Monday, December 23, 2013

St. Stephen's Kabowa celebrates 109 years of Christianity

Christians of St. Stephens Church of Uganda Kabowa in Mengo Archdeaconry, Namirembe Diocese on Sunday 20th December 2013, celebrated 109 years of Christianity in the area. The day was marked with a thanksgiving  service in which they wed three couples.

The Head of Laity, Samuel Kasenye said that the Church had for the first time in 109 years decided to celebrate their Patron's day (St. Stephen's Day) on the Sunday preceding Christmas because on 26th December very few people rarely attend services at the Church apart from those who come to baptise their children.

In his sermon based on forgiveness, the Parish priest Rev. Herbert Zziwa Ssalongo, said that the issue of martyrs is not a new phenomenon in Uganda because Uganda is a land of martyrs. He said that Stephen the first martyrs in Christianity was martyred because of his faith and  love for Jesus. He went on to say that Stephen was filled with the power of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.


Rev. ZZiwa said that the power of Jesus Christ made Stephen to be a strong person. He said that as Stephen was being martyred he looked up to nothing but Jesus Christ which all Christians should look up to. He said that as he looked up to Jesus, he saw heaven open with Jesus on the right Hand of the Father waiting to receive him in glory.

Rev. Zziwa further said that the second reason as to why St. Stephen stood out from the crowd is that he taught us how to forgive. "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" he quoted Stephen.

He challenged Christians to always have a spirit of forgiveness in all their spheres of life. He said that we can't solve all problems unless our focus is on God the father who is the author and finisher of our faiths.

After the service, the three couples wed on that day were hosted to a reception at Zion Gardens Kabowa.


Some facts about Saint Stephen

Who Was Stephen?
Stephen was the first Christian martyr and one of the first deacons of the Christian Church. Saint Stephen was one of seven men selected and ordained by the Apostles to provide aid to the poor, elderly widows within the church community. St. Stephen was a gifted evangelist, respected for his preaching abilities.

The early life of St. Stephan is virtually unknown but his Greek name, Stephanos, suggests that he was a Hellinistic Jew. However, according to fifth century tradition, the name Stephanos was a Greek equivalent for the Aramaic Kelil and the name Kelil was inscribed on a slab found in St. Stephen’s tomb.

Saint Stephan ministered mostly to the Hellinistic converts, with whom the Apostles had difficulty speaking. St. Stephen was greatly admired for his oratorical skills and the Church had publicly acknowledged him as a man “of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom” (Acts 6:3).

However, St. Stephen the witness, was not without opposition. The Libertines, the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians and those of Cilicia and Asia challenged St. Stephen to a dispute and were embarrassed by him. Prideful and full of hatred, they bore false witness upon St. Stephen, testifying that he had spoken words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.


Saint. Stephen was forced to stand before the Sanhedrin and endure false accusations. When St. Stephen spoke, he recited the mercies of God towards Israel and of Israel’s ungratefulness. The Jewish people were enraged by the words of St. Stephen and their fury was incensed when he accused them of murdering the Just One as the Prophets had foretold.

St. Stephen looked to heaven and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). At this, the enraged crowd ran violently upon him and cast him out of the city. Stephen was stoned to death but had cried out to the Lord to not condemn his enemies.

Stephen, whose name means “crown” was the first of Jesus’ disciples to receive the
martyr’s crown. His feast day is December 26th.








Additional information extracted from http://www.ststephen.webhero.com/
http://namirembediocese.org/welcome/index.php

Saturday, December 7, 2013

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH NAJJANANKUMBI PARISH


ST. PAUL’S CHURCH NAJJANANKUMBI PARISH

St. Paul’s Church Najjanankumbi is just a stone throw from the City Centre, off Entebbe Road. As you search for a spiritual home, St. Paul’s Church Najjanankumbi Parish is the answer. This is a place for a community of Christian Faith.  It's a place where Christians get a sense of belonging and the Christian gospel is presented in a way that inspires our lives, deepens our faith, challenges our thoughts and speaks to the longings of our hearts. St. Paul’s Church Najjanankumbi is a place with a worship pattern that feels 'familiar' but also refreshing. It's a place where the lives of the young, children, teens and young adults are nurtured in a meaningful caring way.

The front view of St. Paul's Church Najjanankumbi 

At St. Paul’s Church Najjanankumbi, everyone is welcome and people can
taste and see that the Lord is good. 

We are a vibrant, multi-generational community of Christian faith, grounded in the Anglican heritage, yet open to innovation. As Anglican Christians we have a wonderful, rich tradition of worship, deeply rooted in the spiritual legacy of the Christian Church. We approach worship as an encounter with God through Living Word and Sacrament. Worship at St. Paul’s Church Najja is characterized by dignified informality that is comfortably at ease with both contemporary and traditional forms of liturgy.




We are not afraid of personal growth! Part of welcoming people means being open to their questions, and connecting with them “where they are.”  St. Paul’s parish strives to be a place where people can explore and expand their own personal vision, and find ways to exercise their unique spiritual gifts in the church.


The building that will house home for the Layreader, Sunday School, Offices and rental apartments


A BRIEF HISTORY
The Church started in 1982 as a small worship centre for people who could no longer afford to go to St. James’ Church Masajja which is three miles away to Busaabala near the shores of Lake Victoria the biggest fresh water lake in Africa.
The Church started at the home of the late Sserunkuuma but later on Christians managed to buy a plot of land from Ms. Nabbosa at the present location of the Church. Christians managed to put up a makeshift structure of papyrus and iron sheets.
Rev. Herbert Kabanda - Parish Priest Najjanankumbi

The Reverend James Kaana is the founding Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Church Najjanankumbi. He was posted to this Parish after it was curved off Masajja Parish in 2005. A number of accomplishments have been achieved during these years of Masajja Parish. These include, a modern three storied building that has been constructed at the Church to house the Sunday School, Parish offices, a residence for the Lay Reader, and rental apartments to increase on the income of the Church.   During this period the vicar’s house was enlarged to be able to accommodate a Parish priest. Facing bricks were put on the church to give it a medieval look. St. Paul’s Church Najjanankumbi is one of the few Anglican Churches in Namirembe Diocese with floor tiles and Terrazo.

Recently Rev. James Kaana donated to the parishioners 100 plastic chairs  to be used for the Church’s income generating projects.

The Parish has the biggest challenge of expansion since it sits on a very small piece of land and the neighbors have built everywhere. With the growing number of people residing in the area, there will be a challenge of building a storied church building to accommodate a bigger number of worshipers.

Praise and Worship during the English service
The Choir praising the Lord during the service

Services

Every Sunday the Church conducts three services

7:00am           -           Luganda
9:00am           -           English
10:30am         -           Luganda
 
Part of the congregation

Ministries in the Parish

The Church caters for the spiritual and physical needs of its parishioners through the various ministries namely;


  1. The Sunday School
  2. Fathers Union
  3. Mothers Union
  4. Christian Men’s Fellowship (CMF)
  5. Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF)
  6. The Choir (Music Ministry)
  7. Missions
  8. The Good Samaritans
  9. Daughters of the King (DOK)
  10. The Youth
Sunday School Children praising God

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