Rev. Thuso Thiego

C0-Programme Director

UCCSA Newsletter October 2012

.The UCCSA held its first denominational choir festival at Ditshupo hall in Gaborone, Botswana on Saturday 13th October 2012.

The music festival was the first of its kind to UCCSA as there was never any festival that big before. The festival was inaugurated by the UCCSA General Secretary, Rev Dr Prince Dibeela.

Botswana had the opportunity to host the debut mega event. The organizers did a wonderful job from scratch up until the last day. It was really magical. There were choirs from all over the country and some from across border and all met in the

BOTSWANA HOSTS THE FIRST UCCSA DENOMINATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL By: Mompati Hwananani

first city of Botswana, Gaborone. The festival was hosted by the

Kolobeng Region which comprises ofchurches like Broadhurst,Thamaga, Kumakwane, Mogoditshane, Tlokweng,Trinity, Gaphatshwa… just to name a few.

Most choirs performed asRegional massed choirs, except a few which participated as local church choirs. Just like the Kolobeng region, every regional mass choir comprised of church choirs from UCCSA churches of that particular region. (Continue on page 2.)

Trininty Church Choir Director

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The regional mass choirs from Botswana that blessed and participated in the event in addition to other regional mass choirs from South Africa and Zimbabwe were Bojanala, Lesoso, Lephoiand Moeding regions.

The creativity of the choirs was magnificent and the talents of the choristers were amazing. The show was one of a kind and throughout it was eye catching, never a moment where the audience showed signs of being bored. It appeared that every choir that set foot on that stage went through a lot of practice and was on a mission leaving a mark and also representing their regions and countries well. The bar that had already been set high by the first two guest local choirs (Broadhurst and Trinity) was never dropped. From the angelic voices of the choirs on stage, ululations cheers and applauding from the audience and how everyone will dance to the shared pieces, if one could have a stood at a vantage point they could have came up with an idea of how the life in heaven would be just by judging from the response of the audience as well as the spirit of the performances. It was a blessing that the event was not a competition because if it were, then the panel of adjudicators could have had difficulties in passing the judgment.

One important aspect that one cannot forget about the denominational festival more especially about the local (Botswana) choirs is the type of pieces they shared. Just to name two, choirs like Lephoi Regional Choir and The

Broadhurst choir or The Broadband choir as it is normally called by its own choristers and other people who have seen it in action, whichperformed and gave the most electrifying performance of the day as a guest choir shared a different style of music which was an interjection of two or three genres in the same song, accompanied by a live band. The pieces they performed were either arranged or composed by the Choir Technical Advisor, who is also one of the former conductors of the choir.

The Trinity Church Choir, as one of the local choirs, spiced the event with their usual creative dance moves. The choir performed songs like Halleluya Chorus from Messiah and Chant down Babylon. Lephoi region also shared pieces that they arranged with a traditional touch.The choir’s performance was enhanced by their traditional attire and the traditional percussions added by the drums and shakers.

For somebody who does not know and is told there will be a gospel choral festival in town, my guess is they will think of choirs standing on the stage singing hymns and that’s it. Well, the choirs proved a lot of us wrong by the diversified renditions they made.A clear point was made that we can praise God with all types of music either modern genres or the traditional way. The composition and arrangement of songs by our own composers is a good sign of the possibility of a plea that was echoed by the guest speaker, Dr Rev Prince Dibeela, that the time has now come for us as Africans, to sing our own songs in the church, rather than sing

songs composed by the Western composers only.

Lesoso Region did not want to be left out as they as well prepared nice conducted pieces as well as very good folk songs. The Moeding Region despite their good songs shared, they shocked everyone when it came to choreography. Almost everyone could not believe that even senior citizens in that choir can actually move like that. The choir was incredible. Bojanala Region also displayed their creativity as they arranged songs about their Region and the host Region, Kolobeng.

The host choir Kolobeng Region shared pieces of foreign languages in appreciation to the good music made worldwide. They had a Sotho piece which was nicely choreographed and well sang.Their other song performed was a song ‘Agnus Dei’ which means, the lamb of God, a piece composed by an Austrian born composer. The mega event turned out as expected. Not only was it a success by terms of turnout and good performances but as a learning opportunity to choirs as they exchanged songs, acquired improvement ideas, amalgamating and mingling with new choristers from across border and other regions. It was a blessed event and the experience that was gained at the show as well as its setup, is something a lot will talk about for a long time. A good reputation was built for Kolobeng the host Region, Botswana as the host Synod, mostly the Denominational Music Development Committee for a job well done.

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1. I am glad that this music festival has final taken off, and we are here today to celebrate our diversity, our oneness as a Church, as the people of Southern Africa and as followers of Christ. Music is a powerful tool in building communities and through that

is why in our Mission Council we have what we call a Music Development Unit. Through this unit we want to encourage the development of our music ministry through activities

such as this one, composing and bringing into circulation new music pieces, making the worship experience in our churches dynamic, and sharing the gospel of Christ through song.

2. The Theme of our Church is a rather provocative

and radical one, “Christ is calling us: participating in suffering and struggle.” Music has always been at the heart of the struggles of the poor, marginalized communities and those on the underside of history. Through music the masses have been able to frighten those with weapons of war by speaking to their sensibilities and reminding them of our common humanity. Through music I hope that we

can participate in the suffering and struggles of the peoples of Southern Africa by singing songs of joy, hope and resilience. We should stop being too

dependent on the songs that were written by Western song/hymn writers which do not always speak to our context and struggles. We need to create spaces to write music and musical that tell the stories of our peoples and communities with an accent and that we can relate to. I hope we will have a hymnody that would arise out of the soil of Africa and would speak to the pain, joys, struggles and hopes of African people.

Through music we can participate in the suffering and struggles of our people by contributing to human development. Choirs ought to make it their mission to contribute financial and through other means to the education of the impoverished, the homeless as well as supporting through scholarships those with exceptional talents but have no means of developing such a gift. Music is such a joyful activity, and sometimes can lead to musicians being too self-indulging, enjoying themselves to the extent that they forget our Christian calling to care for the homeless, the widow, the parentless and the poor. Singing alone is not enough; however, singing for

transformation is what we are called to, singing to bring

wholeness in people’s lives, and singing to bring justice and peace in our lives. Our Church is currently going through a lot of challenges and changes. We are rethinking our understanding of ministry with the view to calibrating it to the challenges of our times. As part of that we have a big undertaking to establish a central fund that will remunerate all our ministers in the five countries. And when we say ministers we mean pastoral ministers, youth pastors, music leaders,

children’s ministry leaders and chaplains for hospitals and security forces. I invite our choirs to take this as part of their mission. We have the capacity to develop these dreams and to build the necessary financial resources needed for this vision. 3. It is very costly to host an event like this, especially

because of the travelling and hosting involved. I wish our governments could make easy the issuing of radio licenses so that churches and other community organizations could establish radios for the development of cultures, music and community activities.

GENERAL SECRETARY’S ADDRESS TO FIRST UCCSA CHOIR FESTIVAL

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We have to be smart and not continue to be one dimensional in our music activities; we have to use radio, television, recordings and other media in our music development.

4. In conclusion I want to pay tribute to all our choirs for what

they have done and continue to do in being ambassadors of our churches and nations. They raise our name and bring us honour as a Church, but above all they raise the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. Please allow me to pay tribute to the Broadhurst Choir and its leader Mrs Omphemetse Chimbombi who made us proud by releasing Di ile Dipitse in tribute to the Zebras, the Botswana National Soccer team. Their release became a hit overnight (and I have been dispossessed of all my copies), and their contribution to the team also showed our capability.

I wish to recognize in a special way Mrs Chimbombi for her hard work, innovativeness and die-hard spirit in leading the music ministry of the UCCSA.

5. It is now my joy to declare this Music Festival to be official

inaugurated and for there to be many more. I do hope there will be other festivals of other genres such as acapela choirs, male voices, children, traditional and so forth.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs 3 Know that the Lord she is God: it is she that has made us,

and not we ourselves; we are God’s people, and the sheep of her pasture.

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REFLECTIONS ON THE UCCSA MUSIC FESTIVAL

by REV GAORETELELWE AUBREY NTSHEKANG UCCSA Mission Council Convener

The General Secretary (Rev Dr MPP Dibeela) set the tone by challenging us through his annotations that our

music has to be doctrinally sound and contextual. His discourse was acknowledged with standing ovation.

Instantaneously Choristers ascended the stage feeding the multitudes that had appetite for soul food. The theme reminded me of Paul and Silas when they were imprisoned for participating in the suffering and struggle of a slave girl, who had a spirit of divination while her owners were using her as a money machine. There have been musicians who contributed enormously in the struggle through music but ended up having nothing, and when they died people had to donate for the funeral to take place. Meaning they were just being used to generate money for others like this slave girl. (Used as ATM) We have to

ensure that music brings economic justice to the singers and society.

Music has got the power to transform our conditions. Paul and Silas were not just singing for themselves but for all hence everyone’s chains were unfastened. The family had finally came together not to dialogue but to share through music the variety of gifts bestowed by Almighty God. People were so happy to spend time together not competing or arguing about who is right or wrong, but having fellowship and collectively praising God.

For us as the church what is primary regarding music is that we give glory to God. It was time for people of God to focus on doing things together which I belief has kept the early church united under insurmountable challenges. We need to ensure that as the church we promote godly living through music not only the talent of those that sing.

Truly the importance of unity

was displayed and expressed irrespective of the colour of our

skin, nobody felt like an outsider. It is through music that we prepare our hearts for our encounter with our creator.

The festival came at the right

time to comfort those who needed to be comforted for music is therapeutic. It is about time that the composers and producers start to tell the story of our church from 1967 and beyond, and the vision that we have. By so we will not be confining our teaching to reading only but learning as we sing. Concluding by thanking our music development convener (Mrs. Omphemetse Chimbombi) for the passion and her tireless effort together with the organizing committee and the synod of Botswana at large for the job well done!

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the next festival. Choristers of the Teemane Region were very excited about the trip and all conversations had something to do with the music festival. The process used by the Region was that the choir that won during the Regional Music competitons would represent the Teemane Region @ the UCCSA Music festival as we had our Regional competitions the weekend before the festival. We are very proud of the choir that represented us as they did it very well. Article by Tshiamo Maruping Teemane Region Mission Council Convener.

Great Experience for Teemane Youth Choir Enjoy The Teemane Region choir from South Africa also did wonders on the stage, with their dance moves, not forgetting the Trinity, North West, Gordonia, Zimbabwe and Broadhurst choirs which also blessed the many people who came to the festival. We enjoyed great hospitality throughout the weekend from Mrs Omphemetse Chibombi and her team. This event was a huge success. We enjoyed our stay in the republic of Botswana and we are so eager for the next festival in 2013. I encourage especially our young people and cultural groups to start preparing for

Geoffrey Latham

"Music is the vernacular of the human soul."

Pat Conroy

"Without music, life is a journey through a desert."

Berthold Auerbach

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from everyone loves music."

Billy Joel

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The choir would like to express their sincere appreciation for the warm and great welcome we received at the recent UCCSA Music festival in Gaborone. We felt greatly honoured as the Gordonia choir for the opportunity to represent South African Synod of the UCCSA in its first ever musical festival. The festival was held on the 13th October in Gaborone, Botswana The hospitality and love was amazing. All the guests were booked at the Big Five Lodge, which was superb and afforded us the opportunity to rest comfortably as well as get to know each other from the different parts of the UCCSA. The festival generally was fantastic, and it was good to be part of the UCCSA community as diverse as it is. We were so proud when audience joined with the Gordonia choir in dancing to the Nama music. We were treated with such Christian love and respect that we will not forget this event in a long time. We hope that it can be repeated next year and that the organizers will follow the sterling work of Mrs. Omphetse Chimbombi, Dan Morakanyane and the many other Batswana who made this event such a high point in the life of our Church. May the good Lord be with us all and bless our beloved Church.

Gordonia Regional Choir Revels in Gabs

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Women@the Well - UCCSA meets CAC UCC USA

On September 19, 2012, five women representing the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ (USA) departed the Washington DC area to attend the Women@theWell Retreat in Namibia, Southern Africa. Four of the CAC “Ambassadors” provided reflections on their experience at the Women@theWell Retreat:

There are moments when I find myself sitting – while squeezing myself and rocking side to side - and I silently shout to the top of my lungs, "God you are awesome." My experience at WatW (Women@theWell) was one of those moments. Though the journey by land from Johannesburg to Namibia (over twenty hours) was long, hot, and tiring, it provided me with both an appreciation for my UCCSA sisters’ sacrifice and the long road to Calvary "just for me." The strategic planning session was an enormous task; however, I believe that the end result is one that will be a catalyst for continued growth among UCCSA Women in Ministry, their churches and communities, and their individual lives. The stories shared, the prayers offered, the singing, tenacious God-lived spirits, and the warm and inviting embraces were gifts to me. It was through these "acts of love" that I realized the CAC has been offered as a jewel in the form of a partnership. Rev. Kim M. Bookard, MDiv, MSW, Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ I was very excited to be able to participate in the 2012 Women@theWell conference!! It was an opportunity to meet other women in ministry whose ministry context differed from that with which I was familiar. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my sisters from Africa create their vision and mission statements and was humbled by the love they exhibited toward one another, toward us, and most important, toward God. These are amazing women, and I am confident that this organization will continue to thrive and grow. The Women@theWell is a group of strong women, with a strong love for and belief in God - and just as it is written in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." I am excited about what God has in store for these ministers collectively as an organization and individually as ministers to the people of God! Lisa Dunson, Covenant Baptist UCC

I wake each day with gratitude that God has given me another day to worship and praise and serve God. Since my return from WatW, however, I am filled with a more overwhelming feeling of gratitude, for I remain enveloped by the loving and faithful spirits of the women ministers and congregations who shared with and cared for us on that journey to the well. I was honored to witness these women organize and claim self-agency in the struggle for gender justice in churches, cultures, and nations that, despite decolonization, remain overwhelmed by many other types of injustice. They are my sheroes. I urged them to be bold and never forget that Jesus came preaching, in love, that the last shall be first. WatWBotswana 2014! D. Regina Boyd, Peoples Congregational UCC “I was privileged to participate in the Women@theWell Retreat in Namibia, thanks to the hard work, planning, and vision of several people in the CAC who were in partnership with the UCCSA’s Women@theWell group. WatW appears to be a wellgrounded organization of women ministers in the UCCSA who have, since 2005, come together to advance the opportunities for and resolve the challenges of women ministers in the countries that make up the UCCSA. WatW embodies the true meaning of sisterhood and fellowship, as this group of women brings together multiple languages, cultures, tribal traditions, unique gifts, and talents to work toward the issues and to solve the problems in ministry as they relate to gender discrimination. These women ministers, in many cases, undergo unreported hardships in fulfilling their calling to the ministry. In spite of these hardships, they are prepared to work to change the future for themselves and the women who will follow them. The benefits of cultural immersion and the joy of sharing this experience between the WatW and the CAC cannot be overemphasized.” Rev. Peggy A. Miller, Interim Pastor Faith UCC

“Christ is

Calling us:

Participating in

Suffering and

Struggle,”

Please send all Contributions to: UCCSA P. O. Box 96014, Brixton, 2019, Johannesburg, South Africa. Telephone: 011 837 9997, Fax Numbers: 011 837 2570 The General Secretary: prince@uccsa.co.za Rev. Alistair Arends revarends@gmail.com Web Site: www.uccsa.co.za

UCCSA Choir Festival

Going to the UCCSA Choir festival I had mixed feelings since my regional choir was unable to come. I was worried and disturbed because of poor organisation by my region. On my way with Alistair and Tshiamo driving to Botswana didn’t know what to expect but when we arrived at the Big Five Guest House you can hear the vibe that the festival is on and is happening for the first time. We arrived at the same time with Zimbabwe Synod and Gordonia Region and yes it was happening. On Saturday we were the first to arrive at the hall and you can see and hear the vibe that it was true that: That was the day that the Lord has made and we were there to rejoice and be glad in him. The Lord was with us and his Spirit was moving among the UCCSA family. The choirs, speakers and motivation from the Convener was amazing, we sang, danced and enjoyed being with each other as a family. There were choirs singing classical music, opera, traditional songs and dance. This was not just a festival but a fellowship of God’s people praising God as we worship with our voices. Omphemetse and her Synod committee rose to the occasion and at the end of the day we gave Praises and Glory to one and only Jehova. This was the first of its kind event and for the first time the Botswana Synod host and really did well, the number of church members who attended for support was amazing and this was a challenge to the entire church that we need such events when we don’t sit for meetings the whole week, but we need such days for fellowship, knowing each other better, rejoicing and having fun as people of God. This was a day to shout to the Lord with joy and the day was a reminder of David’s Psalm 95:1 “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord, let us make joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” and the festival did just that. This was a start of motivation for Synods to have such joyful events for the UCCSA family. Baphiwe Nxumalo (SA Synod Mission Council Convener)