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                                                    For the first time ever since the Diocese began the green movement a tree was planted as a thanks giving for the gifts shared on the day, in agreement every Diocesan event held a tree or more will be planted. The event was held at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Ramohlakoana (Matatiele arhdeaconry) the whole diocese was there to pain about the pains experienced but mostly to share on  the joys of being one big happy family, also to raise funds but mostly to worship and praise God under one roof.   Not so long ago the area had been stricken by heavy snow so one can imagine the kind of cold we had to endure. Matatiele being the South African part of the mountainous Kindgom that extends to Lesotho is fully a ‘open land’ with limited trees which gives little if at all wind protection to the houses built there. Not so far from where we were lies the Qhasa Nek’s border gate that crosses to Lesotho. Mountains were beautifully clothe with snow which gave a view that seemed like they had been dressed up with white blankets (beauty of God). For the day’s event the service started as set with much rejoice and excitement later on the fundraising, just after the service had ended Vicar-general Bishop Sitembele Mzamane was asked to plant a tree together with the Diocesan clergy as a symbol of growth anticipated as the Diocese. Also inpart as a call for our leaders to be involved in the green movement as the most influential leaders of our diocese, archdeaconries, parishes and existing chapels. He (the bishop) was helped by a young person Qaqambile Nyembezi in the process and the tree donated by Revd. Mandla Rangana. The clergy surrounded the planting area as we witnessed a humbling experience when the bishop kneeled down to the ground to plant the tree to be intouch with mother nature, indeed “ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL…” Mandisa Darkie Gumada 100% #GreenAnglican

Matlosane Diocese goes green… It all began at a 5-days clergy Eco-Retreat held at Ramosa Nature Reserve in Zeerust. It was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Rachel Mash, ACSA Provincial Coordinator for Environmental Network and culminated at the well-attended Conference which  mapped a way forward for the Diocese. The Conference opened with a Eucharist using the materials from the Season of Creation. The sermon was on the topic “let there be no waste”. We were reminded that the Earth is the Lord’s and we sadden God’s heart when we fill the Earth with our litter and waste The presentation showed us the effects of climate change and global warming. Many of the people attending were shocked at the statistics and effects of our wasteful behaviour. Then the  members divided into their Archdeaconries to draft the 18-months action plans focussing on three areas : Worship, local action , and advocacy. The Archdeacons were all present and will report to Chapter at their quarterly meeting. In Central archdeaconry, we will start in September with Bible Studies and Green worship from  the Seasons of Creation publications. The Archdeaconry  EcoTeam will be launched in October and we will celebrate St. Francis Day focussing on Biodiversity. All churches in the archdeaconry  will plant trees on Abor Day, clean the environment and plant food gardens….. Go Matlosane Go Green… Rev Pule Lekoko

The Diocese of Swaziland in Pigs Peak Parish hosted a Sport bonanza that had  members from all the  churches of the Swaziland Council of Churches umbrella body . These denominations are the Roman Catholic, Methodist Church, Lutheran Church and the Anglican as the host.Before the games started there were  talks on different subject that affect youth in general and Environment issues. Mncedisi Masuku of the Green Anglicans Movement was given a slot to address the green movement. He addressed the importance of the church to be engaged on environmental issues as it is the first commandment. He then shared some of the activities done by the young green Anglicans movement and challenged the Catholic church to be  Green Catholic and the Methodist to be a Green Methodist. He has appreciated the partnership they have with the Lutheran church to fight Climate change and he invited the Methodists and Catholics to join the movement as this is not about the Anglican but about our call as the church to be earth keepers. The youth desk from Swaziland Council of Churches appreciated the subject presented by Masuku. They will have a youth convention in august and Masuku is invited to come and  unpack the subject where all member churches will be represented. The Green Movement is getting out of the Anglican boundaries and becoming  a movement by the body of Christ in Swaziland. At the end of the event the young green Anglicans presented a tree to be planted that seals the relationship between the four denominations in their commitment  to fight climate change. The tree was planted in the Catholic Church compounds and they have to be next in organising an event that covers all denominations in fighting Climate change.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Environmental Network (Green Anglicans) together with the Anglican Province of Central Africa, will hosted 75 young participants on a week-long conference in Zambia. Beginning the 4th of April to the 11th of April 2016, the conference was held at the Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. Participants were chosen by their diocese as movers and shakers on care for creation, to learn on how to grow environmental ministry further in their regions. Dioceses represented included: Angola, Free State, Highveld, Johannesburg, Lebombo, Lesotho, Namibia, Natal, Niassa, Pretoria, Saldanah Bay, Swaziland. The conference equipped young people across the Anglican Church in Southern Africa, with methods of advocacy, behavioural changes, research and design thinking. All of this will assist the young people in building a care for creation movement back in their dioceses.  Working with the Green Anglicans Provincial team and diocesan coordinators, they also created a plan that will work for their regions as they from different parts of the province which are affected differently by climate change. Among the people who attended the youth conference was the Archbishop of Central Africa Albert Chama, and the Bishop of Zambia William Mchombo. In one of the sessions the young people presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC) Justin Welby, and he later addressed them and encouraged them to be servants of God and serve the world.  Responding to questions by the youth the ABC said to the young people they are the church of today and leaders of tomorrow and tomorrow may not be far.  This motivated young  people as they were about to engage in their plan of action for their various parts of Southern Africa to remember that they will be in leadership and need to implement these actions, and so influence the rest of the community.    

ECO RETREAT – DIOCESE OF MATLOSANE Over forty clergy from the Diocese of Matlosane gathered for a retreat with a difference. This year Bishop Steve Diseko decided to hold an Eco-Retreat in the Ramosa Game Reserve in Zeerust. The Retreat had three themes, water, trees and land. The first day we looked at how often water is mentioned in the Bible , over 700 times! It has many meanings – the water of life, the water for cleansing and forgiveness, the water of the Spirit. In our small groups we discussed how water can be integrated into our liturgies. We were challenged to discover our own “Jordan river’ where does the water come from that was used at our baptism. We also looked at the importance of water in Eucharist – we often forget that there are three elements :wine, bread and water that we use. The day ended with a moving liturgy of forgiveness, where water helped us to release and forgive those who have hurt us in the past. On day two we considered land. This is mentioned over 2000 times in the Bible and yet we do not preach or teach about it. The People of Israel are Chosen people of the promised land. We are also chosen people put here on the Earth. We need to work for the renewal of the Earth, as God has called us to be Earth keepers (Gen 2:15) On this afternoon we went on a game drive which was beautiful but quite heart breaking too as we saw the corpse of a giraffe and felt the sadness of the loss of one of these beautiful creatures of God. On our final day we had our Eucharist service under a tree, and considered how our spirituality should be like a tree. In order to give good fruits we need to recognize that we are grafted in to someone else’s work, we need a stake when the winds get strong, and we need to be constantly watered and renewed. Our final evening song was a highlight as we held it around the fire, worshipping God under God’s beautiful stars reminds you of the wonders of our Creator. Let us be Keepers of God’s Earth and inspire our congregations to care for Creation