Sermon for the Easter Vigil – St George’s Cathedral Cape Town

Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 118:14-18; Mark 16:1-8

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! Sisters and brothers in Christ, may all the fullness of Easter Resurrection life be yours!

It is a great joy to be sharing this Easter celebration with you in the mother church of the Diocese and Province. It is particularly special to be sharing with our Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who for me epitomizes in reality Julian of Norwich’s saying that “...all shall be well, and all manner of thing[s] shall be well.”

Mr Dean, your staff, licensed and unlicensed, the clergy, the wardens, the lay leaders of the Cathedral, those who conduct music and all your other ministries, including the office staff, the cleaners as well as the verger, thank you for all that you are and all that you do.

Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, there is a great anticipation about Easter. Unquestionably, Easter, and Holy Week leading up to Easter, are profoundly personal for Christians everywhere. But why do we celebrate Easter? What makes Easter so intensely important?

Now is the Time for Prayer and Action on “Unprecedented Climate Crisis”: Anglican Bishops

A group of 17 Anglican Bishops from all six continents have called for urgent prayer and action on the “unprecedented climate crisis”. Their Declaration The World Is Our Host: A Call to Urgent Action for Climate Justice released today sets a new agenda on climate change for the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion.

The group met in South Africa in February to build on months of conversations carried out via the internet. The group involved bishops both from cultures and nations that are major contributors to climate change, and those producing low levels of CO 2 but disproportionately affected.

The Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of Southern Africa, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, who brought the group together, said:

“We accept the evidence of science: Human activity, especially in fossil-fuel based economies, is the main cause of the climate crisis. We heard of extreme weather and changes to seasons; rising sea levels; acidification of seawater; depleted fishing grounds; and displaced people who are climate refugees.

Listen: Archbishop Thabo's Reflection for Palm Sunday

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba wraps up our Lenten series with a reflection for Palm Sunday.

Reading: Mark 15:1-39

Next week: Archbishop Thabo's Easter reflection



References for this week:
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army (1829–1912)
Elie Wiesel, Holocaust surviver, Nobel Peace Prize 1986 (1928-)
Timothy Rees, Bishop of Llandaff (1874-1939)
Edmund Burke, Irish political philosopher (1729-1797)
Michael Mayne, Dean of Westminster (1929–2006)

Archbishop to deliver Bishop AH Zulu Memorial Lecture

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town is to deliver a memorial lecture honouring the Right Revd. Alphaeus Zulu, former Bishop of Zululand, in Durban on Monday March 30.

Alphaeus Hamilton Zulu, born in 1905, was a pioneering leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. 

Initially a teacher, he was ordained a priest when he was in his 30s and served for many years at St Faith's Mission in Durban. During this time, he became one of the founders of Iviyo lofakazi bakaKristu, a renowned movement in the Anglican Church. 

He was the first black South African to be consecrated an Anglican bishop, becoming Bishop Suffragan of the old St. John's Diocese in 1960. He then became the first black diocesan bishop, serving as Bishop of Zululand from 1966 until his retirement in 1975. During this time, he was also a regional President of the World Council of Churches.

After he retired, he was appointed Speaker of the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly from 1978 to 1987.

Details of the AH Zulu Memorial Lecture

Date:  Monday March 30, 2015

Time:  16h00

Place: St. Faith's Parish

           80 Carlisle Street

           Durban, 4001

SACC CALLS FOR MOMENTS OF PRAYER FOR SOUTH AFRICA

SACC CALLS FOR MOMENTS OF PRAYER FOR SOUTH AFRICA

On Tuesday March 24 2015, the National Church Leaders Forum – which was recently launched as part of the South African Council of Churches renewal program – announced its intention to address the increasing dissonance within the South African socio-political space.

As a body of church leaders across the broader South African spectrum, the Forum is alarmed at the perceived "cancer of corruption" rapidly chipping away at the core of the South African moral fibre from every angle of our society; the creeping disregard for the Constitution as well as the debilitating instability playing itself out at key government and parastatal institutions. These all reflect a worrying trend that, if left unchecked, could prove dire for the future stability of this country.

The church leaders are calling on South African churches to commit themselves to pray and act for the advancement of the South African post-apartheid promise. This call is extended to all South Africans. The goal is to realise a just, reconciled, prosperous and equitable society; free of hunger and want, free of racial, tribal and gender prejudices, free of corruption and deprivation, and with enough food and shelter for every citizen.

The SACC will shortly be announcing its participation in the War of Poverty, in collaboration with all three tiers of government, building on existing pilot programs with proven success.

Homily for the Induction of the Revd Roger Cameron as CEO of ABESA

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba

Induction of the Revd Roger Cameron as CEO of ABESA

St Mary’s School – Waverley, 17h00

24 March 2015

1 Timothy 1:15-17, Luke 6:43-49

May I speak in the name of God who knows each tree by its fruits and who separates the bad tree from the good one. Amen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let me repeat what a great delight it is to be with you and to be licensing and inducting Roger as CEO of ABESA tonight.

Roger, we offer you hearty congratulations on this appointment and we warmly welcome you and Ann to this key ministry of our Church.

Let me also congratulate the Board on this appointment, an excellent choice. We know that Roger comes with extensive experience in educational excellence and a deep mature, Christian faith. We look forward to harnessing these good fruits for both the Church and the nations of ACSA.