Natal News & Information

Give thanks for the development last year:

• the Ubuntu course that increased understanding and led to changes in priorities and lifestyles;
• the sales of many AIDS bead badges, raising awareness, and helping the poorest in Cato Manor, Durban, raising £1600 so far;
• for gifts and donations to help…
  + churches in the Midlands area of Natal that suffered storm damage last December-January;
  + HIV/Aids projects and sufferers;
  + The Cato Manor Feeding scheme;
  + and from Southwell confirmation services to help produce Young Church and Sunday School;
• a Natal Link workshop and focus in Time Travelling;
• initial approaches to explore links between schools;
• a new prayer card;
• a presentation at Diocesan Synod and support for funding through the Diocesan budget;
• a very worthwhile sabbatical stay in October by The Revd Jeremy Green;
• for the skill of surgeons in helping Bishop Rubin recover from a sudden and dangerous illness;
   
  

As a new year begins, pray especially for:

• the visit arrangements: 23rd May–19th June
• the visiting team as they prepare to come
• the host churches as they plan local programmes
• the arrangements for the Pentecost celebration: Praying in a World Church
• Canon Professor Tony Thistleton visiting Durban & Pietermaritzburg
   In January and exploring theological education;
• The Link groups in both Dioceses as they seek to encourage wider participation in the Companion Link;
• For Chris and Paula Meyer from Durban studying at St John’s College Nottingham, Chris being a Natal ordinand;
• David Keetley, producing a youth leader training programme for the Diocese of Natal;
• Rachel Keetley working at the HIV/AIDS clinic at Umhlali and the Noah project for AIDS orphans at Nkobongp, Umhlali, North Coast.