John-Paul Roberts

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The Anglican Youth of Southern Africa (AYSA) hosted its Provincial Youth Council consultation at St Peter’s Place in Johannesburg from 10-12 October 2024. During the three-day consultation youth leaders and Chaplains from across the Anglican Church of Southern Africa came together to share experiences, learn and elect a new executive. During day one delegates share their diocesan reports and it went without notice how much work young people across the province are doing in Caring for Creation. Day two started our day with a morning prayer led by the Diocese of Natal and the Diocese of Swaziland, after an online session with the Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The Green Anglicans were also invited to share on the topic “Climate Change as a Human Rights Issue , during which Bino Makhalanyane by making use of the different constitutions of the countries which make up AYSA,  shared why Climate Change is a matter of Human Rights and not just only for those who are in love with nature ( have green hand/ tree huggers ), Mr Solly Nyezi from the African Climate Alliance (ACA) shared more practical activism which youth people from ACA are taking the minster of Minerals and Resources to court under the #CancelCoal campaign , while Revd Geke van Vliet gave insight to theologians in the form of youth reps and Chaplains present on The Theology of Climate Justice. In closing the day, we had our elections and commissioning of the new leadership. Day three started with a morning prayer led by the Diocese of False Bay and the Diocese of George, which was followed by an outreach visit, to the local children’s home, were delegates had a chance to share with those less privileged and play with the children from the home . On the way back to the consultation venue, PYC members had a #AYSA VS. Litter.   Pick it Up campaign, and Cleaning the streets In closing, we had an outside Eucharist led by former Chaplain The Venerable Archdeacon Mpho Mohale, who encouraged us to be transformed as we descend from the Mount of Transfiguration. The Green Anglicans wishes to congratulate the newly elected PYC committee and thank the outgoing executive which was led by Ms Lulama Ntuta for their ministry and hard work over the past three years. Photo Credit : Mandisa Gumada and Melissa Awu. 

There was an annual Diocesan Sunday School Celebration, from Friday 27th until Sunday 29th September 2024, hosted by St. Bernard, the Martyr Anglican Church, Far East Archdeaconry – Diocese of the Free State. The event was a huge success thanks to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ! On Friday, a multitude of Anglican children, Sunday School teachers and parents gathered at Charles Mopeli Stadium where they were all warmly accommodated amidst the water shortage and electricity shortages in the area. Saturday was big day for all Eco-champions and Climate Advocates! The day began with a Morning Prayer service administered by two lovely Lay Ministers from the hosting Archdeaconry. There was a short devotion where the Sunday School children and Teachers were encouraged to love one another. Then they went to debate, in a “fishbowl” format, on the topic Food Waste, as the following day would be the commemoration of International Day of Food Loss and Waste.  While the younger ones were playing outdoor games and Treasurer Hunts, children of the ages 12+ Years participated in the debate. They were shared into 4 groups, the Children Team, the Parents Team, the Farmer’s Team and the Religious Leaders Team.  Each team had children and teachers who were all given 10 minutes to discuss before coming to the bowl. The debate was robust, funny and very insightful as we got to hear from the children’s point of view as to why they waste food. These young ones taught us how to reason as parents to our children and teach them the appreciation of food. They also displayed a wide range of information on farming, and biblically substantiated the importance of food security in stewardship. The time came for us to hit the streets! President Eco-champion Tsholofelo Mona, of the Sunday School Diocesan Executive Committee made a few announcements and also highlighted the peculiarity of the event, asshe said, “This conference is the first of this nature”. It was an amazingexperience! Children and teachers had made garments from recyclable materials for this well-structured street show. President summoned Eco-champions to the van that had a microphone and speaker. The SAPS van led the way and the Eco-champs rotated the microphone around as they spread awareness throughout Namahadi. Eco-champ Morena Pule talked about Food Waste and Loss. Eco-champ Kebaabetswe Sepato shared insight about Arbor Month. Eco-champ Manibijara Pule spread word about Plastic-free lifestyle. Eco-champ Karabo Moeketsi highlighted the commemoration of Tourism Day which was onFriday and the importance of Tourism on the Economy. When they arrived back at the stadium, the children took part in a pageant and TikTok Amapiano Dance challenges. There was a guest speaker who educated children on Albinism. In the Evening there was a talent show celebrating Heritage Month. On Sunday, there was a mass Eucharist Service. The celebrant and Preacher was the Chaplain of Free State Diocesan Anglican Youth Ministries, Rev. Father Bassy Molefi. The Archdeacon of Far East also grace event with his presence and gave vote of thanks. By Morena O. K. Pule

The 30th MU Conference in the Diocese of Kimberly and Kuruman under the leadership of President M Dithejane was held at Diamond Field Archdeaconry on the 26th of September to 28th of September 2024 at CRC. Mothers Union members came in numbers from all five archdeaconries to celebrate the anniversary. The spirit was moving and there were many activities which were performed from Friday to Sunday, to mention but a few was: choral competition, traditional attire and rendering of traditional music, prayer and spirituality and others, not forgetting Environmental activities led by Environmental-Champ Mrs. V D Mosenthal. The organisers identified a primary school around Kimberley where trees will be planted. On Sunday morning before the service Bishop Brain of Kimberley and Kuruman blessed the trees in advance for plantation. Two trees were handed over to the Diamond Field Presiding member. By : Mrs. V D Mosenthal

The altar servers in the Anglican Church diocese of Lesotho have shown their dedication to both their faith and the environment by taking action to clean up the streets of Hlotse in Leribe. On the 4th of October, as part of their annual Thanksgiving celebrations, the servers spent one hour in the afternoon picking up rubbish and debris in the area. This act of service is not only a reflection of their gratitude for their blessings, but also a meaningful contribution to the Anglican Communion forest initiative. By cleaning up the streets, the servers are helping to protect and preserve the environment, making a positive impact on their community and the world around them. The timing of this cleanup was particularly significant, as it marked the end of the season of creation for the Anglican Church. This season, which runs from September 1st to October 4th, is a time for reflection and action on environmental issues, and the servers’ efforts are a fitting way to bring this period to a close. As Green Anglicans, a group dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship within the Anglican Church, are happy at the news of the cleanup. We commend the altar servers for their commitment to both their faith and the environment, and encourage others to follow their example. This act of service serves as a wonderful reminder of the importance of taking care of our planet and working together to create a more sustainable future. The alter servers in the Anglican Church diocese of Lesotho have set a powerful example with their actions, showing that a small group of dedicated individuals can make a big difference in their community. By Rapelang Korotjoe

Green Anglicans were invited by the Sunday School teachers of St. Mary and St. James Cathedral to join in a special event to mark the season of creation on Sunday the 29th of September 2024. It was a day filled with fun, learning, and caring for God’s creation. First, the Green Anglicans representative, Rapelang Korotjoe shared with the kids what their initiative is all about – taking care of the environment and being good stewards of the Earth. To wrap up the presentation, everyone sang a cheerful song called “Be Green In Your Corner”, which aligns with the work of green Anglicans. After the presentation, the Sunday scholars rolled up their sleeves and got to work cleaning the church premises and watering plants under the watchful eyes of their teachers. It was heartwarming to see the kids pitching in to help keep their surroundings clean and green. The fun didn’t stop there! The children had a blast getting their faces painted and expressing their creativity by drawing pictures related to God’s creation. They showed their drawings to everyone in the church, sharing their understanding of the beauty of the world around us. In a touching moment, one of the kids thanked Green Anglicans and prayed that everyone in the world appreciates and joins in the important work of caring for our planet. To end the day on a high note, everyone enjoyed a picnic together, celebrating the shared effort to protect and honor God’s creation. It was a memorable day of learning, playing, and coming together as a young community to show love for the Earth. Let’s all take inspiration from these wonderful kids and do our part to make the world a better place for everyone! By Rapelang Korotjoe