A synopsis of the Bishops Report – 9th May 2026

A synopsis of the Bishops Report from the Diocesan Council Meeting, 9th May 2026. (by Cecilia Millar, Diocesan Resentative from Parish of Formosa Laity)

Theme: Walking together with Purpose – From Maintenance to Mission
Our attitude MUST CHANGE from a “Maintenance” Budget Roadshow. Bishop Edwin was talking about collective dreaming for the Dioceses to support the budget, to understand why there is a deficit budget, what do we have that we can utilize? to be continually optimistic – being bold in preparing budget for missions, preparing to take risks… In the past risks were taken and it worked!

Text : “THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS, BE STEADFAST,
IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS EXCELLING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IN THE LORD YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN” 1 Corinthians 15:58
1. WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES
Some Parishes are still fragile. The formation of future clergy is not yet where it should be in attempts to redress the imbalances and fill the need.
Through Synod, Diocesan Council, Meetings of Structure of Governance, Consultations, Clergy Schools,, and our Lenten Pilgrimage, and the ongoing work of Parishes and Dioceses we have tried to listen carefully and act more responsibly.
We may not be in crises, but we are also not yet where we need to be
2. STEADFAST, BUT MOVING
The call in Scripture is to be steadfast, but also to keep working and maintain movement and gain ground. We cannot reduce ministry to maintaining what we have, without developing the broader picture.
3. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
Walking together needs structure.
It is clear we need to walk together with STRUCTURE and to have a willingness to make time to LISTEN and HEAR what we may not prefer, Listening deeply takes effort.
FORMATION is ESSENTIAL . Without forming leaders we do not have a future. (Formosa Parish put forth a motion pointing back to Jesus’s model for leadership structure Eph 4:11) That’s Gods instruction for shared leadership)
4. IMMEDIATE FOCUS .. Next 12-18 months.. Strengthening of Parishes, Formation of Clergy , Clergy wellness, Leadership and training, Equipping of Wardens and lay leaders CONSISTENTLY across the Diocese in an INTENTIONAL manner.
MISSION GROWTH .. The key is to encourage INTENTIONAL outreach NOT ONLY Sunday maintenance, with the help of growing the Church. Routed – in-Jesus, Discipling and implementing the 5 Marks of Mission. (Matthew 28:18-20)
SOCIAL JUSTICE Supporting of Provincial programmes led by Hope Africa.
WIDER CHURCH PARTICIPATION.. deliberate planning, budgeting and engaging on Provincial , International and Communion level
5. LEGACY and INFRASTRUCTURE
A Diocesan facility for conferencing, training and retreat is not optional.. Its a priority for formation and sustainability. For strengthening ministry, not creating status .
6. BUDGET AND STEWARDSHIP
Our Budget must reflect what we say… Maintenance to mission… Routine spending to intentionsl investment.. Priorities are Formation of leaders and training. Stewardship requires discipline, transparency and clear purpose.
7. THE NEXT 5 YEARS.
Vidion is for a Sustainable, Formational, Pastoral, Missional and United Diocese.
8. MAINTENANCE TO MISSION… Maintenance keeps things going, while Mission asks where God is sending us. WE CANNOT MEASURE OUR LIFE BY SURVIVAL AND MUST MEASURE IT BY FAITHFULNESS AND MOVEMENT THAT REQUIRES CHANGE, AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
9. THE BISHOP gave a word of thanks and gratefulness for our collective leadership, clergy, layleaders, parishioners, and Dioceses Structures for their support, cooperation and commitment through demanding years
10n In closing Bishop Edwin said we are called to be steady but not STATIC, invest in people and act with purpose.
Bishop Edwin gave the Council five simple but probing questions to reflect on:
1. Where are we still maintaining structures instead of actively pursuing mission, and what would it take to change that in practical terms?
2. Which parishes or ministries in our Diocese need immediate strengthening, and what support are we preoaredcyo offer them?
3. How INTENTIONALLY are we IDENTIFYING, FORMING, ans SUPPORTING FUTURE CLERGY AND LAYLEADERS, AND WHERE ARE THE GAPS??
4. Does our current budget clearly reflect our stated priorities for mission, formation of leaders, and people, or does it mostly sustain patterns??
5. What is one concrete decision we can take in the next six months that will move the Diocese forward rather than keep it where it is??

3. Reports on surplus and deficits
Income : A shortfall because some Parishes are paying a less than agreed budget. Donations and bookroom income are also behind. Parishes are encouraged to support the bookroom and look for more donation opportunities. Admin expenses showed surplus and within the budget. Provinvial assessment was incorrectly budgeted
3. A new philosophy regarding allocation of receipts has increased transparency and assisted in the collection of income. We allocate against the month received.
4. Conclusion.. Overall, the first 3 months of 2026 have been a strong start. All the Parishes were thanked as we journey together through our migration to a new, accounting system
With constant attention and communication we will be able to keep witbin budget, empowering everyone in our Diocese to continue their good service

St Peter’s Chapel Warden’s Report for 2025

Introduction
Looking back over the last year, on the one hand we had a difficult year because we
lost both our Rector and Assistant Priest to ill health at exactly the same time. I wrote
a letter to all parishioners in July explaining the predicament we were in. I asked
everyone to be in prayer for our beloved priests, to ask our Lord to comfort them and
bring them peace and healing; also to strengthen them so they could come back and
minister to us and, as the Bible says, deliver them and us from every kind of evil
work.
Then on the 28th October Rev’d Sue organised a Day of Prayer here at St Peters. It
was well attended. The Lord answered our prayers by bringing back our beloved
Rev’d Melany as Rector and she continues to grow in strength as we witness today.
Also our beloved Rev’d Carol was given a clean bill of health and returned as
Assistant Priest.
So it has also been a year that, as we prayed, we have been drawn closer to God.
He has blessed and we have so much to thank and praise Him for! The Lord
answered our prayers in so many different ways. For instance the Archdeacon, the
Venerable Rudy Law, became temporary rector for a period of about 3 months. Each
Sunday the gospel continued to be preached, and services were held on schedule
without a break, not only at St Peters, but at all chapelries through the Parish.
As I go through my report for the year, you will agree, our Lord is amazing!
Clergy
We continue to have 2 full-time priests in the parish, the Reverend Canon Melany
Adonis and the Reverend Tertia Meyer, whom we very recently welcomed from the
Parish of Belvedere. Then we are very thankful for the Reverend Sue Ray continuing
to serve here in her retirement, and for Rev’d Ian Fihla’s serving as Deacon.
In January last year I wrote a letter to the Bishop about the pressure on our clergy,
and we spoke about it quite a few times. We asked for an extra priest to be
appointed to the Parish, in particular a young priest, someone who is at the same
level, as it were, as young people, who can preach the gospel to them heart to heart
and develop special rapport with them. Well, what do you know, we now have the
young Rev’d Tertia standing here among us! Thank you, Lord!
However, I believe the Parish still needs a third priest, and we will continue to ask for
one. Realistically though, we know there is a significant shortage of ministers in the
Diocese. It continues to be a matter of concern and prayer.
Worship

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We were blessed to have Holy Communion services here each Sunday and
Wednesday through the year. Average attendance on Sundays for last year was 63
and 7 on Wednesdays, compared to 57 and 6 last year.
We continue to enjoy traditional services at St Peters, and we are very grateful for
Ann Fermor and the choir for inspiring us each Sunday and leading the worship so
beautifully. However our traditional congregation is aging, and we are trying to reach
out to families and young people more and more. Please pray about this.
On the 23rd November the Parish Thanksgiving service was held here at St Peters. It
was very memorable and enjoyable, well attended by people from all the chapelries.
It is always good when people from different backgrounds and culture come together
to praise the Lord. It is inspirational as we encourage each other in the faith. We
bear witness to how the Lord can change us, reconcile us, and bring us together in
unity. I think we need more joint services like this.
Finance
We are extremely thankful for the continued generosity and faithfulness of the St
Peters congregation. Just about every income category has been above budget and
St Peter’s had a Surplus for the year nearly R57000.
As well we had two or three very generous bequests, including one for over R1
million. We praise and thank our God for these people who remembered the Lord in
their will. Surely this a good example to us! Let us remember and include God in our
wills. It is a matter for reflection and prayer.
A quick summary of Parish finances is as follows. Total income for the Parish was
just over R2.59m about R140000 above budget. Total expenses were about
R160000 above budget, mainly because of the fence at St Peters and because of St
Monicas hall roof, which had to be replaced. So in summary the Parish had a loss of
about R92000, against a budgeted loss of about R84000. As every year, there were
several months when the available cash balance on the Parish books came close to
zero, and we had to manage some payments carefully.
We are fortunate that the Parish owns Formosa Place on Main Street. It provides an
essential supplement to parish income which makes all the difference. It is very
important for us to look after this building. Fortunately last year we had enough
savings in the Formosa Place account to carry out a major refurbishment and
repainting of the building. You may have noticed how good the building looks now,
including the Hospice building at the back. As a result in October we were able to
increase office and shop rentals significantly above inflation, and we have now
brought the rentals to be more in line with the market. This means that in future the
parish should be able to draw enough income from Formosa Place to just about
meet our monthly commitment to the Diocese. Last year it was R56000 a month.

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For the current year 2026 we have pledged to pay the Diocese R58800 per month, a
5% increase over 2025.
One other point is to remember that when paying accounts or making donations, you
can pay via the website, the QR code on the pew leaflet, and via the YOCO machine
kept in the church office. We encourage everyone to use these new methods of
payment because they are actually cheaper and easier to control than cash.
Property
At St Peters we spent some R75000 on property maintenance. We continued to
suffer from brass thieves who came in from time to time at night and stole many
brass plaques from grave stones and also our beautiful brass sundial. In response
we installed extra lighting outside the church and a security camera at a cost of
some R10000. However this was insufficient, because one night in November the
situation suddenly got out of hand. Thieves got to the main Eskom switch board and
switched the power off. They then ripped out electric cabling and smashed 2 outside
lights. We were suddenly in emergency mode, and fortunately Retief from Secura
Fence was able to quickly install Clear-vu fencing at the back of the church. This
cost some R60000. There have been no more robberies since. We plan to paint it
black which will make it nearly invisible.
However we believe we are still at risk from thieves and robbers. Therefore the
Council is looking at alternatives to see what fencing and/or walling is available that
will not distract from the beauty of our old St Peters church. It will be a major
expense, so no decision will be made before a proposal is drawn up for the
congregation as a whole to consider.
I must mention we are very thankful for 2 very kind donations made by friends of St
Peters. One is the new Sun Dial by Henry Timme, and one is big banner that you
see from Market on Main saying “Come and Join us at St Peters” – from Nick
Rabjohn.
Outreach
The Parish continued to support and provide help in whatever ways were necessary
to the creches under its care: Greenhill Educare in Kwanokuthula, Pinelands in
Kranshoek, Flamingo in Wittedrift and Siyakula in Bossiesgif. Feeding schemes at St
Chads, St Michaels, St Monica’s and St Paul’s were also funded by members of St
Peters congregation through the “Veggie 365” project where people donate R1 or
R10 per day. We also get help in food distribution from 2 Non-Profit Organisations,
Building the Walls and Soul Food. We are very grateful to all the people who support
and contribute and assist in this work, but I must mention Ann Walburger in particular
who really gives her heart and love to helping provide for the poor among us.

In what can also be considered “outreach”, we hosted a number of social and fund-
raising events during the year, including the Opera Angels and Mike Bhayibhile,

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Shrove Tuesday pancake and quiz evening, the Roast Lamb-on-the-spit Sunday
lunch, Jersey Sunday, the Bridge and Mahjong drive, the BATS play, Rodney
Groskopff’s talk about St Andrews church and a number on men’s breakfast
meetings.
Thanks
We are very thankful to our 3 priests for their faithful ministry among us, and the
love, dedication and care shown to all, including visiting the sick and elderly, not only
at St Peter’s but also throughout the other 5 chapelries of the parish.
We appreciate how they lead the Sunday services, how they focus on the gospel
message, how they build us up in the faith, and the way they welcome the many
visitors and swallows who come back year after year, and are made to feel part of
our congregation.
I must express my sincere thanks to the Rev’d Melany in particular for the way you
overcame ill-health in the second half of last year, caused by the very heavy work
load that comes with our parish. We know how dedicated and passionate you are to
provide each of us ministry, love and care. We owe all the clergy a great debt of
gratitude.
I also wish to thank Amanda for her continuing passion and dedication to serve not
only the people of St Peters, but also everyone from the other 5 chapelries. As well,
she has to meet with all the visitors who stroll in, some just to enquire about services
or use of the hall etc, but others who enquire about weddings or baptisms, events
which require a lot of planning. Please read her 11-page job description which ends
with a special task for December: “Try not to go insane!”
Similarly we thank our Parish Accountant, Genevieve, for the calm and professional
way she handles all the financial problems that arise, and then meet the month-end
deadlines.
Next, I must thank Philippa Sauvenier for serving as Parish Treasurer, Cecelia as
Chapelwarden and then all the Councillors for their dedication to serve and support
the church here at St Peters. And all the many others who give of their time and
talents in so many ways. I wish to note how much we miss Herbert and Beverley
Hobbs who had to return to Joburg. Then thanks go to Jacques van Rooyen who
lives overseas but serves us by looking after the website “Plett Anglican” for us, with
continuous improvements and updates
May the Lord bless you all indeed!

Richard Houston, Church Warden, Parish of Formosa, February 2026

St Peter’s Vestry Report 2026 – Rector’s Report

ST PETER’S VESTRY REPORT 2026

Introduction
I have been the rector of the Parish of Formosa for 2 years and 6 months on 1 February 2026. I am grateful
for the love and support I have been receiving from the St Peter’s Family. Thank you for your generous
Christmas gift and for your continued care for me and Hilton, especially last year. Last year has been
challenging as I had to step away from my ministry due to burn out. It was not only my work at Formosa, but
the accumulation of a few years of stress. My journey through the Church since my ordination in December
1999 has not always been easy, but I give thanks to God for carrying me and my family. I have been blessed
with a wonderful supportive husband and am grateful to God for Hilton who continues to support me.
The past 2 years have been a time of finding my feet and experimenting with different methods to manage
the six chapelries. Apart from getting to know many people it has been a process of learning about each
chapelry – watching and listening through the guidance of God. Change is never easy and settling in takes
time.
I am grateful to a wonderful team of people who work with me in the office. We are blessed with wonderful
people at St Peter’s. Thank you to Ms. Amanda McCann, our Administrator, Ms. Genevieve Frost, our
Bookkeeper, to Mr Johannes Mitchell, Mr Lindani Peter and Ms Monica Mtana. Some of them have often
walked the extra mile over the past year. We thank God for each of them.
A huge thank you to our Wardens Mr Richard Houston, Ms Philippa Sauvenier and Ms Cecilia Millar, our
alternate. We have been working together very well and I thank God for them.
• Vision for St Peter’s

Ever since I arrived, I have been challenged by the vision of St Peter’s on our leaflet – “To be a vibrant, spirit-
filled community built up in Christ…” as I asked myself, “Is St Peter’s a community? Are we a group of

Christians who share our faith, worship together and know each other? A group of people who believe that
we are all connected because we are the Body of Christ. I do believe we are not yet. Some of us have been
sitting in the same seat for many years and therefore know only those who usually sit near to me
for example. So, we continue to dream of a congregation where all are active members who
understand that we all need to play our part through loving service to God.
Working together and being aware of our connection to each other is part of our foundational
values. 1 Corinthians 12: 27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
It is expected of us to be aware of our connectedness to each other. St Paul uses the image of the
Body of Christ for the Church and therefore we are each other’s keeper as followers of Christ. As
the Body of Christ, we need to not only be aware of each other but also act in awareness that my
actions have an impact on the next person.
We have different ministries and all need people to function. There is no growth in people getting
involved. We are grateful to the loyal, hard-working sisters and brothers who have been serving
God by being involved in the different ministries. However, we need more people to get involved:
• Sacristans; Altar Servers; Lay Ministers
• Sides people and Readers
• Catering and social gatherings; Fundraising; Maintenance
• Social Responsibility; Education (Sunday School & Confirmation)
• Youth; Support Groups and Guilds
Working with other Chapelries
We again used some special services as an opportunity to come together as a parish. These were
supported by all the chapelries in most cases, although there is still space for us to improve. St

Peter’s hosted the Thanksgiving Service as well as the last service of Revd. Carol and we are grateful
for your hospitality. May we continue to find opportunities to gather as a parish during the new
year. May we grow in love, learn to belong and serve God better as the Body of Christ.
• Our Ordained and Lay Ministers
I give thanks for the ministry of Revd Carol Starkey that ended at the Parish of Formosa at the end
of January 2026. We wish her well as she continues to serve God at St Mary, the Virgin in New
Horizon Plettenberg Bay. We are grateful that Revd. Tertia Meyer who joined the parish. She has
started to work with me even before she arrived as she agreed to prepare a Bible Study on
Nehemiah for us. She did an excellent job, and we are looking forward to working with her in the
future.
We continue to give thanks for Revd Sue Ray, and Deacon Ian Fihla who continue to share ministry
with me. A huge thank you to Revd’s Susan Rhode, Neil Weber, Simba Simanga and Gale Prinsloo
who assisted us by leading services at the different chapelries when needed. All these ordained
ministers together with our lay ministers assist in making sure that we have regular services at all
the chapelries.
We also had our regular monthly services at Formosa Garden Village and Crescent Lodge as well as
did visitation and took home communion to the sick and home bound. Thank you to Ms Cecilia
Millar and Lorna Houston for assisting us with the visits. Pastoral care was offered in different
situations – bereavements, illness, married life, relationships and personal development. As we
offer support to others, we are aware of the need to take care of our caregivers and continue to
pray for God’s guidance and provision to make sure that this happens.
I am very grateful to all lay ministers at St Peter’s – those doing flowers, sacristan work, our readers,
catering and tea committee and side-people are all lay ministers. Thank you.
• Youth
Bishop Edwin has asked that we make sure that the Youth play an active role in the Church. I
therefore encourage our adults to encourage our young people to come to church. We do have Mr
Fezile Maki responsible for Youth, and we trust that a youth group will become a reality soon.
I continue to dream about a ‘Family Service’ which starts at 10:30 once a month and where we will
have more younger families attend. We trust God to guide us in ways to make this possible in 2026.
• Thank you
I thank God for each of you. Each one of us is important to God and therefore important to me.
Thank you for supporting Hilton and me as well as our children – Joy, Philip and Stephano through
the past year. God has called us together and God will continue to guide us. May we have the
courage to follow.
Your Sister in Christ,
Melany

 St Peter’s Chapel Warden’s Report for 2025

October is our month during which we focus on “Stewardship and Giving”.

Dear Parishioners,

Warm greetings. I thank God for each of you and for the opportunity to minister to you. October is our month during which we focus on “Stewardship and Giving”.

During the months of August and September, we had a look at budgets, because we received the budget of the Diocese and the needs of the Diocese. We then prayerfully need to discern how we can support the ministry of the Bishop and the Diocese which is of course also our ministry. There is need for more priests to be trained as we have several people retiring soon. There is also the realities and challenges of everyday life- rise of inflation for example.

We then need to adjust our budget for the next year.

Our budget is dependent on the gifts of our parishioners. We therefore need to stop and reflect on our lives and commitment to the Church. We ask parishioners to prayerfully complete a new form for Dedicated Giving for 2025. To assist with this, I preached on the theme of “Stewardship and Giving” and Philippa Sauvenier, Church Warden and Treasurer, has prepared a short notice.

To make sure that everybody has the benefit of reading the sermon and the notice, we have attached a copy of both.

God bless us all as we listen for God’s guidance.

Your Sister in Christ

Melany

PLEASE READ >>>>

A Letter from Revd Melany Adonis

A Letter from Revd Melany Adonis

21 November 2025
Dear Friends in Christ
Our Commitment to serve God
It has been a challenging few months for us as a parish, as I battled with my health after
overworking myself. I am grateful for the amazing support Hilton, and I received from
the Bishop, the Archdeacon and the parishioners of the Parish of Formosa. Your
prayers carried us through and continue to carry us every day. Thank you.
Thank you to the practical ways in which we were supported through meals, treats and
eventually visits when I was better. I felt God’s love through each of these actions. I am
so grateful for each of you.
After prayerfully considering the way forward with the Bishop, I am happy that I am
staying at Formosa. I am committed to ministry here and ready to follow God’s guidance
and God’s vision for us.
Now, we need to seriously consider the way forward for us, as I will need more
assistance. As you are aware there are monthly expenses. We need buildings,
electricity and water. We want our church buildings to be clean and ready for services
and our gardens to be beautiful. Staff members are taking care of all of these. The
priests need to receive a stipend as they also have expenses like any household. We
do not always think about these practicalities when we think of the Church and the fact
that these need finances. The people and their services as well as the buildings enable
ministry.
It is therefore important that all members of the church regularly give, so we can make
payments. Hilton and I are also giving monthly. I am not asking what I am not doing. All
we are and have, comes from God who blesses us with health, wisdom, knowledge and
energy to work and earn.
My plea is therefore to all of us, that we take ownership of our church and show our
commitment by giving monthly. Please consider my request prayerfully.
God bless us all as we journey together under God’s guidance, who is our Creator, our
Redeemer and Sanctifier.

Your Friend and Sister in Christ
Melany

Stewardship and Giving

by Revd. Melany Adonis

Stewardship and Giving

Stewardship and Giving
Deut 26:1-11; Ps 24; 2 Cor 8: 1-9; Mark 12: 41-44
Introduction
This past week, I heard about a young 18-year-old learner, who decided to end his life.
He made the decision. However, I wonder whether he thought of the many people’s
lives who would be impacted – changed through his one decision. He had control over
his decision, but no control over the choices his friends and loved ones might be making
because of what they experienced.
Control is a need we all have.
It helps one to feel independent.
As soon as a baby discovers that she can walk, she refuses assistance. She wants to
walk on her own. She also wants to walk where she wishes to go.
The teenager pushes the boundaries in order to see how far she can have
independence and control over her own life. As soon as the young person leaves
school, and leaves home to study, they resist any attempt of parents to guide as they
want to control their own lives. They want to make their own decisions.
Parents then allow young adults (I hope) to make mistakes – to fall and get up
themselves as this is how one learns. If parents continue to rescue children, they never
learn to find their own way.
So, we learn and grow and then start working and build our lives. Our quest for control
continuous.
We become our own developers and growers of our lives.
We decide and we plan, and we implement. We are aware of God, and we do our
prayers and attend services – if we can. We support the church when able. There is
nothing wrong with this picture, one would say, apart from the fact that I am in the
driving seat of my life. There is a danger: One can become so good at life, that we
become our own god. I decide.
Readings
Our OT reading shows us how the Israelites used law to assist people in remembering
that their connection with God. Esther Menn explains that “Deuteronomy 26:1-11
presents a theological interpretation of the summer harvest, during which choice
agricultural produce was brought to the temple in Jerusalem. This offering from the
bounty provided by God through the gift of the land was associated with the pilgrimage
festival known as Shavuot, held seven weeks after Passover”. All practicing Israelites

attended the festival. We must remember that Judaism is a way of life. There is no
separation between spiritual rituals and daily life rituals.
We have let many of our rituals – our ‘rules’ as Christians, go. Remember? Rules about
Sunday? Etc. These assisted us in our daily living.
Furthermore, “offering of first fruits, whether at the temple in Jerusalem as in this
passage or locally in the outlying towns every third year as a tithe (26:12-15; cf., 14:28-
29), ensures that the entire community shares in the land’s abundance. Israelite
landowners and their families are instructed to partake of the harvest together with “the
Levites and the aliens who reside among you” (26:11). The Levites, generally equated
with the priests in Deuteronomy, were a tribe not allotted a territory of their own but were
rather supported in their religious service through such offerings (12:12). The “aliens,”
were foreigners who lived among the Israelites without owning land” (Esther Menn).
The offering of their first fruit also created an opportunity to come together and share
with each other. Share with those who do not own land to plant, like foreigners and
priests. A communal life was encouraged.
The idea of sharing with others are also encouraged in our NT reading. We usually like
to make sure that we have before we give away to others. That is what most people do
and nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. However, we are challenged by the
writer of the second letter to the Corinthians. The people from the churches in
Macedonia in chapter 8 didn’t hold back and were truly generous. They shared with
others. He writes that their “poverty overflows in a wealth of generosity.” Although they
were poor, they were generous.
This is what Jesus is highlighting in our Gospel reading from the Gospel of Mark chapter
8. The widow did not have a man to take care of her and therefore no regular income,
but she was still generous and gave all she had. This reminds me of a woman I met at a
Workshop on HIV/AIDS a few years ago. I complimented her on her beautiful skirt she
was wearing one day and the next day she gave me the skirt, although it most probably
was the only ‘special’ skirt she had. I had to take it and still have it. I remember her
generosity every time I wear it.
Conclusion
Our readings encourage us to have a look at our lives.
Who is in control? Have a look at who in the driving seat of our lives. If we are at the
driving seat, we make the decisions based on what we know and am sure of. It is logical
and has reasons which are defended and for which we often are willing to die.
But if God is in the driving seat, we make our decisions very differently because we live
by faith. It is not logical and sometimes we do not have the language to explain what we

know in our hearts. We live in awareness of the presence of God in every moment. God
in who we live and have our being and where we know we have no control over things.
We understand that we are small creatures who are dearly loved by God and taken care
of by God.
Everything we have and who we are come from God and we are on our way back to
God.
We are here to serve God by serving others and that is how we live closer to God daily.
We therefore serve with love and generosity as we do it for God.

Moment of silence

Become aware of your body – all it can do. Become aware of your skills and talents. All
of these are gifts to serve with.
Prayer on leaflet
Loving God, you bless us through your goodness and provide all we need:
Grant that we may use what we receive from you to your glory and the relief of those in
need. Everything comes from you and of your own, we give you. Amen

Stewardship and Giving

by Revd. Melany Adonis