ANGLICAN CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
FRA N CI SCA N
MARCH 2019
M O N T HLY
OFFICIAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI, WATERKLOOF, PRETORIA
IN THIS ISSUE: FOCUS ON TUMELONG SUNDAY
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PARISH NEWS
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PARISH NEWS
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PARISH NEWS
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PARISH NEWS
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PARISH NEWS
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DIOCESAN NEWS
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SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
Picture: From L-R Percival, Jeanette and David packing the Fill-a-Bags for Tumelong Mission By Diana Higgs– Tumelong Representative
• Tumelong Sunday report • Environment report • Wellness report • Farewell to Morne the Organist • Notice on the Anglicans Classical music project
Care and relief is one of the areas where we as a church have been involved for many years now. Unfortunately as with everything else, prices of basic foodstuffs continue to rise. Some of the foods that make up a Fill-A-Bag (FAB) are tax exempt however, which does help. Some years ago a parishioner at the 7:30 service heard the call to support those in our wider communities who are bereft and for whom life is a daily struggle. He offered to make a significant contribution to Fill-A-Bag and with that the challenge was given to the 9:30 service to double the number of bags we were donating to Tumelong from 40 to 80 per month. We have continued to do this for several years. Unfortunately however, the number of bags packed by parishioners and the monies
donated to this cause have decreased over the past two years and now we are at the point where we may have to consider decreasing the number of bags we give each month The problem is, the poor in our society have not decreased. Those people needing these food bags, which can feed anything from 2 – 11 people in a household continues to increase. We handed out green slips in the pew leaflets on Tumelong Sunday. If you feel the call to assist by donating to this worthy cause, please contact the parish office or speak to me, Diana Higgs (0845053549). To those parishioners who already pledge FAB’s each month my grateful thanks. We could not do this important work without your help. To David and Jeanette who pack the bags every two weeks for me, I say thank you.
FRANCISCAN MONTHLY
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PARISH NEWS TUMELONG SUNDAY NEWS: ST FRANCIS CARES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT bulbs.
We also installed an Mpact bin for paper on Long Street, and started the collection of plastic tops and tags – thereby enabling parishioners and the wider community to recycle these waste products However, we depend on individual parishioners to save water and electricity at home, and to recycle other goods through facilities such as that provided by Waterkloof Primary School. The Green Anglicans recently sent us a calendar for Lent called Less Plastic for Lent. On this calendar, the activity for 9 March advises readers to write to their church to set up a recycling system. Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate a general recycling system on our premises.
Caring for the Environment is one of the core activities of Tumelong, but it is an activity that takes place at a parish and personal level, rather than at diocesan level.
One other facility that we do offer, however, is the annual clean-up that we organise of the Walkerspruit that flows into the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary. This is supported by some parishioners with tremendous assistance from Waterkloof Primary School.
St Francis church registered as an ecocongregation in 2012 after doing an audit on the church’s use of water and electricity, and subsequently installing timers on all geysers and replacing fluorescent light bulbs with LED
Last year other community groups, such as SAPS and the Brooklyn Community Police Forum, joined us in our clean-up – see Peter Raymond’s article on last year’s event in the December issue of Tidings.
Photo: Jill Daugherty, Eco-Ministry Coordinator, speaking during Tumelong Sunday Photo credit: Robert “Rusty “Higgs
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
MARCH 2019
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PARISH NEWS TUMELONG SUNDAY: WELLNESS REPORT
Fridays from 08h30 to 10h30. Mondays are manned by our psych ologi s t Mark S ou th wo o d , Wednesday’s by Dr Molefe Phayane and myself, and Fridays are serviced by retired social worker Joey Phayane. All these services are free of charge and provided voluntarily by qualified health professionals. In 2018, the total number of people seen was 56, comprising of 27 cases of blood pressure, 15 cases of blood sugar monitoring, 12 HIV Test and Counselling, while 4 cases were referrals. The centre renders the following services: monitoring of blood pres-
Photo: Dorah Semenya, Wellness Coordinator, speaking during Tumelong Sunday Photo credit: Robert “Rusty” Higgs
Since the Wellness Centre opened on the 2nd November 2016, our health team has never looked back, We continue with this ministry which is much appreciated by our parishioners and local community. The centre is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
sure and sugar, HIV testing, psychological assistance, substance abuse counselling, social welfare, health education and referrals. No emergency cases and medicine dispensing is done on site. The centre also adhers to proper disposal of medical waste. More volunteers are invited to join this exciting ministry. Please contact me if you are interested.
FRANCISCAN MONTHLY
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PARISH NEWS TUMELONG SUNDAY NEWS: TOPS ‘N’ TAGS MINISTRY Interwaste. They require 450 kg plastic tops or 50 kg bread tags for each wheelchair. We received seven, but there were four outstanding by the end of the year. The congregants at St Francis are wonderful in their commitment to bringing bags of tops to the church. Whether it is the small shopping bags or the huge black bin bags sometimes left there, I am grateful to all who remember – especially if we don’t find any metal lids, corks or other strange things mixed in! We have had chess pieces, clothes pegs, buttons, earrings, golf balls, and the still unclaimed 9 carat ring. (But thanks for the coins we sometimes find!)
Photo: Elizabeth Boje speaking during Tumelong Sunday Photo credit: Robert “Rusty” Higgs
From its small beginning in 2015, this initiative has grown enormously. I am responsible for collection in the eastern sector of the Diocese, from Gezina to Ekangala, where I get plastic tops and tags from eleven churches, seven schools, retirement centres and complexes, with contributions from as far afield as Edenvale (400 kg in January), and Kempton Park (230kg in March)! The western sector is collected in Pretoria West. In 2018, we delivered over 4½ tons of plastic to
But the most important element is the dignity and mobility we can give to the less fortunate. We have helped about 50 people; from children who don’t have to be carried on a weary mother’s back, to men who can now fetch their pensions or return to work, and to the elderly who don’t have to lie in bed all day. Already in 2019 we have taken over 2 tons of plastic to Germiston, with Lucas expected on March 13, this could add another half ton. But we haven’t received any wheelchairs since September last year. So we need your prayers that our work does not lead to disappointment.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
MARCH 2019
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PARISH NEWS TUMELONG SUNDAY: PICTURES
Photo (Left to Right): Mrs Joey Phayane, retired Social Worker and Mr. Mark Southwood, registered Pyschologist and both members of the Wellness Ministry during Tumelong Sunday Photo credits: Robert “Rusty” Higgs
CHURCH NOTICES: MONTH OF APRIL 2019 BAPTISM 20 APRIL 2019
Prayer for the Elections In South Africa 8 May 2019
Parents interested in having their child(ren) paptised on Saturday the 20th of April, please contact the Parish Secretary for more information as follows:
God of compassion and hope ruling above all earthly structures of governance: guide the people of this nation now called to elect their leaders, that the parties may present their manifestoes with honesty and clarity, that the voters may cast their votes in safety and with confidence, and that those responsible for the elections will work efficiently, to ensure that the result will be accepted by all parties and the new government supported as they seek to build one nation in which all can exercise the gifts that they will offer and use for the greater good. This we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ– our Saviour.
Mrs Zenobia Francis St Francis of Assisi, Waterkloof Office: 012 346-1106/7
Email: mail@st-francis.co.za
FRANCISCAN MONTHLY
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PARISH NEWS FAREWELL TO MORNE THE ORGANIST
Photo: Elizabeth Borge speaking during Tumelong Sunday Photo credit: Robert “Rusty” Higgs
Photo collage: (L-R) Morne the Organist being acknowledged by the Rector Fr. Meshack. Looking on is Fr. Julian, Revd Thato and Lay Minister Melita Tsuene during Tumelong Sunday Photo credit: Robert “Rusty “Higgs
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
MARCH 2019
PARISH NEWS RECENT EVENTS IN PICTURES
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D I O C E S A N
N E W S ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH
.By Brian Smith
Communications Ministry Publisher: The Rector St Francis of Assisi Anglican Parish Cnr Long and Albert Street, Waterkloof, Pretoria Executive Producer: Antony Jongwe Editor: Antony Jongwe Editor-at-Large: Jill Daugherty Online Producer: Dana Mahan Typesetting & DTP Publishing: Antony Jongwe Photographer: Robert “Rusty” Higgs Printing & Circulation: Zenobia Francis
Photo: Rt Rev Bishop Allan addressing Priests and Churchwardens at St Albans Cathedral
THE “ANGLICANS” MUSIC PROJECT Dear Members of the Clergy and Churchwardens Lenten Greetings At the end of last year I wrote in the Ad Clerum about an exciting music and song initiative in the Diocese.
Diana Higgs
The Gospel concerts promises to be inspirational and uplifting.
Jill Daugherty
Lastly, may I add that this initiative is not in competition with our church choirs or anybody else.
Dorah Semenya
The Anglicans is a gospel music project that has the potential to bring to the fore the abundant musical talent amongst our members.
They are simply responding to a very real need to find a home in our Diocese for lovers of gospel music and to hone the talents of those who are gifted with music and song.
It is a medium that appeals especially to our younger members, and I ask you to join me in supporting an initiative that promises to grow our young people and cement their place in the Church.
A wonderful scene in future would see a collaboration of church choirs and The Anglicans staging a concert. I dream of this.
The small management committee of The Anglicans has had auditions and achieved remarkable results in a very short space of time.
Please support this as best you can.
The attached correspondence from them introduces their very first concerts. If you like gospel music, and especially live Gospel music, then you would not want to miss out on some real talent.
Issue Contributors:
God bless
+Allan
Elizabeth Boje
Enquiries: mail@st-francis.co.za Telephone: 012 346-1106/7 Website: http://www.st-francis.co.za