Ncumisa

Angolan Problems need Angolan Solutions – Verde no meu Habitat 330 young people from the Diocese of Angola gathered for a four day conference in the province of Uige, the first conference with Mr. Massala’s as Diocesan Youth President. During the conference Bino Makhalanyane the Provincial Anglican Youth of Southern Africa (AYSA) President and Green Anglicans Youth Coordinator gave a workshop titled: “Angolan problems, need Angolan solutions”. During the session young people were divided into groups where using the problem tree methodology, others had to identify common problems affecting youth ministry within the church and other groups focused on environmental issues faced Diocese. Each group then had to look at the causes and the impact of this problem. Lastly look at how the problem could be addressed.  This was to show the youth that they should not wait on someone from another country to come and address their problems but should use the wisdom God gave to all of us. A team of 40 young people responsible for environment within the Diocese said this would help them come up with an implementation plan on the drafted working document they have  produced called “Verde No Meu Habitat” (Green in my Habitat). On Sunday 19 January the city hall was filled to capacity with over 2000 people in attendance the Diocesan Bishop gave his last official address as Diocesan Bishop as he plans for retirement in 2021, wishing them well going forward and affirming that young people play a vital role in the live of the church and their opinions do matter . In his closing remarks on Sunday 19 January  the AYSA President said : “ To the deputy governor : young people are ready to take  your country to the next level, to the Diocesan Bishop : thank you for your support , prayers and compassion for youth , and to all young people : the conference shared so much information and skills now it’s time to go and implement “. Bino Makalanyane

Manyani parish in the Anglican Diocese of Lake Malawi planted 323 trees . They are committing to growing and watering them.#GreenAnglicans #RenewOurWorld.#One-Parish-One-Woodlot/Orchard campaign. Charles Bakolo

LAMBETH CONFERENCE – LETTERS FOR CREATION This year Anglican Bishops from around the world will be gathering for the Lambeth Conference which only happens once every ten years. They gather as the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation are growing year by year.  The Lambeth Conference is unique in its global focus and the fact that the Bishops have the potential to reach into communities across their countries. So we would like to raise the voices of children and young people at this event. We are working with Christian Aid who will be preparing a high quality exhibition for Lambeth, with messages from children and young people from across the world. We would like to invite your school to take part – firstly by getting the young people to think of the main issues that face them in their context , and secondly by preparing materials – posters, letters, poems etc .  The most powerful messages will be selected to go to Lambeth.

GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD A large group of 70 young –  and young at heart – joined the first Green Anglicans ‘holy Hike” of the year. We went to Echo Valley (so called because of the Echo you can hear as you call). With beautiful views over the ocean, we clambered up the mountain to reach the beautiful “enchanted forest” an area of ancient forest that has survived fires over many years because of the river running down the kloof Here we took our snacks and had a devotion.  We read the story of Creation from Genesis 1 and Rev Rachel reflected that everything that God created needs each other. Without the earth, the plants cannot flourish, without the plants the birds cannot flourish and without all of the eco-system human life will fail. Over and over again God said – it is good. And on this hike we can see the goodness and beauty of Gods creation. But in most places if we look we cannot say ‘it is good’, we will say ‘wow what a mess or what a stink” from the litter and rubbish dumped everywhere. So let us commit ourselves to bring back the goodness to God’s Earth Young people from 9 churches joined the hike and we were delighted to be joined by the Claremont high school bird club. (though I fear we were making so much noise that the birds were scarce!) A big thankyou to Neil Adams who shares his love and passion for young people and for Creation.

Many Provinces are including Season of Creation/Time for creation in their liturgical calendars as part of their liturgical renewalThe Scottish Episcopal Institute Journal (Vol 3.4) includes this article on the Season of Creation by Rev Rachel Mashhttps://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019-34a-SEI-Journal-Winter.pdf

“We pray for gentle rains,and no wind;we pray for cooling skies,and water in abundance;we pray for the burning land,we pray for the four legged,and the winged,for the koala and the kangaroo,and all of their neighbours;we pray for the people who are trapped,for the people who have lost their homes,for the firefighters and the first responders,for the exhausted and the tapped out,we pray for Australia,from east, to south, to west, to north,and all the places in between. In this world of changed and changing climate, God,we ask that you would help usto help those who are in immediate danger;may we use what we have to help and to heal –then call us to repent of all the wayswe continue to make this worlda place of death, rather than life. Help us, O God… because wedon’t seem to be ableto do it on our own. In Christ’s name,on the wings of the Holy Spirit,we pray. Amen.”. From the moderator of the United Church of Canada