September 2015

The Anglican Youth Fellowship of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth held their annual diocesan conference on the 18th – 19th of September 2015. Structured to suit the very young group of people, it commenced with a fun quiz about the history of the diocese and of the organisation. Each parish had to choose a person whom they have confidence to know more, ending with an evening prayer, the young people were ready for day two. A beautiful morning bible study set a theme for the environmental presentation as everything was based on what young could do in their own parishes. Environmental issues seemed to be known by the young people which made the discussions for  Green Anglicans plan of action very easy. A video demonstration was shown to the young people on how media has changed our perception towards creation and how we need to pray and pay attention to nature as well. The presentation brought a lot of insight and sparked ideas, and the diocesan youth vowed to take the following actions Environmental Awareness and education in parishes Social gatherings outdoors Creation services Recycling and vegetable gardens Each parish had to participate in a game, which taught them about recycling with the aim of creating better understanding of how to recycle and reuse products. The winning parish received a voucher towards their next Green Anglicans/ Environmental event.

ST CYPRIANS SCHOOL – WE WANT TO BE THE GENERATION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE   “We want to be the generation to make a difference”. That’s what 10 year Tia Cartoulis said in regard to rhino poaching. Her generation is watching the state of our wildlife – particularly rhinos which have been hit hard over the last few years by poaching. Last year saw 1 004 rhinos lost and this year’s figures have far exceeded that.   Tia has been raising money for Rhinos Without Borders whose goal it is to move 100 rhinos from poaching hotspots in South Africa to safe havens in Botswana. She’s spent all her time making loom bands and selling them on weekends, raising an impressive R3 000. She wanted to do more so asked her school, St Cyprian’s Preparatory if there was a project that they could do together to create awareness and raise funds. Even though the end of the school year is a busy time, Justin Skea, Principal of the Prep School couldn’t refuse a passionate pupil. They decided to make an origami rhino for each rhino poached last year to show the true impact that a number simply can’t quite convey. The challenge was on. Each pupil was to attempt to make 3 origami rhinos, which would bring their total to the required number. For a few days before the challenge they raised funds, and on the day started folding origami rhinos. By the end of the day the school chapel had an astonishing 1 200 origami rhinos laid out down the centre aisle. They’d exceeded their target and had made what is likely to be this year’s final poaching total.   Their efforts realised a total of R16 611.75 to be donated to Rhinos Without Borders – enough to pay for two VHF horn transmitters, which will track the rhinos in their new environment as well as satellite tracking time for two rhinos for an entire year. The St Cyprians students are the first Rhinos Without Borders ‘Rhino Innovators’; school students who are using innovation to come up with creative ways to raise awareness of the plight of rhinos and of the initiative. The school has now challenged other schools to take up the challenge and make more money and more origami rhinos than they did. They put particular emphasis on Bishops and Herschel schools in Cape Town. We are now looking for other schools to take on the challenge across the world. 1 200 origami rhinos, each one representing a poached rhino makes for a somber image. However the passion that these girls displayed brings hope as well – that this may indeed be the generation to make a difference.   – See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/st-cyprians-makes-an-origami-rhino-for-each-one-poached-last-year/#sthash.rtwtYHvX.dpuf

Church Under The Tree (CUT)  St James Church in Ladybrand has started an outreach ministry for car guards in the town. This grew out of a weekly fellowship group in which members of that group were challenged to initiate a community project. CUT started slowly at the end of 2014 with a Christmas lunch launch. A retired local  pastor gladly agreed to bring a message in Sesotho  to those present. ‘Those present’ had been rounded up from the town by the rector of St James Anglican Church which is also the venue for CUT and another colleague  . The message was preached by Pastor Sipho and a good meal shared. After this, CUT followed a monthly  pattern of ‘roundingup’ a congregation, presenting a message by Pastor Tshepo and sharing bread(lots of it) and soup (lots of it). In the winter this congregation was so eager to hear more that we have held CUT every week since June. We were also able to hand out warm clothes in the worst weeks of winter. A remarkable facet of this ministry has been that there were enough clothes when it was cold and there always seems to be enough to eat! On average we cater for 30-40 people, but this last Friday there were close to 60 present. It has been exciting to try and keep up with what God is doing in this one.  

Launch of Season of Creation at Christ the Mediator – Westridge Church of the Mediator launched their Season of Creation with a beautiful service on Stewardship. The liturgical dancers led us with the Song “heal the world” from Michael Jackson. “Make it a better place for you and for me and the Entire human race” . The stewardship team prepared a display to challenge and educate. Rev Rachel Mash from Green Anglicans was invited to preach and challenge the congregation.  

The Anglican Youth Fellowship from the Diocese of George held their annual youth conference KwaNonqaba, Mossell Bay on the 11-13 of September 2015. With an awareness aim, the conference commenced with a clean-up campaign at local public service centres. Environment issues seemed to be nothing new to the young people as they were very participative and aware of what is recyclable or not. Working with Colonel Pedro Braaff, and Sargent Kaap, the young people placed the local police station in a very clean and healthy working environment. Commenting on the state of the Police station before and after Colonel Braaff said “Thank you to AYF and Green Anglicans for the effort put in, it shows that the Anglican Church is serious about care for creation and community relations.” He later said that the young people are always welcome to do more of these activities with help from the Police Station. From the clean-up campaign AYF went back to the church to discuss their plan of action to make sure that more activities are done in the diocese to encourage environmental awareness especially in their parishes. After a brief presentation and discussion the youth decided on the following actions   Have an environmental officer in the AYF executive This person will be responsible for environmental activities in conferences and that issues that are putting creation at risk are taken care of Invest in diocesan vegetable garden This will assist with conference catering and other events in the church Change Conference venues Instead of using the church as the usual venue, have it in campsites or any outdoor place where people can connect more with nature Environmental Education Each parish to host environmental summits and workshops. They also discussed a number of activities and commitments that could be done by the diocesan executive and members including: Recycling Education to sustain the Green Anglicans movement Form partnership with relating organisations and local municipality Overall the executive and members took these to their general meeting and will be passed and practised by AYF.

    At their recent Synod, the Diocese of Saldanha Bay passed the following environmental resolution. WHEREAS our Planet Earth has in recent decades suffered the environmental impact of: over-consumption, increasing population growth, deforestation, over-fishing, exploitation of non-renewable resources, insurmountable waste dumps, and pollution;   AND WHEREAS we believe that this has been the underlying cause of:  environmental disasters, acid rain, ozone depletion, climate change, and the extinction of species; AND WHEREAS the Encyclical “Laudato si” (“Praise be to you”) of Pope Francis has been met with universal acclaim, and echoes the prophetic sentiments of the “Green Movement”, and the call for us to be good stewards of God’s Creation; AND WHEREAS one of the five marks of mission of the Anglican Communion is:  “To strive to safeguard the integrity of Creation and sustain and renew life of the Earth”; and the ACSA Environment Network, SAFCEI (The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute} and other organisations are promoting the application of this through the eco-congregation movement. Resolution: NOW THEREFORE THIS SYNOD RESOLVES THAT: The Diocese of Saldanha Bay, through its structures, be encouraged to: Listen to ‘the cry of the Earth’ and identify, proclaim and implement measures to protect the Environment and reduce our own ‘carbon footprint’. Engage with different communities to listen to, discuss with and challenge them regarding their use and abuse of the Earth’s resources, to foster responsible ‘Earth-keeping’ for future generations, appropriate to their circumstances. All Parishes be encouraged to: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” – both as a parish and as individuals – through the use of paper, glass and plastic recycling bins in Parishes. Go a step further, to: Find ways to save water and electricity. Develop and use their grounds to the benefit of the community (e.g. food gardens). Use their Church plant space to the benefit of the community. Study environmental issues, and share ways to be “Good Stewards of God’s Creation” – through articles in “Quill & Quiver” and by other means. Celebrate A Season of Creation and/or special Environment days. The Bishop be respectfully requested to: Facilitate the formation of a Diocesan Environmental Task Team to address the relevant issues. Mandate the Liturgy Team to source and facilitate special liturgies to celebrate Creation and the Environment. Mandate the Department of Theology and Spiritual Formation to source study material and to train our Clergy in Environmental Theology. Moved by: The Revd Canon Jeannine Louw Seconded by:  Mr Aubrey Dedericks