Message from the Chaplain: 27 May 2022

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO

After two years of being online, yesterday Patronal fever was in the air. We returned to the familiar.

Our preacher and celebrant at this year’s Patronal Festival was Revd Canon Cynthia Botha, convener of the liturgical committee currently revising the prayer book. In her reflection on The nature and purpose of worship: a local South African perspective (2004), she describes herself : “ I belong to the so called-coloured population group in South Africa, which during the apartheid era in our country formed part of the oppressed people and was discriminated against…we are a people caught between a strongly western tradition on the one side and an African tradition on the other side…this being between two worlds is reflected in our life and worship.” She closes her reflection by saying, “…part of the wonder of Anglican liturgy – it is adaptable yet very recognisable as being “Anglican”, and one soon feels at home in new surroundings.”

The theme of Revd Cynthia’s sermon was Endings and Beginnings. The celebration of our Patronal Festival on Ascension Day is the coming together of beginnings and endings- a collision of joys. The beginning is marked by Mary’s ‘yes’ to carrying in her womb God Incarnate whose birth, life, death and resurrection would irrevocably change all of creation. The ending marked by the ascension of Jesus offers us a chance at a new beginning that can give us a new lease on life and contribute to our renewal. She also reminded us that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

As we celebrated our Patronal, we followed in the footsteps of those who came before us as we sang.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!

Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure:

tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord

to children’s children and for evermore!


REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN

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