Rachel Mash

Saving Princess Vlei

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Saving Princess Vlei   The Dioceses of False Bay and Cape Town have thrown  their weight behind the “Save Princess Vlei Campaign.” This is a beautiful lake and public space which is being threated by the construction of a mall. The service was opened by Bishop Margaret Vertue and the worship led by  St Augustine’s band. One of the songs reminded us that ‘all over the Vlei, God’s spirit is moving”. Bishop Christopher Gregorowski  brandished his  cell phone and challenged the more than one hundred attendees, and the Church as a whole, to use social media to save Princess Vlei. Prayers were followed by a short walk to the Cairn on the eastern shore, where participants added their stones to this memorial site.  All the participants were given bags by Mariette Dauby of the Christ Church Green Team to collect rubbish on the way. Rev. Rachel Mash, ACSA Environmental Co-ordinator  blessed the cairn using a prayer adapted from the prayer for the blessing of the water from the First Nation Anglican Diocese in Canada.  There were those for whom this was a first-time experience, But after enjoying the stunning mountain views, they were in no doubt about the need to conserve this magnificent jewel of the Peninsula.  Diocese of False Bay  and Cape Town

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ACSA Provincial offices plant the Braehead Community Garden

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ACSA Provincial Offices plant the Braehead Community Garden The Provincial office where  Hope Africa, Growing the Church, Anglican Aids, The Environmental Office and the Provincial Treasury are situated decided to use an unused plot of land to start the Braehead Community Garden. We are all learning new skills and look forward to enjoying the fruits of our labours at our community lunch every Wednesday! 

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Diocesan Field Workers in Niassa teach new skills

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Diocesan Field workers in Niassa teach new skills   Diocesan Field workers in Niassa Diocese (Mozambique) are known as ‘adeptos’  -this word means ‘fans’ like soccer fans. Their job is to empower members of different congregations and then to stand back and cheer and encourage from the side. The parish of Messumba learned about food security from their ‘adepto’ Tomas Bola. In the beginning it was difficult for people to believe in the teachings about improving their economic management and the improved production of crops, because they still didn’t believe that transformation was possible. Based on an exchange visit with Malawi they saw the advantage of using new agricultural techniques and practices for improved development. In a meeting they held, they decided to focus on vegetables, and the chief made a plot of land available . They then had a meeting with the adepto (diocesan fieldworker) to ask for help with seeds and other materials and then they began to implement what they had learned.   As a result, the community has a collective garden with tomatoes, onion, cabbage, and lettuce. There are also about 17 people who are using the techniques on their own. The community no longer has a lack of vegetables, and they are able to sell part of the greens to raise money to pay for a treadle pump. Diocese of Niassa

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Anglican Students Plant trees for Arbour month

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Anglican Students plant trees for Arbour month The Anglican Students’ Federation  called on all regions to  plant a tree to commemorate arbour month (September). To lead in society one must be aware of the problems facing society which are not limited to inequality. Our world is in danger much more today than in the past, the effects of pollution, deforestation, drainage of wetlands can be seen in the changing and severe weather pattern we experience coupled with earthquakes and shifts in rain seasons. ASF Western Cape wanted to teach its members about the state of our planet, effects of destroying our planet, and how we can sustain our planet for future generations to enjoy. Green Anglicans answered ASF WC’s call for trees and liturgical resources (which we obtained through their website: www.greenanglicans.org). With their help ASF planted a tree at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Bellville and Cape Town Campuses and at the University of the Western Cape. This was a special day enriching our future as well as taking part in creating better living conditions in our society.  Paying sincere gratitude to all members who participated on the day as well as the Environmental Network, for we were blessed with this earth to utilise and look after. As God has called all of us be custodians of his people, so that the plants and every living species in the world and his mercy shall endure forever. –Ncumisa Magadla: ASF Western Cape Region

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Planting of trees at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Port Elizabeth

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Tree-Planting Ceremony at the Church of the Holy Spirit   The Holy Spirit Parish received a donation of 35 indigenous trees including yellow wood and olive trees. Ten were planted at the parish and the rest were donated to the eco-congregation cluster (churches of other denominations).   Mr. Chris Wild, from Food and Trees for Africa demonstrated how a tree is planted the proper way, turning the tree upside down, removing the black plastic, massaging the soil a bit to loosen the roots, and lastly putting in layers of soil, compost, and small stones to form a porous surface for water to pass through. The last step was to perform a “tree-dance” by trampling around the stem to secure the  stem  firmly to the loose soil. The Bishop was in our midst to grace the occasion. He was the first one to get  his hands dirty, by  planting  the first of the 10 trees. The Zwartkops enviro-club entertained the  audience with nature conservation messages through poetry, drama, singing and traditional dance. Betty Bala (Lay Canon: Environmental Matters and Related Issues) Diocese of Port Elizabeth.

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Blessing of the animals at St George’s Cathedral

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Blessing of the animals at St George’s Cathedral St George’s Cathedral extended its ministry into the  Company’s  gardens with the blessing of  animals on St Francis Day. Rev Margaret blessed our special companion animals. Marie–Anne Wannenberg who came for a blessing for her beloved cat Huey said “Our animals are part of God’s creation and as we are blessed through having them in our lives I think it is important for them to be blessed. They teach us unconditional love.”

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