Dear Friends - Autumn 2003

Christian greetings.

With a fair share of sunshine over the summer I hope that you have had an enjoyable season.  The finale of our summer was the "Parish Fun and Fellowship day" in Delamont Park.  This was attended by at least one hundred people.  It was lovely to see so many children and adults enjoying themselves.  There was something for everyone - "good grub, great craic and for me a fish barbeque !!!".

I must say our "home and away" holiday was very refreshing in every way as the whole family flew to Rwanda and were able to visit family and friends.  The last time they saw the family together was 5 years ago.

Our daughters had a good time as their granny (Mary's mum) spoiled them and they really bonded well.  Our son (Nziza) made many friends and became very popular playing snooker and football, with his team-mates enjoying his Ulster accent.

This time we avoided a working holiday but attended churches both in the capital Kigali and in the Kibungo Diocese near the border with Tanzania.  We survived a marathon of worship  in Kibungo, which took a little more than 4 hours with 2 preachers and an interpreter.  The service included ordination, canonry, Mother's Union and Eucharist, and a few choir pieces along with the ordinary hymns.  It was actually lively and enjoyable and the "Question of lunch" didn't seem to worry anybody till later in the afternoon.

It was great to see the beautiful Lake Muhazi on the East which looks more or less like Strangford Lough seen from my study at the Rectory.  Travelling through the North to Lake Kivu was an exhilarating experience and it is no wonder Rwanda has been called the Switzerland of Africa.  The children loved the hills and valleys and at the Lake stayed in the water for many hours.

In the national stadium we watched Rwanda beat Ghana (which was one of the favourites to win the African Cup) and we all went absolutely mad !!!

Although the holiday was great and we all needed it, more importantly, it made a great impression on our children.  I heard one of them spell out plans after schooling to go to Rwanda to help the people out there.

I believe one of the challenges the Church faces today is how shared ministry and leadership can evolve.  I would like to start with the whole area of worship by encouraging David Hannon and Polly Graham to take part to lead some parts of the liturgy.  They now have completed the Parish Readers course run by the Diocese.  I would like to commend them to you for prayerful support as they assist me during worship.

The recent Harvest Thanksgiving ought to reinforce as a matter of rejoicing with thankfulness in the presence of a bountiful God.  we need to also to guard against being inward looking but celebrate with the view of sharing and remembering the needs of the world.  Our needs go beyond the daily bread we have other needs that we can pray for.

Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus

Jerome Munyangaju