Reps Circular

Dear ALMA Friends,

What a joyous and moving ALMA Reps meeting we had on 20 October. We heard from:

• The St Mary’s Stoke Newington team, who visited Tete in April, shared the song they took to Tete and the Gloria they returned with, as well as the impact of their visit in both Tete and London. We are hoping their songs will resound around the Cathedral next ALMA Sunday - 10 July 2016 at 6pm!
• Sarah Warren who held a concert for ALMA, and sang to us as she presented a cheque
• Nikkita Robert whose poems, written in response to her visit to Lichinga, moved us to tears
• We also held our partners in prayer, especially the Lebombo Synod and the Van Koeverings as they prepared to move.
• We were full of gratitude and thanks for our partnership and how it has shaped and changed our faith journeys. We all left with a spring in our steps.

This week has brought further joy!

You'll remember on ALMA Sunday we launched the ALMA Tutudesk project by presenting Bishop Rachel with a Tutudesk to take with her to Gloucester, and that in June I presented the prototypes to Bishops Carlos and Mark. We are delighted that, in time for Christmas and the new school year in Mozambique, the Tutudesks have been delivered to both Lebombo and Niassa! 1100 desks to each Diocese.

Already Bishop Carlos has delivered a batch to Maciene School (pupils from Maciene School and Twyford School worked together to determine the teaching aids on the desk). Other Lebombo desks will go to Pungue.

Bishop Manuel has presented the desks to Nacala School (pictures 2 & 3) and also in Messumba. 300 desks will go to Milange to be shared by Nguema school at Mongue (partnered with St Mary Magdalene Littleton), Molumbo school, and to pre-school kids at St Simone of Cyrene Milange , a very promising initiative pioneered by Archdeacon Dinz and the Mothers› Union.

We are so thankful to see this project come to fruition and express our thanks to: Ian Gleeson (our former Angola Projects Officer) who introduced us to Rebecca Sweetman and the Tutudesk Initiative in the UK; Twyford and Maciene Schools; Paperjam (who did the design work pro bono), and Renee Zerle who has worked so hard on logistics in South Africa.

Bishop Richard, Bishop of London, articulates our vision and prayer for these 2200 Tutudesks:

‘Archbishop Desmond Tutu's path to worldwide leadership in the struggle against tribalism and racial discrimination was via education. He never tires of saying how grateful he is to his teachers in early life. The Tutu desk is both a tribute to him and recognition of the vital importance of offering life chances to the young people of Mozambique through education. I hope that these desks will not only celebrate a great man but be the foundation on which many great men and women begin their way through life’.

1. Diary Dates

Monday 25 - Thursday 28 January. Election of next Bishop of Niassa

Tuesday 19 April. ALMA Reps Meeting at Diocesan House Main Hall 6-8pm. Light refreshments from 5.40pm

Sunday 29 May. Consecration and Installation new Bishop of Niassa

Sunday 10 July. ALMA Sunday – afternoon tea with Bishop André Soares – venue tba
Followed by ALMA Sunday Service St Paul’s Cathedral 6pm

Tuesday 18 October. ALMA Reps Meeting at Diocesan House Main Hall 6-8pm. Light refreshments from 5.40pm

2. News from our Partners

a) Angola

• The church has seen really encouraging signs of growth – (see most recent Journal Mensgaeiro)
  
  • The inauguration of a new congregation Santa Cruz connected to St Joseph Rocho Pinto
  • Young people of Luanda South met Oswaldo Ferreira (executive secretary of Anglican Youth in Angola) and Director Joaquim Massala appealed to young people to strive more and show more work in the vineyard of the Lord.
  • 38 new Acolytes were trained
  • The flute band at St Stephen’s Lunda celebrated its 20th anniversary
  • 6th Diocesan Mothers’ Union Conference and a Bernard Mizeki Conference were held
    

    
• However, as John Tasker our Twinning officer reminds us, global oil prices are at their lowest point for 11 years which has significant repercussions for Angola - the second largest oil producer in Africa after Nigeria. The Kwanza is worth less than half what it was at the start of the year which is having a major effect on the economy of Angola. The government has reduced its 2016 budget across the board which affects social expenditure and increases the risk of social unrest. Can we join with our partners in Angola in praying:
  • For Rev Deolinda Teca, General Secretary of the Angolan Council of Christian Churches, Bishop André and other church leaders as they seek to influence the government
  • For the people of Angola,
  • For wisdom and sensitivity for political decision makers

b) Lebombo

• The 21st Lebombo Diocesan Synod was held 22-25 October and followed by the Diocesan Family weekend. It was an historic Synod which approved the ordination of women and also the principle of gender representation in church decision making boards.

  Bishop Carlos shared the key priorities for 2016: We are taking 2016 - Year of the Edification of the Body of Christ to emphasize the training and equipping of leaders aspect for the building up of the Church and the Kingdom of God. We want to focus on:

  1. Lay Training at all levels
  2. Continued formation of clergy.
  3. Planning, fund raising and starting the construction of the new Theological College away from the diocesan centre but in Maputo Province.
  4. Writing new curricula for theological education and for lay training at various levels.

  Do read his full report and please pray about the priorities outlined here especially the theological training and equipping of both lay and ordained church leaders.

  

  
• On 1 December Fr Felix Macane was inducted as the first priest of Santa Monica Malhazine (twinned with St Paul’s Bow Common) which has become a pastoral zone (parish).
• Please do continue to hold the peace process in Mozambique in your prayers and also the peace negotiators including Emeritus Bishop Dinis. The situation is more volatile again and there is great concern.

c) Niassa

• It feels as if a year has been lived in the last two months! In early November Bishop Mark Van Koevering and Revd Helen Van Koevering had farewell services in Messumba Cathedral and Yohannah Abdallah Church respectively, and then in Nampula on their way south. There was so much to give thanks for and to celebrate, not least 12 years of dedicated service, during which the church in Niassa experienced hugely significant growth and shared the love of Christ far and wide. These two pictures taken at Yohannah Abdallah and the airport demonstrate the depth of feeling and gratitude. Our prayers and love go with Mark and Helen to West Virginia and the next phase of their ministry.
  

  
• Suffragan Bishop Manuel has been appointed Vicar General until 29 May 2016 when the next Bishop of Niassa will be consecrated and installed. Elections for the post will take place 25-28 Jan 2016.
• On World Aids Day, 1 December, we were privileged to share Rebecca Vander Meulen’s reflection and stories from Niassa where the Equipas da Vida have done so much to break stigma, give hope and, above all, share love and acceptance.
• In Milange the WASH team organised a handwashing campaign, radio announcements, posters and a demonstration fair. Share their day with Jo Beale’s film. As the rains begin we remember the impact on delivering programmes and training when travel is frequently disrupted - along with the electricity supply. Jo and Andy’s blog on power cuts is important reading.

3. London

• We are thankful for the progress made at the Paris Climate Summit but realise there is a long road ahead with many more hills, as this important analysis shows.
• We are so thrilled at the successful outcome of the Tutudesk project and pray that these £11 desks, which will be used by three school shifts of children each day, will be an inspiration to the young people who use them.