Dear People of St Paul’s
Greetings in Jesus’ name!
Men’s Sunday
This Sunday is Men’s Sunday, which is observed each year in July. Revd Sphamandla Nkabinde, Rector of St Margaret of Antioch, Margate, has been invited by the Men’s Group to bring the message.
The Collect for this Sunday is:
Lord of Heaven and earth,
you sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and power of your Church:
sow in our hearts the seeds of grace
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
Services
As we are not sure when we will return to services in church we are looking at ways of making the Sunday input more participatory, such as occasionally having an online service using Zoom. Community is an important aspect of being church – we need to work at maintaining and strengthening it. (See at end a note on video conferencing in the Province)
Deaths
Two of our members died recently. Basil Ebrahim died yesterday. There was a small funeral service for him at St Paul’s this morning. Together with this wife and daughter he was baptised last year in one of our services.
Thanda Sithole died this morning after being in hospital for a few weeks. May she rest in peace. Plans are being made for her funeral service next week.
There have been a few members with bereavements within their families this week, including Busi Mohlaka and Noloyiso Mancotywa. Please pray for these families.
Last week Linda Zama’s brother died from Covid-19. Brenda Phakathi who had tested positive for Covid-19 has recovered well and is now at home. During this time of the pandemic let us continue to pray for one another.
Through the diocese we got notice of the death on 11 July of Mr Muzongapheli Ashley Gumede, son of the late Rev. Enock Elijah Gumede and Mrs. Doris Gumede, and brother to Mrs. Ntatu Molefe and Mrs Nelly Bam. (Some of you will remembers Mrs Nelly Bam as the diocesan MU worker.)
Portia Nodangala: News yesterday from her ‘support team’: “ Portia is doing very well and sends her love. The postponed knee operation will be scheduled as soon as all the arrangements have been made. She remains positive and in good spirits. Your love and prayers are deeply appreciated. Stay blessed and stay safe”
Rector: Last week I wrote in this letter that I was diagnosed with shingles. I have mostly recovered. Thank you for your prayers.
ALPHA Online: This could will start on 13 August and is open to all parishioners. Some parishioners have already shown an interest. If you would like to join in or find out more information about the course please contact Brad Wills on bradawills@gmail.com
Finance Committee
A note from our treasurer:
“Dear All
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr Mpumelelo Mtshawu has been elected as the chair of the St Paul’s Finance Committee effective immediately. His election is timely and comes when St Paul’s Finances require special attention and when competent leaders are needed. Congratulations, Mr Mtshawu; we look forward to your leadership around finance issues at St Paul’s.
We would also like to inform you that Mr Mtshawu leads a team of competent and dedicated people as follows:
- Mr Lethu Mkhize
- Mrs Jabu Soni
- Ms Remona Mckenzie
- Dr Bomi Nomlala
Regards
Bomi Nomlala”
From the Archbishop – Condolences to the family of Zindzi Mandela: Wednesday, 15 July 2020
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we send our condolences to the family of Ambassador Zindzi Mandela upon her untimely death.
She was one of the icons of our struggle and I personally recall her appearance at Jabulani Stadium in 1985 when, during a celebration of Archbishop Tutu’s Nobel Peace Prize, she memorably delivered a message from Madiba in prison in which he refused an offer of conditional release and declared “I shall return”.
Our prayers ascend for her and her family, including her “second mother”, Graca Machel, and we pray that they may experience God’s consolation in their sad loss.”
A Reminder that tomorrow is Mandela Day. How will you be spending your 67 minutes? Please let me know so I can include your action in the next letter.
Lectionary readings for this week
Morning Prayer (MP) and Evening Prayer (EP), Psalm (Ps):
Sunday 19th MP Ps 67 Joshua 6:15-27 Acts 22:30-23:11
EP Ps 65,66 1 Samuel 23:7-18 Mark 2:1-12
Monday 20th MP Ps 107:1-22 Joshua 7:1-15 Romans 13:8-14
EP Ps 107:23-43 1 Samuel 24:1-22 Matthew 26:36-46
Tuesday 21th MP Ps 108, 109 Joshua 8:1-22 Romans 14:1-12
EP Ps 110, 111, 112 1 Samuel 25:1-22 Matthew 26:47-56
Wednesday 22nd MP Ps 113, 114 Joshua 8:30-35 Romans 14:13-23
EP Ps 115 1 Samuel 25:23-44 Matthew 26:57-68
Thursday 23rd MP Ps 116, 117 Joshua 9:3-21 Romans 15:1-13
EP Ps 118 1 Samuel 28:3-20 Matthew 26: 69-75
Friday 24th MP Ps 119:1-24 Joshua 9:22-10:15 Romans 15: 14-24
EP Ps 119:25-48 1 Samuel 31:1-13 Matthew 27:1-10
Saturday 25th MP Ps 119:49-72 Joshua 23:1-16 Romans 15:25-33
EP Ps119:73-104 2 Samuel 1:1-16 Matthew 27:11-23
Giving
We are grateful to those who have continued to give their Planned Giving directly into the church bank account and to those who have also given loose plate collections and donations in this way. (The St Paul’s banking details are: Account Name: St Paul’s Church; Account Number: 50854628623; Branch Code: 221426; Bank: FNB.)
Blessing
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my speaking,
God in my thinking.
God in my sleeping,
God in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hoping.
(In Bread of Tomorrow: Praying with the World’s Poor, ed Janet Morley from Carmina Gadelicia lll, Scottish Academic Press 1971)
Yours in Christ
Revd Dr Andrew Warmback
Rector: St Pauls, Durban
News from the Province (ACSA): i-Tech solution planned for PSC, church meetings
The Church is to set up a sophisticated video-conferencing facility which will enable Provincial Standing Committee (PSC) to meet online this year. In future, the system will also enable smaller meetings to be held virtually, saving on the Province’s travel budget.
A meeting of the PSC Service Committee, which plans the Committee’s meetings, heard details of the facility this week. It will enable Diocesan PSC delegations across Southern Africa to be in video contact with Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and Provincial office-bearers in Cape Town and elsewhere.
Agenda papers are expected to be available online next week. The meeting will begin on the afternoon of Tuesday September 22 and continue until Thursday September 24.
The meeting will include a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the constitution of the Province, which was formed by the Dioceses of Cape Town, Grahamstown, Natal and St Helena in 1870.
PSC includes episcopal, clerical and lay representatives from each Diocese in the Province and meets annually. It comprises about 120 people, including representatives of organisations.
During the Service Committee meeting, Archbishop Thabo reported that a number of clergy or their spouses had died of COVID-19 since the last meeting, and a priest had been shot dead in the Diocese of Natal the previous night. He sent condolences to the families of all clergy and members of their families who had died.
The Service Committee asks parishioners to use the following prayer for PSC:
Almighty God, our refuge and strength;
as we face the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic,
keep us mindful of your saving power,
strengthen us to care for one another, and
teach us new ways of protecting your planet,
for you led your people out of exile,
you walked the road to Calvary,
and you continue to equip us for ministry with your Holy Spirit,
One God, world without end.
Amen
Anglican Church of Southern Africa
