Home Cell Guide (Sunday 7th April 2019)
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! The previous Sunday was observed with significance in the Province of the Church of Uganda [CoU] when His Grace the Archbishop/ Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala launched the Provincial Year of Children as declared by the Provincial Assembly of the Church of Uganda. The Guest of Honour was the Minister of State for Children in the Government of Uganda –Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi. Expositing the Theme for the Year of the Children, ”Take this Child and take Care”_[Exodus 2:9], His Grace Stanley pointed out that the Rights of the Children in Uganda have been trodden upon in the past [ which is still the case] and that the Church needed to stand out boldly and compliment the Government works in restoring them. The Family therefore ought to stand out and restore their status in propagating, promoting and defending the rights of the children at all levels. The Preacher emphasized that:
- A Family must be the key Institution to defend the Rights of the Children- for they are a gift from God [Psalm 127:3];
- Both parents [ Mothers and Fathers] should be present in bringing up the Children;
- Practices like Abortion MUST be avoided unless prescribed by Medical Experts. Children should not be abandoned, thrown in pit latrines and neglected;
- Guardians, step parents, immediate relatives and parents should stop abusing the children!
- As a result of the above, some kids have resorted to live on the Streets!
His Grace Stanley Ntagali provided practical and pro-active Recommendations on how to
restore hope, confidence and rights among the children and these included:
- The need for the Community to re-think their Community responsiveness and trust to the
Ugandan Children as was in the traditional times; - All learning and school environments to put in place a conducive and safe environment for
Children against rape, defilement and ungodly teachings and - Parents, Guardians, Schools and Relatives should protect, empower and model the Children in a godly and friendly environment. They MUST be the Mirrors in which the Children reflect. [Proverbs 22:6]
The Guest of Honour Honourable Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi applauded the Church of Uganda for declaring 2019 as the Year of the Children. She re-echoed the need to defend, protect and promote the Children Rights in Uganda and promised to closely work with the Province of the Church of Uganda to ensure that the [Church] contributes and as well synergize with the Government to ensure that Children’s rights are observed and upheld as contained in the children Statute and any other international Instruments.
She officially launched and declared 2019 as the Province of the Church of Uganda Year for the Children.
Guiding Questions and Prayer Moments
- Reflecting on the above theme of the year; As a Cell, Study [Exodus 2:1-10, Matthew 18:1-5and Psalm 127:3-5] and Share the lessons drawn from these texts.
- How do you intend to put some of these lessons as well as the issues raised by the preacher in your Cell Action/ Work Plan for 2019? Prayerfully plan to identify one SPECIFIC Activity that you can roll out as a Cell and share with the Office how you could implement this. As you conclude, Spend the rest of the time praying for the needs of Children.
Revd. Canon Erisa Grace Ssentongo
[Priest in Charge: Home Cells and Pastoral Care]
Tel. Nos. +256 414 342128, +256 77 2503180/702 503180
Emails: kasawuli2000@gmail.com/kasawuli2000@yahoo.com