A story is told about a young boy who wanted to test a sage. He held a small little bird in his two cusped hands and said to the sage: “Is this little bird dead or alive?” In his mind he thought: If the sage says “dead” then he will simply open his hand and allow the bird to fly away. If the sage says “alive”, he will crush the little bird. The sage listened to his question and contemplated for a while. Then she answered: “Son, whether the bird is alive or dead, is in your hands”.
Continue readingMourning Clint Le Bruyns: What do we do?
How do we cope with the enormous shock and loss of someone so inspiring, so generous in spirit?
Dr. Clint le Bruyns, the widely loved and respected South African theologian, intellectual and activist was 48 years old on the morning of 7 January 2021 when his body succumbed to Covid-19 related complications.
What do we do?
In his tribute, Rev. Moss Nthla (Chair: Kairos South Africa and General Secretary: The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa) responded as follows:
What do you do when a brave soldier falls in the middle of a fierce battle?
When the foe is not merely another tribe from across the river, but an empire arrogantly straddling the globe?
Corrupting the mind with theologies of death.
Enslaving the soul with the values of darkness.
Subjecting the majority of the peoples of the world to the falsehood that evil can trump good.
You celebrate.
You celebrate a…
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Covid: we need to change course
Before we end the year, it will be useful to look back on 2020 and reflect on what has happened and how VYLTP has been affected by it – and perhaps even begin to chart a way forward. Our mission at VYLTP is to “gather young leaders to form a safe space of learning, through courageous conversations, to foster wise leadership that empowers them to facilitate transformative justice in church and society”.
Continue readingNew VYLTP online course: “Beloved Community”
Covid-19 has taken its toll on our leadership programmes offered each year at Volmoed. Our programmes were built along the five themes of: Community; Healing and wholeness;, Creation and creativity; Reconciliation; and Peace and justice. We are hoping to revive these programmes when the virus has been slain.
Our current challenges have also forced us to think out of the box, and the outcome is a brand new online course kicking off in 2021, entitled ‘Beloved Community”.
Continue readingCancelled: Cape Town Taizé event
Dear Friends
Unfortunately, due to the current situation in Cape Town and across South Africa in regards to the COVID-19 cases: We have decided to cancel the Pilgrimage of Trust (in-person) gathering at Moravian Hill, which was scheduled for Monday, 28th of December 2020.
However, if you wish to participate in the Taizé International Online Meeting from the 27th of December 2020 till the 1st of January 2021: Please write to the Taizé Community informing them about your interest to join this experience. Here is the email to the Taizé Community: meet@taize.fr
The meeting is free, except for your data costs.
Also, please save the dates for the Volmoed Taize Pilgrimage of Trust days in 2021!
27 March;
16 June;
27 November.
Please let us continue to be prayerful, staying safe and looking after ourselves, during this difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thanks again,
Wilma
Only Water to Wine?
We stumbled by accident on this gem, written by a 2016 VYLTP alumnus four years ago.
July 6, 2016
Gerlyn Henry’s meditation shared at the Volmoed Eucharist service.
Continue readingPhoto gallery of Taizé event at Volmoed
#TaizeSA2020
You can now view the photos of our past event, the Pilgrimage of Trust, held on 28-11-2020 at Volmoed.
#TaizeSA2020
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Compassion
August is known as the month of compassion but it’s an essential way of life and being for each day of our lives as we follow Jesus the Christ, who responded with loving compassion to all whom he met. This month also marks particular anniversaries – the first atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and South African National Women’s Day to commemorate the march in 1956 of 20,000 women, to protest the pass laws. The Southern African Anglican church’s decision in 1992 to ordain women as priests also took place in August.
Continue readingGender based violence: Women, patriarchy, and the church
National Women’s Day in South Africa on 9 August commemorates a powerful moment in our history. In 1956, 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, to protest against the carrying of pass books and legislation aimed at tightening the apartheid government’s control over the movement of black women in urban areas.
This month also marks the 28th anniversary of the Anglican Church’s decision to ordain women as priests. It’s a good moment to reflect on women and the church, whatever your denomination or faith community.
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