Ordination Weekend

The ordination of Andreas van Breda in Cape Town on 26 March 2022 is well described in the article to follow by Sonnya Holtz. Unfortunately, none of the Circle of Seven (the priest’s leadership circle) were able to attend, and as a result Rev. Vicke von Behr (our former Erzoberlenker) came at very short notice to ordain Andreas. Vicke is currently serving as lenker for Japan and South Korea. It was fitting that he should not only be present but also celebrate the ordination. Vicke ordained the previous two priests in Southern African: Kine Voigts in Windhoek in 2009 and Michaël Merle in Johannesburg in 2017.

​Ordination Celebration Weekend

by Sonnya Holtz
​
Southern Africa’s third Christian Community priest ordination took place on the weekend of 25 to 27 March 2022 in Cape Town. Andreas van Breda was ordained in a very uplifting, reverent service on Saturday morning, amid much community participation and support. Congregants, families, and priests (partly, completely different ones than had been planned, due to Covid!) arrived from England, Germany, USA, Namibia as well as from around South Africa. The Karakashians and Van Breda family members made up a large contingent.

A new altar picture was hung in the church, painted by the wife of priest in Germany. A large marquee tent appeared in the garden of The Christian Community Church in Plumstead, and became filled with tables, chairs, and the coming together of community members was soon taking place in its shade- whether renewing old friendships, catching up, or getting to know new friends, having important conversations, sharing insights and memories.

The first gathering inside the church on Friday afternoon filled it to bursting, and we had a wonderful four part preparation for being present and participating in the ordination service the following morning. There was also time to workshop some questions to bring awareness around the Being of the Community, the Angel of the Community, and how we meet this. When it was time to share the workshops the picture of a magnifying glass was given- with its ability to focus sunlight, for instance, into a point ever smaller and more intense, until something new appears - a flame, which needs to be nurtured and tended if it is to burn bright.

And with all that, the Angels certainly were on hand to carry Rev. Vicke von Behr, Rev. Andreas van Breda, and the congregation through a most beautifully reverent ordination service, flanked by nine priests, including the ordinand’s father. It was very moving to hear people speak to Andreas during the celebratory festival that followed – my impression was that everyone was deeply touched, in ways that connected us all far beyond the personal. There were musical offerings and circle dancing as well.

We gathered anew on Sunday morning to witness and carry the first Act of Consecration of Man as celebrated by our newest priest – another moment that felt imbued by the Spiritual World around our community. After church, Rev. Vicke von Behr spoke about the founding, 100 years ago, in 1922, of The Christian Community Church, which was not founded on old traditions, but rather on free participation, and on the striving for the human being to become aware of and work from the Christ-given capacities within each of us. He gave us verses from Revelation, and spoke about the Spiritual World both giving us the roles of priests and kings in our individual capacities, and also needing the nourishment of our future oriented spiritual deeds as earthly humans. 

Meals and teas were served in the marquee tent in between events, and to close there was another workshop centred around the coming 100 years in The Christian Community. All left uplifted, and enriched, knowing we had participated in a truly inspired community happening, and that we were joined not just by the Beings connected with our congregation, but by members who could not attend in person from around the world, as well as by the enormous efforts especially, of Rev, Reingard Knausenberger and the community of Cape Town in the planning and organization.

Priests at the ordination: Peter van Breda, Kine Voigts, Michaël Merle, Vicke von Behr (former Erzoberlenker), Rafal Novak (Los Angeles, USA), Reingard Knausenberger, Andreas van Breda, Richard Goodall, Andreas von Wehren (Berlin, Germany), Neville Adams (Witzenhausen, Germany, retired)

More photos may be found on our regional website as they are received from various photographers at the event.