To the Laos – Message on the Feast of the Epiphany

Dear People of God

Christmastide ends on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, but because many people in our Province are still on their summer holidays, it is one of the feasts we observe least.

This year, as we enter the Season of the Epiphany  – in which we celebrate the revealing of God's gift of Jesus to the world  – let us tirelessly pursue the goal of reigniting trust in one another, both in our personal and our corporate lives.

We are living through an era of profound distrust, which is contributing to an historic level of intolerance in the world, reinforcing inequality of opportunity and a growing trend to cancel out the voices of those we don't agree with.

To those who are taking the Middle East and the Gulf to the brink of war, and to those in South Africa who are preparing to mark the anniversary of the ANC, our governing party, I appeal: put your focus on acting in such a way as to build trust and break down division between nations and within societies. To be trusted is more important to the survival and well-being of humankind than being popular.

Please join me in my New Year's resolution to try to build trust. 

 Also at this time, please pray with me:

• For the health and lives of the young initiates in South Africa who are so distressingly and unnecessarily put at risk of injury and death every initiation season;
• For the people of Port Sudan on the Red Sea, where Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo reports that conflict has broken out once again between ethnic groups, and where the state government is trying to bring about peace;  
• For the people of Australia, devastated by fire in so many parts, and for the Anglican Church in Australia, headed by Archbishop Philip Freier;
• For the families of those who have died, and for those left homeless, in the floods in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.

God bless you and your families in 2020.

†† Thabo Cape Town