Pastoral Letter June 2008
Mt 5:11-12: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
There are two words which catch my attention in this passage connected to the environment we live in: Persecution and falsehood. (more…)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We are shocked and dismayed by the continuous police interference with Sunday services and by the increased brutality causing casualties. Many of you have been assaulted and beaten, and several parishioners of St Monica’s Church, Chitungwiza, were brutally assaulted on 18 May and had to be admitted to hospital.
Our struggle to worship without harassment continues. The Supreme Court Order issued by the Hon. Chief Justice on 12 May was totally disregarded by the police, as previous orders have been. Needless to say where there is law and order such defiance would result in the arrest of those in contempt of court. Today in Zimbabwe the rule of law does not exist. That leaves us with no recourse to ensure that our members can freely and peacefully exercise their constitutional right for example, for everyone to worship without harassment. We are however not deterred by this lawlessness and will continue to seek justice through the courts. (more…)
Speech at Lady Day – 19th April 2008 at St Michael’s Mbare
(delayed due to elections)
Theme: “You are my witnesses” – Isa 43: 1-2 and 10
The theme for our Maria Day comes from the book of the prophet Isaiah in the OT. During these times of uncertainty and manifold challenges in our life as a church and a nation, the Bible seems to have come alive to us in a new way. At his installation the Bishop spoke about Nehemiah and his vision of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and especially the temple. The Bishop invited us all to be Nehemiahs and rebuild our Diocese of Harare. Those of you who have taken the time to read the book of Nehemiah, will have discovered that it has a lot to tell us about the situation we find ourselves in in 2008 in Harare Diocese.
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The Church of the Province of Central Africa
Diocese of Harare
The Bishop of Harare (CPCA) The Rt Rev Sebastian Bakare
P.O. Box HR 7331
Harare
19 March 2008
PASTORAL LETTER BEFORE ELECTIONS 2008.
We live in a world, nation and community where the worsening economic climate cries out for long term solutions. The questions range across personal, communal and national levels and one has to choose which one of these to tackle first. (more…)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Greetings!
This pastoral letter comes to you at the very beginning of Lent; Lent being the season that reminds us of our fallibility as human beings. It is a time of reflection about our relations with each other, and above all with God. We stand condemned, but praise and thanks to Him for His grace, by which we are justified! (Romans 3:24) (more…)
Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Diocese of Harare
From the Bishop of Harare
P O Box HR 7331
Harare
Pastoral Letter from the Bishop
Ephiphany 2008
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
Greetings.
The festive season of Christmas has come and gone, and we are looking towards yet another important part of the Christian calendar, the time of Epiphany, a time in which God reveals Himself to all humanity.
But this Christmas cannot go without a few remarks which have made it very special for many Christians, especially in Harare. Like Mary and Joseph who were refused a place in the inn in Bethlehem, I and my wife together with fellow Christians at Christchurch Borrowdale found ourselves unwanted in the church – named after Christ for that matter! What an irony it was. (more…)
Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Diocese of Harare
From the Bishop of Harare
P O Box HR 7331
Harare
5 December 2007
Bishop’s Christmas Message
“The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.”
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
Greetings.
These words from John’s gospel chapter 1 tell us about Jesus whose birthday we celebrate at this time. It tells us about his mission that was to create confusion but eventually transformed the salvation history of humanity. The world to which Jesus came was full of religious and political uncertainty. Sin had plunged humanity into the jungle where there was no clear direction to pursue. The world was left in permanent darkness. Ignorance and falsehood dominated people’s lives. Jesus as light exposed these self-serving falsehoods but the world refused to see this light. (more…)
Diocese of Harare (CPCA) 