and brought rain with it as well. We measured 34mm for Saturday. But that did not detract from the happiness of our celebration - rather we saw it as a blessing for the couple who were beginning a new adventure in marriage together. Here are a few photos - note the smiles on everyone's faces!

A radiant Juliette arrives at the chapel

Juliette and Emile before entering the chapel

Meet Dr Ian and Mrs Juliette Donkin

Emile & Jane - happy parents of the bride

Proud parents of the groom - Beryl & Ned

Beautiful bridesmaids - Claire & Heidi

Surgical skills being applied to a most delicious traditional wedding cake.Rev. Dave and Mrs Les Morgan. We have been family friends since Ian was 1 year old. It was a great blessing to have Dave conduct the marriage ceremony.Marc - brother of the bride. Happy to hand her over, or to gain a lot of male support?The Best Men now have a sister.

Richard, Paul, Allan behind the bridal couple.
Cousins: Lara Fath (Andrew's wife), Paul Donkin, Derek Donkin, Richard Donkin, Liesel(Richard's girlfriend), Allan Donkin, Stuart Fath, Andrew Fath - behind Ian and Juliette Table centre flower arrangement

The Night Before The Wedding

I don't know what I imagined we would be doing the evening before Ian's wedding. In fact, I don't think I imagined anything - not having done this sort of thing before. The eldest child is always the one one learns from!

In the afternoon we had the rehearsal at the venue. Our friend Gwen had already been there for quite a long time, with her helpers (husband Jan, and friend Claudette), arranging the flowers and table centres. What a blessing that it was a public holiday - takes the stress and rush away from the wedding day. It was all looking beautiful already. Then the sound equipment for the worship team was checked in the chapel, and the procedure practised and final adjustments to the programme made. I took some photos with my cell-phone, but the trick is how to get them from my phone into a computer - any computer!

Ned rushed off to his brothers and nephew to practise the songs they'll be singing at the reception, and took the borrowed keyboard to set it up and see how it worked - unsuccessfully!
While he was off there, the rest of us had supper - the young men were rather hungry! Allan opened a bottle of wine that was left from his friend's wedding a few weeks ago - and a chatty time was held around the table. Ned came home, ate, and then Alec - the owner of the keyboard - came to show us all how to set it up.

Ian, Allan, Ned, and Paul spent a fair amount of time working on their speeches for The Day, and Ian was also busy with emails. Richard seemed to be busy with varsity work. Cameras were all put on charge. I glanced through the mind-map that I had drawn up for Sunday night's sermon - but was not in a frame of mind to concentrate on it! Some of us sat and watched a mindless comedy on TV, and then started drifting off to bed.

Observing Enthusiasm in Action

I went to Sunday School today - another Sunday School - one where the Promiseland programme that we started at our church this year has been running for a while. We went to learn from them. For me, it was an uplifting experience. The teachers meet an hour before the session is due to start, begin with a time of devotion together, followed by what will be happening and who will be doing what for that day, and then the games are set up at various points. As children arrive they are encouraged to get involved with one or more of the games. It is a fun and occupied time as children are brought, met by one of their grade leaders, and immediately get involved and active with each other. The large group session began, included an ice-breaker activity, a teaching, and then broke up into grade groups and moved to various areas for the small group activities and establishment of the lesson for the day.

What did I notice and what can we absorb into our programme?
Enthusiasm on the part of all the teachers and helpers - an obvious desire to involved in the lives of the children.
Involvement seen in the teachers sitting on the floor with the kids - some in their laps - being like kids in the singing of the songs and the doing of the actions of the songs; encouraging the kids all the time to take part and enjoy.
Joy and excitement about what was being learned - evidenced by the freedom with which the kids answered questions, made comments and observations, and added their bit to what the teacher had been saying or talking about.
Welcome and acceptance of each kid and what he/she had to offer. I was reminded of what I heard recently: "I do not always understand you, but I welcome you and value what you bring to the table"

I was truly blessed by the experience. I pray that our Sunday School department will learn from and live out these characteristics, and that our children, too, will know that there is a great welcome for them in God's Kingdom.

A Day of Contrasts

Today has not been a typical 'day in the life of me'. Part was calming, part was rough, part was fun, part was intense - and the next part requires thought, compassion and prayer.

My day started with the Contemplative Prayer group which meets every Saturday from 7.30 - 8.30 - An hour of centering prayer and lectio divina, which realigns us, fills us with peace, and enables us to tackle life in the week ahead knowing that God is within and without and 'conducting the symphony' that we have been called to be a part of.

That was followed by the funeral service, at 10.00 of a 16year old young lad whom we confirmed last year. He died in a terrible car accident on Monday night - one of three youngsters and a dad. There were two survivors. It has had a huge impact on our community. The church was overflowing - over 500 people attended. Evidence of the love for and impact of this young person on many people in his short life. One of the blessings of being in a team ministry, is that it is not just one person who is responsible to handle the difficulties and pain that arise from living in this world. Wessel took the service. I would not have been able to - having journeyed with this young person and seen him grow in faith and commitment, and watched his leadership qualities blossom. Thank you, Wessel, for being the person and the minister that you are - a great blessing.

This afternoon was the joy of my future daughter-in-law's surprise kitchen tea party. Her organizing friends and family managed to keep it a complete surprise for her, and great fun and delicious eats were enjoyed by all present. I took many photos and hope that they turn out OK and are a true reflection of the love we have for her and the joy and blessings we all pray for her.

I left the tea party early in order to join a panel at the Kairos Retreat in Pretoria Women's prison. The panel was there to answer the questions that the residents had concerning prayer. The theme for this weekend has been the Jabez Prayer, and they are given the opportunity during the Saturday of the retreat to write down any questions they have about prayer that they have been too afraid to ask or not had the opportunity to ask. There were three of us on the panel, and we took it in turns to answer the questions and to add to whatever one of us had said. Often there is more lying behind the question than is evident on the surface, so we pray for discernment and trust each other for insights so that we may truly be of help. These retreat weekends, like the Kairos 3 day weekends, are truly a blessing not only to the residents but also to the team members who go into the prison to give of their love and their time.

This evening I have still to complete my sermon for tomorrow. I will be leading the evening service, which many of our youth attend, and am planning that it be a time of healing from the trauma of losing a beloved friend, and reassurance that Jesus is the one in whom we find our rest and peace in the midst of turmoil.

I often ask myself - how do I survive times like these? The answer, as always, is by the grace of God and in endeavouring to 'be present' to each situation encountered just like Jesus was.

The Busyness of March

The first term of the year always seems to be hectic - no matter how hard I plan to try and keep it 'controlled' so there is an 'un-busy' feel about it. With Lent starting in the beginning of February and Easter arriving before the end of March, life was somewhat stretched on the Church front. It seems I packed in a year's worth of action in a short space of time!

1. Our SANSSA (South African National Sunday School Association) Gala took place on Sat. 1 March. I swam. Twice. For the same race!! It has been a family joke for a long time that I 'mom' have an annual swim - that lasted from the time that all the boys were water safe and competent swimmers and did not need me to be prepared for rescue mode, until my youngest went into high-school. Then it changed to a once-in-two-years swim, and rapidly to a 'once in at least five years' swim. I cannot remember when last I climbed into the pool - even though it is two steps beyond the door from our dining-room. I'm just not a water-baby - never have been. I remember when I was in Grade 2 (6 years old) hiding in the changerooms during our classes swimming lesson. When I was eventually found after about a month, and was being scolded not only by the teacher but by the principal who had come to the pool especially for this event, and was forced into the water but refused to let go of the edge - I remember thinking that if the teacher and principal wouldn't get into the water, why the hell should I - particularly as I was scared to death of being in the pool. Ah, the joys of rebellion! I did eventually conquer my fear and learn to swim when I was about 9 or 10 years old - and even took part in school galas.

Swimming twice for the same race was a bit of an embarrassment - put it down to age! I dived in at the starter-gun-shot as the first in the 'parents relay', and was putting in my greatest effort (bearing in mind that I had not swum for about 6 or 7 years), only to be stopped three-quarters of the way across because there had been a false start. Oh man - what a waste of effort. So then I said I would swim last in the relay - give me time to catch my breath - which I did. This time it was a bit harder going, and after three-quarters of the way I had to change from freestyle to breast-stroke. Needless to say, our team came last - but I finished the race. Sorry I don't have a photo to prove it - wouldn't want to freak you out anyway!!

2. We held our Confirmation Camp on the 2nd weekend in March. This year I didn't go for the whole camp, but spent the Saturday there. Last year I did the whole camp because I had not camped with young people since Ned and I were camp-parents for a Scripture Union camp 18 years previously, and I needed to know how camping is done with the current generation of teenagers. We have a very competent Youth Pastor, who runs camps more than very well, and I am confident to leave the programme, planning and training of leaders in his hands.

3. The 3rd weekend I spent at the Good Shepherd Retreat Centre near Hartebeestpoort Dam with a Ladies Weekend as the Speaker. The theme was Four Seasons - linking up seasons of the year with seasons in our life, and drawing parallels and hope from the cycles. It was a blessed weekend, with much healing, growth, fellowship, laughter, and learning new crafts.

4. With the Ladies Weekend ending on Palm Sunday, Holy Week was upon us. This year we journeyed through the 'Seven Words from the Cross' during the week. My 'slot' was the Word of Forgiveness (Father, forgive them. They do not know what they do) and the Word of Assurance (Today you will be with me in Paradise) on the Tuesday night. Wessel was responsible for the service on Wednesday night. We all took part in the Maundy Thursday service: David dealing with the last two 'words'; Wessel leading the Tenebrae; I lead the Communion; and Kyle (our Youth Pastor) joined us in distributing communion. I received a number of comments from members that it was blessing for them to have all four of us ministering to them at the same service. David conducted the Good Friday service with Wessel giving the children's message.

5. And then it was Easter. I was pleased to do the 08h00 service, and get back home with enough time to finish preparing for our family get-together which happened from lunch-time on. It was also my sister-in-law Colleen's birthday, so we had a double reason to get together and share a happy time.

6. The final weekend was spent, as shown a couple of blogs earlier, in Pietermaritzburg for Andrew's wedding.

When each weekend is taken up with significant activities, the time in the intervening weeks of preparation and planning become quite stressful. I am enjoying the quieter time now, especially as it is school holidays and many activities go into recess. It gives me breathing space to 'pull myself towards myself' and get in some advance preparation for the months ahead. Whew!!

Mocambique Outreach 2007

For a number of years a team from our church (The Glen Methodist Church) has been visiting AIM missionaries based in Espungabera. 2007 was the first time that I was able to go along as well. Ned, Ian, Allan, Richard and Paul have all been at least once. Ned wrote this report which includes pictures from previous trips. The 'pages' are a bit small to read clearly, but if you click on each page in turn, it will open in a new window and you will be able to read the commentary and see the pictures more clearly.
If you are inspired to join the next trip, which is from 28 June to 13 July inclusive, please send your email and we will get back to you. Vehicles will be welcome as well - bakkies/ 4x4s/ whatever will be able to negotiate rough roads and bush tracks!!

Reduce Spending on Petrol

Our conversation at the dinner table this evening went around the impending increase in petrol which would raise the cost to >R8/L; and the exponential increase which would see petrol being >R12-R16 in about 3years time. One solution to reduce spending would be to live near the Varsity. The new flats built there go for a rent of R4000/month. So Richard reckons that it would not be worth moving into a pokey one-roomed place until he approached that figure in petrol costs - which is unlikely to happen in the years of study he has left if he continues with Honours/Masters next year. Paul is happy to continue with his pals sharing rides and so decreasing expenditure - that will go on for 5years including this year.

Another solution would be to ride a motor-cycle - a suggestion quickly shot down by one anxious father/husband because of the danger inherent in riding such vehicles. Though looking at the amount that a friend of Richard's spends per month on petrol for his motorbike (R100) to get to Varsity and back - Richard reckons that at some stage the risk is worth it economically. I tend to agree with him. My ever-loving concerned husband perhaps forgets that when he met me I was trundling around on a little red 50cc Suzuki scooter which went max. speed of 25miles per hour downhill with the wind behind me. But of course that was in the then Southern Rhodesia (even before it was called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia which then dropped the Rhodesia part), and the traffic was certainly not as dense in the late 1970s there as it is in the 2000s here now! I think he also forgets that he purloined my scooter after we were married to go to work on - all in the efforts of saving petrol, which was pretty scarce in those days. I had bought the scooter because my petrol ration when I taught in Umtali (Mutare) was 5 coupons (=25 litres) per month. With my desire to travel in the eastern districts and back and forth to family in Salisbury, I needed a way to not use much petrol so that I could 'save' it for use in my 1957 Morris Minor 1000, named Myrtle.

That scooter was also very useful for me when we lived on a large irrigation scheme in the Transkei. It was great to take little son number one around to see cows being milked, calves being fed, owls sitting on fence posts, biplane crop sprayer parked and asking to be climbed on like a jungle gym... Unfortunately, as little son number two grew bigger, I found it a bit difficult, and rather unsteady, driving down bumpy gravel farm roads, with one boy in a kanga pouch on my chest, and another one hanging on to my back from the rear seat - not all that safe!!! - so we sold her. I still hanker for her, and have vaguely considered getting one of those BMW type vehicles with protective screen/roof - but I know I never will.

After all, I wouldn't want to embarrass my sons now, would I???

Sunday School

I visited our Sunday School this morning. There were about 100 children aged 3 - 12, gathered in the hall for the beginning part of the hour - seated in rows and all sizes mixed up together. The lesson story of the day was told/ read/ enacted mainly by two teenagers. They did a good job in spite of not being equipped in knowing how to grab and hold attention and bring the children into the centre of the story. The message got through mostly - but I wondered about the littlest ones...

The lesson time was followed by praise and worship singing time - with actions accompanying the words. It pleased me to see the smaller ones standing on the chairs so they could see better. I wished that they had done that during the story time. After this, the various age-groups went off with their own teachers to smaller classrooms and continued with application of the story and activities.

Today there were 4 older teachers (over 30 years) and 4 younger teachers (ages 16-21). They do take it in turns to give the main lesson of the week, and not every teacher comes every week. In a church of 900 regular worshippers surely this is not sufficient to cater for the eternal lives of the children among us?

Youth Ministry

Today we held our Youth Alpha Holy Spirit day - with members of our confimation group plus other youth. The way we do confimation, and the way we conduct youth ministry needs to undergo change. It is screamingly obvious how the youngsters lack both knowledge and any level of maturity that one would expect from those 16 years and older. Before we looked up any scriptures, it was necessary to start from scratch - showing the list of contents (books) divided into Old and New testaments; showing the chapter and verse notations and how to find the places we would be referring to. One comment was: 'the numbers are so small'. Another comment, or rather question, was: 'why don't we see miracles happening anymore'.

I see the lack in the youth as being a natural consequence of what has been happening over the last four decades. When I began teaching in high schools, the trend was growing to place more and more responsibility on the schools for what should have been taught in the home - sex education being the then much talked about concern, followed by religious instruction. Sex education has become a teaching of the biological mechanics of reproduction, with little - if any - attention to moral and relationship values, and with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, its spread, and how people should accept and care for sufferers. Not even the consequence of what to do with the millions of orphans has been addressed in any meaningful manner.

There was a time when ministers were invited into the schools to to RI with the pupils from their denomination. Parents played a lesser role, and directed their efforts towards earning more to ostensibly provide more materially and in the way of opportunities for their children. And the parent-child relationships took a dive as the 'latch-key' kids became a normal phenomenon in society. The 'buck' has been passed to such an extent that, in our secular society where there is no longer Religious Instruction in schools, the youngsters are not learning about faith. A large majority of parents have abdicated both faith-practice and instruction. The youngsters do not know about miracles happening because the parents do not recognise miracles or God's work in their lives and therefore are unable to bring these to the attention of their children or point out the works of God in their children's lives. A sad situation, but where does that leave us as the Church? What is our role and how do we carry it out?

Of course, it is to evangelise and encourage people to become disciples and to teach etc. But as far as the Youth is concerned, we need to 'do church' in new creative ways. We will have to take 'church' out into their world rather than insist that they come to the premises where the church buildings are. We need to meet them on their turf and give them a vision of God's presence and action in their hyperactively changing world where so much seems to become obsolete so quickly, and where stability and things eternal are unknown and totally foreign concepts. I believe that we need to take a long hard look at what we have done youth-wise and to whom we have delegated the task of youth ministry. It is not enough to expect a young person or a young married couple to take on the responsibility any more. There needs, I believe, to be more intentional equipping of those who experience a call to this area of ministry. And they need to be properly remunerated for it as well. Gone are the days when it was expected that youth ministry would be a temporary occupation that one would 'grow out of' on the way to becoming ordained. That attitude is, to my mind, downright derogatory and both blind and deaf to the needs and the worth of young people, as well as to those called to this ministry. If you pay peanuts, you cannot expect to get more than monkeys - so the saying goes. Perhaps we should be sending our Youth Pastors on teacher training courses to better equip them towards dealing with and coming alongside the youth.

And then, it's not just the Youth that we need to address more creatively - the parents obviously need something different too - something that would spur them on to active committed faith and the desire to invest in their children's eternal lives. And I wonder whether we as ministers are not in need of radical transformation ourselves. Is it the Wonder and Otherness of God that motivates us to worship? Do we worship in spirit and in truth ourselves? Or are we just trying to keep up to date with the tasks that come our way and the sermons that need to be preached on a Sunday? Are we in living relationships with our Lord and Saviour - or just 'winging it'? I know that it is an ongoing struggle for me to keep on making the time to just be quiet in the Lord's presence - and to keep interruptions at bay from those (family, friends and 'sheep') who believe that I am to be there for them at the drop of whatever.

Where do we go from here?

Sadness

On Tuesday I conducted a memorial service for a member of our church community. The disturbing thing for me was that we did not even know that the chap had been ill. Our Youth Pastor received a call from his daughter - who had been in the confirmation class 2007 - at 06h00 on Friday to say that her dad had died. She was, of course in a state, and Kyle went to see the family and I followed up with a visit later in the morning. Graham had been in hospital for three and a half weeks, being admitted with pancreatitis. They thought that he was pulling through, but then all systems gave up and he died. Fortunately (I believe) they were called by the hospital and were with him and able to say their good-byes at the end. A complicating factor was that he had been addicted to alcohol, and there were many regrets and what-ifs that needed answering. Can one ever answer adequately? Graham himself, and his wife, had not been regular church attenders, although he made sure that his daughters (now aged 16 and 14) went to Sunday School. At a time like this I find it important to get the family to recognise the fruits of faith that had been (hopefully) in the person's life. Graham had been a good father and provider for his family, and been the initiator of much fun. They knew that they were loved - even though they struggled with the effects of his addiction and, consequently, were responsible for arguments and 'bad words' between them and him. However, what I did find encouraging was that the extended family and work colleagues seemed to lend much valuable care, encouragement and support during the time of Graham's hospitalisation, and, according to his wife, prayed much for him and them. So although we ourselves were in the dark concerning the desperate circumstances that the family was experiencing, other parts of the body of Christ were there for them. And this is what it means to be the church, does it not?? I thank God that there are many active, involved, caring members of God's family testifying to their faith and love for God, and bringing hope and comfort to those in need of it.

Chaos in the Zimbabwe Anglican Church

These following came via my brother-in-law from a close friend still living in Zimbabwe:

We have had some excitement at Church, which we could well have done without. Nolbert Kunonga the Bishop of the Diocese of Harare and a bad man, and his political cohorts and episcopal supporters decided they would withdraw the Diocese from the Province of Central Africa, which includes all the other four Zim Diocese and the Church in Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. He cited the Provinces softness toward homosexuality as the reason. He announced at the Provincial Synod he was going to do it and when he got back here held a Diocesan Synod where he overrode the laity and with the support of his supporters in the clergy passed a resolution that they were pulling out. The Province responded by appointing Sebastian Bakare, retired, as an interim Bishop for the Diocese and we have had two factions since then. About 90% or more of the laity are against Kunonga and some clergy. For a couple of weeks there was chaos, as we had services in school halls and eventually got into church halls and last week received a Judicial Order that allowed us into church, but only 90 minutes after the last service of the Kunonga crowd. So our Rector prolonged his service so that the Bakare church service only started about 11.45 instead of 10.45.

What it has done is unite the congregations in a way nothing else ever has. We get 160-200 in our service and the Rector has less than 20 in his three services. The accounts have been separated so none of our money goes to "them". However, we are deprived of the rightful use of the church buildings and other assets. We know the whole thing is politically driven and the Sunday after Christmas we were back from the Doormans in Trelawney and went to Church unaware that there was any sort of problem. On arrival we saw a cop sitting in the parking area and then some 'heavies' with dark glasses on the steps but we all went in. The new Bishop was to take the service and we were delayed. Eventually the church Warden came in and said, "We have a problem". The Rector stalked down to the altar with a face some described as "long as a bad road" and when the Bishop came in, the Rector started shouting at him and the congregation. He said "This is my church so this man can't serve here." The congregation shouted back in unison" This is our Church and we want him to take the service." The CIO heavies tried to take him out so the congregation all filed out onto the lawn and started singing and praying in both English and Shona. The police, CIO and clergy of both factions then met in the vestry to sort it out. The CIO sent a police reservist to shush the singing, the Shona choir sang louder. Eventually the big shots all went to the Police Station and we carried on. We had to leave as we had another engagement. After we left the CIO sent the policeman to arrest the choir master and the choir surrounded him and said you cant have him. Eventually the outcome was no service but a lot of singing to the Lord was done. In other churches the riot police have been sent in to arrest our side when they are in services. We await the next exciting episode.

Kunonga and all his supporters have been excommunicated by the worldwide Anglican Church but he has now said he has formed his own Province and divided Harare Diocese into five Diocese so that it can be a Province. The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he is a bad lad, etc. We will find out tomorrow what is going on we have an 11.00 am service in the Church! We hope! No power, no water, no food, bad roads, and now no Church - darkest Africa returns! The new Bishop is supposed to be enthroned the first week in February we await with interest what will happen as Kunonga refuses to leave the Cathedral.

2. From The Zimbabwe Independent, 1 February
High Court says Kunonga Diocese 'non-existent': Lucia Makamure
High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe yesterday said the Anglican Diocese of Harare which fired bishop Nolbert Kunonga purports to head cannot exist at law outside the constitution of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA). Hungwe said this when he dismissed an urgent application by the diocese represented by Kunonga for a spoliation order against the CPCA and acting Harare bishop Sebastian Bakare. Kunonga's diocese approached the court to bar the CPCA and Bakare from using Anglican property in the capital. "Applicant (Kunonga's Harare Diocese) cannot exist outside the constitution of first respondent (CPCA). It has no separate constitution of its own. It, therefore, has no structures of its own other than those set out in the constitution," Hungwe ruled. "The assets under contention are assets which respondent lays claim to. The question of ownership of these assets is not presently before me." Hungwe said it was clear to him that Kunonga's diocese was nowhere "near demonstrating that it has placed itself within the purview of those who confess to be Anglicans and who abide by the constitution" of their church. There is no claim that there was resolution of the synod of the diocese adopting this alleged breakaway (by Kunonga)," the judge ruled. He said Kunonga by breaking away from the CPCA violated the constitution of the church. What the papers do show is that Bishop Kunonga and the diocesan secretary and a handful of other worshippers have decided to leave the first respondent. They have, however, not followed the church's constitution, as such they cannot seek to rely on a constitution that they have so much violated. They claimed they have been despoiled by the acts of the second respondent (Bakare) whose only offence was to minister members of the first respondent," Hungwe's judgement read.

Hungwe said Bakare did not despoil Kunonga and the Diocese of Harare of anything when he accepted invitations to conduct services in the diocese. "I am unable to hold that where a bishop of one diocese is invited to minister in a different diocese and accepts such invitation by the faithful, such services as he may conduct amount to unlawful dispossession of whatever rights are held by the ordained bishop for the locality," the judge ruled. "In my respectful opinion no unlawful dispossession occurred in this matter|for to argue that entry into a church premise by a bishop of a separate diocese constitutes dispossession would be to stretch the mandament too far." Hungwe said the parties to the dispute, being men of the cloth, ought to resolve their disagreements in a "God-fearing manner".

3. Report on the enthronement of Bishop Bakare - 3 Feb 08 From: "Avondale Parish"
Dear all,
We woke to a beautiful sunny day and praised the Lord for his goodness. When we arrived at the City Sports Centre around 9:15am the car park was already full of buses and cars and people were streaming into the Sports Centre. The Security and Usher teams were in force provided by the Youth and the Bernard Mizeki Guild. They had name cards identifying them and some had sashes as well. The choirs were in magnificent voice and the noise emanating from the inside was wonderful to hear.
By the time the service commenced the Centre was almost full and continued to fill during the morning. The Cathedral and St Stephen's had dressed the altar, lectern and the stage in white and green with two magnificent white arrangements of flowers on pedestals. The chairs for the bishops had white slip covers on them. The playing area had seats arranged in blocks with padded chairs in the front two rows for invited guests and dignitaries. The choirs sang the whole time and every now and then there would be a roar from the congregation. The Mothers Union were present in force and they made quite an impact in their blue and white uniforms. Two large screens had been set up so that people would be able to see some close-ups of the proceedings.The choirs were seated to the right in bays 13,14 and 15 and were all wearing white blouses or shirts.
Just prior to processions of the bishops the servers, sub-deacons, deacons and priests had filed in to sit in bay 16 immediately behind the altar. For those who know the Sports Centre, this bay is where the score board is situated. The service commenced with the arrival of the bishops. The first one was Bishop Peter Hatendi followed by those from Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Each was announced and a brief curriculum vitae given stating where they had been trained, when enthroned as a bishop and other pertinent details. The bishops were led in down the aisle by servers wearing red surplices and priests. The teams rotated so they walked many hundreds of metres. The choirs continued to sing throughout the procession apart from when the announcements were made.

Bishop Bakare commenced the service which was partially in Shona and partially in English. The readings were Nehemiah 2: 11->; Psalm 99:1-9; 2 Peter 1:1-16 and Matthew 17: 1->. The Sermon was on Reconciliation and Rebuilding based on Nehemiah 4:1-4. The sermon was given in English with Rev Chris Tapera translating into Shona.

The Registrar Michael Chingore and the Deputy Registrar Vimbai Nyemba were commissioned by Bishop Bakare assisted by the Diocesan Chancellor Bob Stumbles.
The Peace took several minutes as people milled around greeting friends and passing on the Peace.The Collection Hymn followed with the ushers moving around with large plastic bags to receive the collection. This was then put into a fertiliser bag to present to Bishop Bakare. Perhaps not the most elegant of bags but it served the purpose very well and possibly many were not aware of it, but as we were sitting right near the altar we could see everything.

During the Collection hymn just before the Preparation of the Elements, Bishop Bakare went out of the Sports Stadium for several minutes. We were told by Pam Stumbles and Rhona Harris who went out briefly that this was a News Conference but it seemed strange to us to have one in the middle of the Eucharist. The ciboriums had been filled with wafers and the bottles of wine were put onto the altar, some decanted into the chalice and the consecrated wine was then poured back into each bottle. The Dean of the Province, Bishop Chama conducted the Preparation with Bishop Bakare also participating half-way through. The bishops then received communion, followed by the priests and their sub-deacons and servers. The priests and sub-deacons then administered the sacraments by intinction. Those on the centre section came up to the red carpet in front of the altar to receive and those in the bays moved either up or down as directed by the ushers. It was incredibly orderly and when one considered the size of the congregation took an amazingly short time.
The service had just about concluded at 1:25pm when the power failed and Bishop Bakare announced when the generator started that we would move to Plan B. Plan B was then revealed that as the congregation was so large and so many would like to be present and the cathedral would not accommodate everyone, the enthronement of the Bishop would take place at the Sports Centre. In effect Kunonga had apparently camped at the cathedral all night on Saturday and the cathedral was locked with guards so the service could not take place there. People who had been invited to the Enthronement and went to the cathedral were therefore unable to witness it, but those at the Sports Centre were delighted that they were going to be able to witness the entire ceremony.
The actual Enthronement was very simple as part of the pomp and ceremony could not take place. A chair was placed in front of the altar as the throne. The Dean of the Province presented Bishop Sebastian Bakare to the congregation so "that all may know him to be the rightly appointed and confirmed Bishop of Harare, and to give him that esteem and love which are due to him for the work's sake as one set over you in the Lord."
The certificates of Confirmation of Appointment were handed to the Registrar who also received from the new Bishop the Deeds of his Consecration and Collation. The Registrar having satisfied himself that these were in order then affirmed that "Sebastian Bakare is our undoubted Bishop"

The Bishop responded and thanked the congregation for their welcome and promised "to be a faithful shepherd and servant among us." He prayed that "the ministry which we shall share may be pleasing to God, and that it may strengthen the life of this Diocese and the whole Church of God."
He was led to a "suitable seat" and the pastoral staff was laid on the Altar. He then faced the congregation and promised "to respect, maintain and defend the rights, privileges and liberties of this Diocese and to rule in it with truth justice and love, not lording it over God's heritage, but showing myself in all things an example to the flock of Christ."

The Acting Dean then enthroned him as Bishop of Harare
The Acting Dean then blessed the Bishop who knelt before the altar. The Acting Dean then took the Pastoral staff from the altar and handed it to him saying " May the Giver of all grace enable you to be so merciful that you be not remiss, so to minister discipline that you do not forget mercy; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear you may receive the never-fading crown of glory."

The Bishop was then presented to the people who welcomed him with a shout, ululation and clapping. The priests then expressed their loyalty to the Bishop while he was seated on the throne. This was followed by messages of solidarity. The first was given by Bishop Nywatiwa of the Methodist Church and a German lady from Africa University. Rev David Bertram (Christchurch, Polokwane - SA), St Aiden's Church Chitungwiza and the Bishop of Rochester had also sent messages. Bishop Hatendi also gave a message of solidarity and a message was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The message concluded with an invitation for Bishop Bakare to attend Lambeth Congress later this year. (Kunonga had not been invited to this meeting.)
The wives of the various bishops were also acknowledged. The service concluded with a Blessing and then the priests, etc. processed out followed by the bishops and lastly the Dean of the Province.We were pleased that so many people were able to witness this historic occasion in the rebuilding of our Diocese but were sad that we were denied the right to have it in the Cathedral. We feel too for those who waited in vain for the Enthronement at the Cathedral as I understand some people waited for at least two hours. Ruth Chard had spent several hours practising on the organ for the service.We hope that we will now be able to move forward in the love of Christ. So much unity and joy was expressed yesterday and our congratulations go to all who made this historic occasion happen so smoothly.
Trish McKenzie. Warden Avondale Church
4. From: "Avondale Parish" <avondaleparish.cpca@gmail.com
Subject: Supporters of pro-Mugabe bishop blockade cathedral - from ZW News 4 Feb 08

From Associated Press, 3 February
Supporters of pro-Mugabe bishop blockade cathedral, locking out worshippers

Harare - Supporters of an Anglican bishop who is a staunch supporter of Zimbabwe's ruling party blockaded Harare's cathedral Sunday, preventing the swearing-in ceremony of his elected successor. Police ignored a court order and did not intervene. Gangs of supporters of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga locked the doors and gates to the cloisters of St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral in downtown Harare and at least two worshippers who tried to enter were assaulted, witnesses said. The High Court on Thursday ruled that the swearing-in of Bishop Sebastian Bakare, voted bishop of the Harare Anglican province by local churches to replace Kunonga, should go ahead and Bakare's followers should be allowed to worship in the cathedral. But from early Sunday, Kunonga's supporters circled the cathedral entrances and barred entry to churchgoers showing up for Sunday services. A few police, watched by witnesses and reporters, did not intervene.
Bakare was later installed in an "investiture" ceremony as the new caretaker Anglican bishop of Harare at a service attended by several thousand worshippers at a sports arena across the city. The standoff was the latest incident in a bitter dispute that has racked the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe since Kunonga last year refused to hand over the cathedral, its administrative offices, its check accounts and vehicles to church elders after losing the election for bishop. In January, Kunonga declared he was breaking away from the Church of the Province of Central Africa, the regional Anglican governing body, and declared the formation of an independent Anglican Harare diocese that retained him as its leader. But in his court ruling Thursday, Judge Charles Hungwe ruled that declaration invalid, saying church elders across the region had not accepted the schism and it violated longstanding constitutional rules of the Anglican church in central and southern Africa.
He dismissed an appeal by Kunonga to bar Bakare from using church property for worship and said "men of the cloth ought to resolve their differences in a God-fearing manner". In an earlier ruling last month, the High Court permitted both Kunonga's and Bakare's followers to hold services in the cathedral at separate times while the issue of the bishop's post was resolved. Scuffles occurred at those services, watched over by armed police, and in one incident Kunonga snatched Bakare's bible from his grasp and threw it across the cathedral nave. In 2004, Kunonga faced a regional church court on allegations of incitement to murder, fostering ruling party politics, ethnic hatred and incitement from the pulpit during the often-violent seizures ordered by Mugabe and the ruling party of thousands of white-owned farms since 2000, and using intimidation against his opponents. That court adjourned in confusion and rancor before it could make a ruling on the behavior of Kunonga, a former lecturer in liberation theology in the United States.
Soon after becoming Harare bishop, Kunonga ordered the removal of memorial plaques and insignia honoring the country's dead before independence in 1980, including those of black soldiers who fought alongside the forces of Britain, the former colonial ruler, in World War II. Last month, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Church, said he unequivocally condemned the use of armed police and state machinery to intimidate Kunonga's opponents. "Kunonga's position has become increasingly untenable within the Anglican Church over the last year, as he has consistently refused to maintain appropriate levels of independence from the Zimbabwean Government," Williams said.