Dear Friends in Christ

Lenten season 2014 has come and gone and I wish to thank each one of you for being part of the spiritual journey towards Easter. During our preparation for Easter the Lent course focused mainly on the Lord’s Prayer and a big thank you to Fr Vic Spencer who wrote the material. I must say that I learned a lot from the discussions and inputs we had. I will still recommend that we revisit the material and go through it prayerfully and not as a recitation.

As part of the spiritual journey we also had a Parish quiet day on the 5th April at Oliewenhuis and ended the day with communion in the garden. Thank you to all those who took the time to attend.

As we now embark on the joy of Easter and Pentecost Tide, it is important that we not only focus on the spiritual transformation and growth but it is incumbent upon us to also think of the growth of our parish as well as the transformation that comes with it. The culture of innovation as we go through this, needs to be supported by a strong vision that is shared with each parishioner as part of a collaborative orientated team and an understanding of who we serve. We need to change the way we do church and move away from the maintenance mode to a more organized and strategic way of thinking.

According to B Sayle & S Kumar in their book ‘Riding the Blue Train’, they highlight that the way a person thinks affects his world. It dictates how he thinks, what he sees, how he experiences things and ultimately whether he feels successful or not. They further go on to say of course one does not think in the same manner all the time. Every individual has patterns of thinking that have been developing since before birth. I believe that the same can be said about our spiritual development and ultimate authentic spirituality.

As a child one has a particular way of thinking and as one grows older this evolves due to a combination of many factors. The same can be said about our Christian growth – from the time we went to Sunday school through confirmation till today. We have distinct patterns of thinking, energies and emotional qualities. All these patterns dictate how we engage with our church and how we embrace what it stands for and its vision.

An interesting point made by Sayle and Kumar is that there are four thinking styles:

1. Magical Thinking – Anything is possible / No limits / Thinking outside the box
2. Heroic Thinking – I can do anything/ I’m invincible
3. Resigned Thinking – I can’t/ I’ll see / I doubt it / Maybe
4. Cynical Thinking – Nobody can / It’s impossible / No possible way

The above styles got me thinking as to what styles are most applicable to us as members of the Cathedral family. Could it be that we subscribe more to the Magical Thinking style or perhaps the Cynical Thinking style? Is there even a possibility that we have a combination of any of the four?

As we forge ahead in an effort to grow the church and embrace all that comes with such growth, we need to start thinking differently in order to get the desired results. This is also what the Anglican Ablaze conference is all about. Tlagu Molokoane, Kamo Mogakabe and Manneheng Raphuthing will attend this conference in Johannesburg in July. Firing up what we do in all respects.

Our new council has been inducted and commissioned to take this parish to new heights. This will require the support and participation of each and every member of this parish.

As I end off, let me remind you that each one of us has been commissioned to proclaim the gospel according to Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20.
It is my wish that we all experience the spirit of the first Pentecost and that our hearts may be set on fire for God and Mission.

May God bless you all.
Dean Lazarus Mohapi