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The Bishop of Swaziland launched an artwork for the Mothers Union where they will have to make mats using plastic waste to promote waste re-using and reduce waste being disposed in the environment. Winning Parishes were to be given Rocket Stoves which use less fuel thus save the environment especial for rural people. On Sunday 25 June 2017, MU held its conference in Khulani Bomake MU centre where the artworks were displayed and judges announced winners who were given their stoves. The Dean of the Cathedral Very Rev. A. Dlamini who was representing the Bishop awarded the stoves to the winning Parishes. In total nine Parishes benefited. A wonderful art work was presented by the Mothers Union. The Diocese of Swaziland is grateful of the donation of the Rocket stoves from the province which has yield to such work. The Mothers had fallen in love with the rocket stoves and wish to get more to encourage environmental stewardship and conserving the environment. -Mncedisi Masuku

The Clergy of the Diocese of the Highveld gathered for an environmental workshop facilitated by the Rev Rachel Mash, and were shocked to hear about the impact of pollution on their communities. A shocking video called “The Bliss of Ignorance” revealed how much the health of people living near coal powered plants is impacted. Mining is also causing acid mine drainage which is polluting the rivers and dirt and plastic are polluting the earth. Air, water and soil, we are surrounded by the impacts of pollution and yet God called us to be keepers of God’s earth. And that is not all, we are also pumping carbon pollution into the air and warming up the planet leading to drought, storms and sea level rise. We looked at the theology of care for creation. Jesus did not only come to die on the cross to save human beings, he died to reconcile the whole of creation, the ‘cosmos’ . And so we are called to be missionaries in the 5th Mark of Anglican mission and to work to restore Creation . We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. The clergy divided into archdeaconries to look at how they could respond to the huge challenges. The first is to develop an environmental spirituality through celebrating the Season of Creation and other environmental days, having services outside and retreats with lay leaders. At a local level they are committed to mobilising the youth, planting trees, putting in recycling bins, reducing electricity, saving water with jojo tanks. And on a regional level they will work with local government and other NGOs to tackle some of the huge challenges that this region faces. “our eyes have been opened and we must not shut them again”

“Uncle Rhino” connects Children to Nature  The Theme for World Environment Day 2017 was Connecting People to Nature and the Green Anglicans from Swaziland were certainly doing this! Mncedisi Masuku has become known as “Uncle Rhino” for his work with children. Two organisations, All Out Africa and the  Swaziland Environment Authority committed to  connecting children to nature. On Friday June 16, they took 51 children from the Neighbourhood Care Points (Pre-Schools/soup kitchen points) to Mlilwane Nature reserve  for a game drive to connect them with wild life. A wonderful day it has been as most of the children are from  disadvantaged backgrounds and have never had such an experience. Mncedisi Masuku – “Uncle Rhino” was invited in this event to share some good time playing and singing with the little ones using the Green Anglicans Sunday School Manual, Ryan the Rhino. Uncle Rhino read a scripture from Proverbs 12:10 where is says that good people take care of their animals while the wicked do not. He then shared a story about a King who killed all frogs in his community . The frogs were making a big noise and keeping him awake at night. . The village then became  full of mosquitos because the frogs that feed on mosquitos were killed. The moral of the story was that as little children we have to take care of the whole web of life. He then concluded by reading Psalms 24.1 that says the “Earth is the Lords and everything therein.” He then sang the song, “He’s got the whole world in his hand”.  then Uncle Rhino left the stage after dancing and singing. The presentation done by Mncedisi Masuku is taken from Ryan the Rhino of the Green Anglicans…

The Showe and Swaziland Circuits of the Lutheran Church Young adults’ league had a conference on the 3rd of June, 2017. The Lutheran Church celebrated its 500 years of reformation and declared that Creation is not for sale. In Swaziland the Lutheran Church partnered with the Anglican Church to address climate change issues. Mncedisi Masuku the Green Champion in the Diocese of Swaziland was invited to present on “Positioning ourselves as young Adults in the face of climate Change” In his presentation, Mncedisi stated that the Lutherans need to go back to being keepers of the earth as God positioned humans in Genesis 2: 15. He has also stressed on how the young adults’ age group is the one that is raising a generation of consumers that care less for creation. He also presented on theological principles that have influence on how environment is treated such as the dominion theology, prosperity theology, escapist theology and the salvation. He stressed that crucifixion of Christ on the Cross was to reconcile the relationship not only between man and God but also man to man and man to the environment (John 3.16, God loved the whole world). As the Lutheran Church declared that creation is not for sale, Mncedisi highlighted on the culture of consumerism where people keep on shopping even if there is no need. It was noted that natural resources and the environment suffer more in the face of consumers and people with the shopping culture, so we need to stand as the church and make it practical that creation is not for sale. -Mncedisi Masuku  

Diocese of Pretoria Sunday School Training  The Diocese of Pretoria hosted a Sunday School Training on the 13 of May 2017 at Holy Trinity, Rustenburg. Blessed with showers, the day began with a morning service led by the diocesan environmental chaplain, who highlighted the purpose of teaching the importance of education children from a very tender age about care for creation.  With that in mind the training began with an overview presentation of our current environmental issues and some of the things our churches could do to reduce carbon foot print. Split amoung the diocesan coordinators, the activities were quite easy to present, as some of them were explain in their local language.  Boipelo Tau, Katlego Motswagae and Itumeleng Segkothe, who are some of the most active youth members in the environmental ministry, in the diocese, vowed to train other Sunday school teachers who could not make it for this training. After presenting all the sessions, the Sunday school teachers were grouped to each prepare a session which includes a lesson, a game and a song. Little did we know that they would go as far as creating drama, it was a very colourful presentation with different languages, games and songs. The training was a success, it is often rare to find people who stay true to their roots, and it was extremely beautiful to see originality, the Sunday school teachers   in the Diocese of Pretoria owned Ryan the Rhino and did it their way.

WEST COAST SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS GOING GREEN! An enthusiastic group of Sunday teachers from the West Coast gathered at St Monica’s Vredenburg to learn about how to teach their children how to care for creation using the manual “Ryan the Rhino”. Rev Jeannine Louw opened the workshop which was conducted by Rev Rachel Mash from Green Anglicans. The teachers danced and sang (some stiff legs were stretched!) as they learned games, songs and activities around themes such as saving water, stopping littering, and what is climate change.  They are excited to take the programme back into their churches. Lots of dramatic and story telling talent was shown by the teachers as each group had a chance to present a section of the teaching