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Launch of Season of Creation at Christ the Mediator – Westridge Church of the Mediator launched their Season of Creation with a beautiful service on Stewardship. The liturgical dancers led us with the Song “heal the world” from Michael Jackson. “Make it a better place for you and for me and the Entire human race” . The stewardship team prepared a display to challenge and educate. Rev Rachel Mash from Green Anglicans was invited to preach and challenge the congregation.  

The Anglican Youth Fellowship from the Diocese of George held their annual youth conference KwaNonqaba, Mossell Bay on the 11-13 of September 2015. With an awareness aim, the conference commenced with a clean-up campaign at local public service centres. Environment issues seemed to be nothing new to the young people as they were very participative and aware of what is recyclable or not. Working with Colonel Pedro Braaff, and Sargent Kaap, the young people placed the local police station in a very clean and healthy working environment. Commenting on the state of the Police station before and after Colonel Braaff said “Thank you to AYF and Green Anglicans for the effort put in, it shows that the Anglican Church is serious about care for creation and community relations.” He later said that the young people are always welcome to do more of these activities with help from the Police Station. From the clean-up campaign AYF went back to the church to discuss their plan of action to make sure that more activities are done in the diocese to encourage environmental awareness especially in their parishes. After a brief presentation and discussion the youth decided on the following actions   Have an environmental officer in the AYF executive This person will be responsible for environmental activities in conferences and that issues that are putting creation at risk are taken care of Invest in diocesan vegetable garden This will assist with conference catering and other events in the church Change Conference venues Instead of using the church as the usual venue, have it in campsites or any outdoor place where people can connect more with nature Environmental Education Each parish to host environmental summits and workshops. They also discussed a number of activities and commitments that could be done by the diocesan executive and members including: Recycling Education to sustain the Green Anglicans movement Form partnership with relating organisations and local municipality Overall the executive and members took these to their general meeting and will be passed and practised by AYF.

    At their recent Synod, the Diocese of Saldanha Bay passed the following environmental resolution. WHEREAS our Planet Earth has in recent decades suffered the environmental impact of: over-consumption, increasing population growth, deforestation, over-fishing, exploitation of non-renewable resources, insurmountable waste dumps, and pollution;   AND WHEREAS we believe that this has been the underlying cause of:  environmental disasters, acid rain, ozone depletion, climate change, and the extinction of species; AND WHEREAS the Encyclical “Laudato si” (“Praise be to you”) of Pope Francis has been met with universal acclaim, and echoes the prophetic sentiments of the “Green Movement”, and the call for us to be good stewards of God’s Creation; AND WHEREAS one of the five marks of mission of the Anglican Communion is:  “To strive to safeguard the integrity of Creation and sustain and renew life of the Earth”; and the ACSA Environment Network, SAFCEI (The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute} and other organisations are promoting the application of this through the eco-congregation movement. Resolution: NOW THEREFORE THIS SYNOD RESOLVES THAT: The Diocese of Saldanha Bay, through its structures, be encouraged to: Listen to ‘the cry of the Earth’ and identify, proclaim and implement measures to protect the Environment and reduce our own ‘carbon footprint’. Engage with different communities to listen to, discuss with and challenge them regarding their use and abuse of the Earth’s resources, to foster responsible ‘Earth-keeping’ for future generations, appropriate to their circumstances. All Parishes be encouraged to: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” – both as a parish and as individuals – through the use of paper, glass and plastic recycling bins in Parishes. Go a step further, to: Find ways to save water and electricity. Develop and use their grounds to the benefit of the community (e.g. food gardens). Use their Church plant space to the benefit of the community. Study environmental issues, and share ways to be “Good Stewards of God’s Creation” – through articles in “Quill & Quiver” and by other means. Celebrate A Season of Creation and/or special Environment days. The Bishop be respectfully requested to: Facilitate the formation of a Diocesan Environmental Task Team to address the relevant issues. Mandate the Liturgy Team to source and facilitate special liturgies to celebrate Creation and the Environment. Mandate the Department of Theology and Spiritual Formation to source study material and to train our Clergy in Environmental Theology. Moved by: The Revd Canon Jeannine Louw Seconded by:  Mr Aubrey Dedericks

The Diocese of False Bay Anglican Youth Ministry (AYM) opened the youth month with a very vibrant and fruitful camp. Green Anglicans was part of the camp which was held in a very environmental venue. The camp was held at SOS in Villiersdop, the beauty of nature and animals in there highlighted the purpose of the environmental session. Starting a youth month with a difference this time AYM brought it through their pledges to the environmental ministry. They discussed six topics from the environmental calendar. Mitchellsplain archdeaconry was talked about World Water Day, which in turn all promised to teach people in parishes around Mitchellsplain about conserving and filtering water.  They are also planning  on advising these church’s to invest in water tanks so they can catch water from the rain cutting down water bill. The Archdeaconry of Blue downs was discussing Earth Hour. They stressed that the awareness does not have to be on that specific day and hour only, promising to give an hour to the environment on the weekends as well evening services, with no use of artificial lights and other things that negatively impact the environment. Helderberg archdeaconry decided to have a Clean-up day in their churches on World Environmental day and also recycle papers and plastics that they will collect from their respective parishes and the surrounding community. The youth from the archdeaconry of Breede Valley decided to have services outside to connect with the environment for the Season of Creation and also include the youth that does not go to church The youth from Caledon mentioned planting trees and since their parishes are far apart from each other they said they will plant one tree on Arbour Week and also help promote tree planting as culture of remembrance in their church and community. The youth from Kalk Bay plan on a clean-up campaign for the Clean Up week in Muizenberg beach on Saturday because they want to have as many people as possible. We would like to thank the AYM for taking part in the environmental ministry and for the positive ideas. The Green Anglicans representatives made a promise to be part of these archdeaconries events.   The Diocese of False Bay Anglican Youth Ministry (AYM) opened the youth month with a very vibrant and fruitful camp. Green Anglicans was part of the camp which was held in a very environmental venue. The camp was held at SOS in Villiersdop, the beauty of nature and animals in there highlighted the purpose of the environmental session. Starting a youth month with a difference this time through their pledges to the environmental ministry.They discussed six topics from the environmental calendar. Mitchellsplain archdeaconry was talked about World Water Day, which in turn all promised to teach people in parishes around Mitchellsplain about conserving as well filtering water.  They are also planning advising these church’s to invest in water tanks so they can catch water from the rain cutting down water bill. The Archdeaconry of Blue downs was discussing Earth Hour. They stressed that the awareness does not have to be on that specific day and hour only, promising to give an hour to the environment on the weekends as well evening services, with no use of artificial lights and other things that negatively impact the environment. Helderberg archdeaconry decided to have a Clean-up day in their churches on World Environmental day and also recycle papers and plastics that they will collect from their respective parishes and the surrounding community. The youth from the archdeaconry of Breede Valley decided to have services outside to connect with the environment for the Season of Creation and also include the youth that does not go to church The youth from Caledon mentioned planting trees and since their parishes are far apart from each other they said they will plant one tree on Arbour Week and also help promote tree planting as culture of remembrance in their church and community. The youth from Kalk Bay plan on a clean-up campaign for the Clean Up week in Muizenberg beach on Saturday because they want to have as many people as possible. We would like to thank the AYM for taking part in the environmental ministry and for the positive ideas. The Green Anglicans representatives made a promise to be part of these archdeaconries events.

On Saturday the 29 of August 2015, forty one Sunday School children from the Diocese of False Bay churches’ St Peter’s Khayelitsha, St Michael Harare, and St Francis Mandela Park joined Green Anglican’s and Pride of Table Mountain on a hike up to the always alluring Table Mountain. Nature plays an important role in our lives and the young people had an opportunity to learn about plants, trees (indigenous one’s only found in the Western Cape e.g. Silver Tree). They were divided into two learning groups.   Throughout the trip the hiking guides from Pride of Table Mountain were supportive, and informative, teaching about the value of nature and how it can better connect with people.  When they got on top of the mountain they could see an overview of Cape Town, beauty that led to them to commit not to pollute moving forward.  A great experience for children, more especially after the hike they had time to meditate at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens listening to beautiful sounds of streams and birds. We are grateful to Pride of Table Mountain for sponsoring the trip, an enlightening adventure for the Sunday School of the Anglican Church.

  The Anglican Interdiocesan Carnival that was held in St Aiden’s included talent completion. On that day there were quite a few performances, even though they were few but all of the performing groups and individuals were soo talented. Unfortunately there only had to be one winner, and the judges had a tough job in choosing the winner for that day. At the end of the day it came to one winner which was the St Michael’s Sunday School, with their amazing angelic voices they are the first annual interdiocesan champions. The office of Green Anglicans did promised and we took the trophy to St Michael’s Anglican Church in Harare. The Rev. Sam complemented the Sunday school teacher (Mrs Bolofo) of the wonderful job she is doing with the kids, she then blessed the trophy. We thank the Sunday school teacher for such an amazing job in discovering the talents that even the parents did not know existed in their kids.  The question now is, Will St Michael’s Sunday School Keep up the momentum and win the trophy again next year…….