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On Sunday 26th of June a historic service was hosted by Mbabane Parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa, Eastern Diocese, Swaziland circuit. The Young Green Anglicans last month were invited to a Lutheran Youth conference and they presented a Fig tree to the Lutheran Bishop challenging the church to go green.The Green Anglicans kept inviting the Lutheran Bishop and others Lutherans to their Green events. Mbabane Parish of the Lutheran Church responded to the call by God to be Earth Keepers. On June 26, 2016 they hosted a green service and they used the Green Anglicans liturgy for world environment day under the theme “Going wild for life”. Prayers and readings were focused on the environment. Mr Nyembe a congregant of the Parish who is an environmentalist unpacked the environmental subject and Climate Change. Our Green disciple Hlophe Nozipho in the company of other Young Green Anglicans presented on how we are engaged as a Diocese on environmental issues. She then presented an Avocado tree which was planted after service. These two Denominations (Anglicans and Lutherans joined hands in the subject of the environment and as we speak the Lutherans are Green Lutheran. Our slogan is, “alone you can run fast but together we can run far,” we are Green Anglicans Lutherans.

In 1976 the protests were led by young people. Now young people are taking up the challenge of environmental degradation and climate change and taking back their future. KwaMsindisi Anglican Youth (Flagstaff) from the Holy Cross Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Umzimvubu decided to commemorate the Youth of 1976 and took it to the streets. We thank God for such wonderful, driven young people, dedicated into making sure our environment is animal and human friendly. Our clean up campaign led to a daunting challenge to clean up our surrounds.. At times we were faced up with broken glasses which limited our drive, some were expired food with killing smells and even human waste which is quite sad to say the least! But with a team of dedicated Servers, Girls and Boys Friendly Society (GBFS) members, Young People and one AWF member we were all geared up and determined to do something positive instead of relaxing at home or wearing school uniform but do nothing positive. We started the day with a prayer outside the church rectory as we held hands Miss Mandisa Gumada sang “Yesu Langa lomphefumlo akumnyama xa ukhoyo” We then prayed together asking the Almighty to lead the way that we should follow. In consultation with our local Solid Waste Department of iNgquza Hill Local municipality an area of urgent concern was identified. This is an area where trucks deliver stocks to the retail shops in town, so you can imagine the amount of plastics, boxes and glass stashed up. We had initially set up to clean just that area but as we walked around we saw yet another dump place just opposite salons where salon waste full of hair pieces, loads and loads of boxes were stashed there some had all the smelly hair relaxers on them. After a whole 3 hours, all was said and done, God came through for us, the rain which started in the morning had stopped giving us a rather chilly-windy but manageable weather, our local municipality solid department came through for us and provided us with masks, refuse bags and rakes also a truck for collection after we had finished. Dr Gcaza-Mazibu offered a donation of gloves, so did the Dweba family with more gloves, ausi Tandi and Sceza (Parish AWF) made donations towards food and our parish KwaMsindisi Anglican Church (Flagstaff) gave a generous donation towards Youth Braai and lastly the heroes of the day, young people themselves. We ended the day with a feast of braai around a table of laughter and cheering (John 3:16) SITHANDIWE later on a fun filled banner creating session using a white piece of cloth, colorful paints and our hands writing “Green Youth” L e s t w e f o r g e t (inspire before you expire) Bravoooooo‪#‎AnglicanYouthOfSouthernAfrica‬ this ‪#‎YouthDay2016‬ By: 100% ‪#‎GreenAnglican‬ Mandisa Darkie Gumada

On World Environmental Day, the Diocese of Saldanha Bay sent out pledge forms to their parish’s to sign up on being agents of change for our environment.  In a form of  a certificate the parish’s are required to fill in their details and commit to care for creation.  The Diocesan Environmental task team put this together in commemoration of World Environmental Day, however it will be a reminder daily on the responsibility God gave to us to look after his creation.    

The Diocese of Grahamstown agreed and passed a resolution on their 67th Synod to  make a priority of care for creation . This Diocese, believes that God’s creation is holy, that we are called to protect the earth now and for the future, and that climate change disproportionately affects the world’s poorest. This Synod therefore resolved to 1. Write an open letter to government in which we: Urge our government to continue to restrict industrial carbon emissions to the levels agreed to at the COP 21 meeting held in Parish last year; Support the World Bank’s call for the ending of fossil fuel subsidies and redirect those resources into renewable energy; Call on the government to leave fossil energy resources , such as oil, gas, and coal in the ground; Strongly protest against any form of fracking for oil or gas in order to protect the purity of our water aquifers;  Urge the government to remain transparent about its plans for energy, mining, and industrial development, always ensuring that licences to build are only given after the correct environmental impact studies are completed. 2. Form a Diocesan Department for the Environment to: Study and adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework fully Investigate how we may raise awareness in all our parishes (including food, water and energy) Encourage projects in all parishes which teach parishioners and the community how to collect and preserve water, grow food, and generally reduce our carbon footprint Invite all parishioners to join the international initiatives encouraging Christians to pray and fast for climate justice Investigate the need for disaster Management programmes at Diocesan and Parish levels. In the essence of protecting the integrity of God’s creation and hearing earth’s cry, Grahamstown  as a diocese has now joined hands with other stewards in combating climate change and other relating issues. 

World Environmental Day Celebrations took place in various locations across the globe on the 4/5th of June 2016, and we couldn’t miss that by chance. Green Anglicans with the Diocese of False Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha celebrated the day at All Saints Anglican Parish, Belhar. The celebrations kicked off with an opening prayer and an uplifting praise and worship.  A band from St Mary Magdelene entertained the crowds with amazing sounds that everyone could sing along and dance to. Rev Shaun Cozett from the Parish of the Resurrection, Bonteheuwel delivered a talk to the young people, teaching them about the value of creation and how they could take care of it. As part of getting the church’s involved with environmental ministry we had a talent competition on the day where 5 acts were taken up to the finals. Including acts from the hosting parish the contestants gave outstanding performances, the acts did an exceptional job to be original and stay within the concept of care for creation. However with that said they could only be one winner, a Sunday School Group from St Pauls, Durbanville won the competition putting the Diocese of Saldanha Bay on the mark. We were part of the global action and  united to save our planet, be Bright and Green in the corner where you are.

A cheerful group of Servers & AYF (Anglican Youth Fellowship) from St Stephens Church in New Brighton Port Elizabeth , dared the cold weather on Friday, 3 June, in celebration of World Environment Day. 15h00, they took to the Streets of New Brighton (Grattan, Madala, Ntshekisa, Aggrey), with cheerfulness as they cleaned. In 2015, at an Environment Conference organize d by the Canon of Environment, Canon Betty Bala & Provincial Canon – Revd Rachel Mash, 5 Environment Champions from St Stephens were identified – Akhona Ndlebe, Chwayita Koza, Sive Ndlebe, Sandile Janjties, Thembeka Nobomvu and took up the roles with eagerness. Akhona and Themba attended the Environment Conference in 2016 at COTT, with Asanda Mkrola and the New Canon, Canon Melissa Awu from St Stephens joining in, the seed to take care of the Environment grew, and this is a result of such. The Diocesan Canon supported this group by organizing Plastic Bags from the Municipality and Gloves. Khanyisa Ludwaba (St Stephens AYF Environment Officer), has also come on board and is excited to get her hands dirty with Environmental issues! The Servers and AYF are eager to do their bit for the Environment and educate others. This is a start of many initiatives to come! Forward we go, backward never! Keep it GREEN, keep it CLEAN! -Mel Awu