Times of Hello’s and Goodbye’s

July 18, 2008
Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday

It has been a busy week of offering workshops and seminars around the Diocese of False Bay! I haven’t even had time (or internet access) to post a blog. Here’s a re-cap of how I spent my time. I don’t think I will be able to articulate all that I have taken in and learned this week – at least for a long time.
Monday morning Ruth and I drove from Wolseley to Ceres for Morning Prayer with other clergy of the area. Then Ruth, Victor, Jonathon (all area priests) drove to Robertson to meet with Aiden Knight and his wife Patricia. Aiden had just gotten back from sabbatical in London and was full of reflections about the differences in the Church in England. He showed us the churches in his parish (white, colored and black) and fed us a nice lunch. Then we went to Jonathon’s parish so I could meet with their confirmation students (over 100 of them!). After tea at Jonathon’s home, we went back to Ceres so I could meet with the Lay Ministers there. We enjoyed a bible study on Colossians. Aiden says his Xhosa congregation wants a new church building, instead of the shack they currently worship in. He has told them, “First we must be the church. Then God wil help us build one.”

On Tuesday, we left the house at 6:00 am to drive back to Stellenbosch so I could meet with the clergy of the diocese. I led them through a process of crafting a congregationally owned vision for Christian Formation in their parishes, using appreciative inquiry and asset-mapping. Although some were intrigued, others complained that their lack of resources and committed lay persons made it impossible to contemplate such matters. They did present me with a gift of Desmond Tutu’s authorized biography, which I am looking forward to reading. Afterwards, Fr. Clarence, Archdeacon of the Helderberg Archdeaconry along the Strand, showed me many of the parishes in the area. He pointed out areas where settlements have grown up right next to very wealthy homes. He toured me through the diocesan offices, and explained that he had stewardship of them because they fell in his archdeaconry. Then he took me to Deacon Roberta’s apartment for soup and supper before another presentation to the Lay Minister’s of their Archdeaconry. This one was on the Liturgical Year and Program Planning. When Roberta took be back to her place we had a nice time for silent meditation before bed.

On Wednesday, Roberta drove me to Muizenberg, along the coast, where Cliff Felix met me to take me to Simon’s Town. He brought along Marim, a Pentecostal pastor, who works with him on Church Based Community Organizing. When we got to Simon’s Town, the caretake was not around to let me into the cottage, so we went to Jubilee Square for coffee and scones. We were hoping that Father Bolton would meet up with us, and he came along about the same time as the caretaker. After a few moments of greeting and touring the cottages, the others left me to settle in. I enjoyed a chance to rest, but also prepared for my evening presentation. At 5:00Fr. Leslie picked me up and took me to supper at Dixie’s before showing me his archdeaconry: Mitchell’s Plain. Then I led a Lay Minister’s workshop on Age Level Characteristics and Stages of Faith Development. Fr. Leslie took me back to the cottage about 10 pm. I knew that Rich and Mary Nodar were due in, but it was too late to connect.

Thursday morning the Nodar’s called me and I walked up the way to have breakfast with them. They seemed so excited to have someone from home here in their other home! We planned preparations for the arrival of the rest of the team, and then they let me get back to preparation for my final workshop. At 4 pm Fr. Wilfred picked me up to show me around his archdeaconry: Blue Downs. He showed me Delft, an area that includes people who were kicked out of new homes by the government. They now live in shacks right on the edge of the development. There is a settlement with tin shacks nearby, but they refuse to go there because they say the government will just leave them there. It doesn’t not seem to be getting resolved in the courts. Then we met with more confirmation students and I asked for messages to take back to our kids at home. They were shy, but did mention that kids everywhere should remember that God created them unique and one should not try to conform to the world around them. Then we went to Fr. Connie’s parish in Kleinvlie for a meeting with all the leaders of the archdeaconry. We enjoyed soup and bread first, then spirited singing of praise songs. There must have been 250 people there! I spoke to them about the power and process of small group ministry, and they seemed eager to put the information to use right away. They wanted my contact information and I gave away all my business cards! Afterwards, Fr. Wilfred had arranged to take me to dinner with some area clergy, but the restaurant was closed, so after driving around, we ended up at Fr. Robert’s home for cheese sandwiches.

Today (Friday) I have had a chance to sleep late, wander around Simon’s Town, visit with the Nodar’s, and prepare for the Pilgrimage Team who arrives tonight. I am so looking forward to seeing my friends!