Diakonia Gears up for Good Friday Procession in Durban

by asiel · April 15, 2019

The Diakonia Council of Churches is calling people of faith in Durban to its annual ecumenical Good Friday service at dawn on April 19. (From left) volunteer Sloane Goldstone, youth coordinator Mandisa Gumada, and Diakonia’s Lorna Charles. (Photo: Val Adamson)

The Diakonia Council of Churches is calling people of faith in Durban to its annual ecumenical Good Friday service at dawn on April 19.

The event, a traditional highlight of Durban’s Easter weekend, begins at 5:45 at the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) before processing in silence to the Durban City Hall. Meditative singing will start at 5:15.

The ecumenical Good Friday service is attended by thousands of people who gather to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death on Golgotha.

Each year, the service highlights a particular aspect of national suffering or injustice. The service this year will focus on the theme “Blessed are the peacemakers”.

“We will be reflecting on whether we as people of faith are truly instruments of peace,” said Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala, executive director of the Diakonia Council of Churches.

“How can we use our faith to bring peace to our homes, our communities, our country and the world? Our country is going through a turbulent period, especially with the upcoming general elections,” she said. “We pray for peace and need to ask ourselves if we are doing what God wants us to do in our land.”

“Jesus Christ was a social activist,” Ms Mvambo-Dandala said, “so we as the Churches and people of faith must address issues affecting our society.”

In the early 1980s she was one of the first girl-servers at St Barnabas Anglican church and later was a youth leader before serving in many structures of the church.

The sermon will be delivered by Anglican Rev Thato Tsautse of Waterkloof, Pretoria.

Rev Tsautse responded to her calling in 2008, started her Fellowship of Vocation the following year, and was ordained a priest in 2015.

In 2011, Rev Tsautse was the first woman to be appointed president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her passion for social justice has made her a close and long-standing friend of Diakonia.

The Good Friday service will conclude at around 8:15 at Durban City Hall, with the flowering of the Cross as a show of commitment by all present to act for a just society and take up God’s call.

Limited parking and street parking is available at the DEC, with additional off-street parking around the City Hall. Transport back to the DEC will be arranged for the elderly and the infirm.

Entry to the Good Friday service is free and all are welcome, with a collection being taken during the service to support the work of Diakonia.

For more info or to be a volunteer on the day, contact the Diakonia Council of Churches on 031 310-3500 or visit www.diakonia.org.za