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More than 100 people gathered at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kalk Bay, Cape Town, on 1 September for Living Water: Cape Town’s Sacred Heritage and Shared Future, an ecumenical Season of Creation gathering co-hosted with St James Catholic Church. Dr Vanessa Farr of Mycelium Water Stories explored Cape Town’s remarkable water heritage and the connections between water, ecology, social justice and spirituality. A Living with Water exhibition by Dominica Hunter and a panel conversation with Vanessa, Anna Barron and Dominica invited participants to consider how communities can move from awareness to participation and care for our precious water sources. The gathering forms part of a wider Cape Town Living Waters Season of Creation programme, connecting events and initiatives across the city from 1 September to 4 October. 💧 From the mountain to the sea, water connects us all.    

From the Temple flow streams of living water Under the theme of “Living Water” the Season of Creation was launched in Cape Town with an Ecumenical Service with Archbishop Sipuka , Catholic Archbishop of  Cape Town and chairperson of the South African Council of Churches. The service  was held at the Groote Kerk,  at the oldest Dutch Reformed Church in the country with a past history of providing theological support for apartheid. As the Archbishop climbed the many steps to the pulpit towering above us I reflected on how in the past streams of poisonous theology had flowed from that very pulpit -causing  suffering to generations. In past decades the  church has sharply pivoted away from that past and is a now a site of reconciliation, hope and interfaith dialogue. How wonderful then to see the Archbishop use that very same pulpit to launch the ecumenical Season of Creation – instead of pain flowing from the  temple, now streams of living water would flow. The Season of Creation is a season of unity, as we hear the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth. In his powerful message the Archbishop reflected on Living water -reminding us that water can also become destructive  due to our failure to care for Creation – he spoke of the pain of the people of Nepal and Tibet who have lost their lives as the melting glacier fell into the river creating devastating floods. He also talked of the fear of too little water here in Cape Town as we face the potential of drought ahead as El Nino draws closer. He challenged us to take seriously the call to care for Creation and  and to open our concept of Ubuntu beyond humanity to all of creation. Because of Water – we are . Local ministers from the city centre churches led the service – Rev Riaan de Villiers – Groote Kerk,  Dean Robert – St Mary’s Cathedral; Rev Sikawu – Central Methodists,  Rev Annie Kirke -St George’s Cathedral, Rev Sybil – Lutheran Church, JP Roberts representing the “Together for Creation” ecumenical youth  and Rev Rachel Mash -from the SACC Climate Commission who introduced the history of the Season of Creation and the Feast of Creation/World Day of Prayer for Creation       

On Saturday, the 8th of August, the Diocese of Khahlamba Diocesan Mothers’ Union celebrated Mary Sumner Day in honour of its founder, Mary Sumner. The celebration in attendance was the Diocesan Bishop, The Right Revd Bishop Sibeko, clergy, Mothers’ Union members from the nine Archdeaconries of the Diocese, as well as members of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship, Bernard Mizeki Guild, Mary Magdalene, Youth and Servers. As part of aligning its activities with the Fifth Mark of Mission of the Anglican Communion, which calls the Church “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth,” the Mothers’ Union Executive resolved to make the celebration an opportunity to take practical action for the environment. To mark Mary Sumner Day, the Mothers’ Union distributed 50 indigenous trees and 950 vegetable seedlings to be planted across the Diocese. The initiative forms part of the Mothers’ Union’s commitment to caring for creation, promoting food security and encouraging sustainable environmental practices within families and communities. The Diocesan Green Anglicans Coordinator, Akhona Mzalisi, also addressed the gathering and shared valuable information on the importance of caring for and protecting the environment. The discussion encouraged Mothers’ Union members and the wider Church community to recognise their responsibility as Christians to become good stewards of God’s creation. The Archdeaconries committed themselves to ensuring that the initiative produces a lasting impact. They agreed to: We give thanks to God for a successful and meaningful celebration. Special appreciation is extended to Bishop Sibeko, the sponsors and the Diocesan coordinators for their valuable support and contribution towards making the day a success. Through this initiative, the Diocesan Mothers’ Union continues to demonstrate that caring for creation is an important expression of Christian faith and service. By: Nobongoza P ( Diocesan MU Eco-Champ)

Eight representatives from the Mothers’ Union of the Dioceses of Pretoria and Johannesburg attended a Farming God’s Way workshop held from 19 to 21 August 2026 at Community Ministries Church, Drift Boulevard, Muldersdrift. The three-day workshop, which ran from 08:45 to 16:00 each day, was supported by Green Anglicans and aimed to equip participants with a practical and God-centred response to the challenges of food insecurity in communities affected by climate-related factors. Farming God’s Way provides an approach to agriculture that combines biblical principles, good management practices and appropriate agricultural techniques. From the first day, participants gained valuable knowledge through a programme that combined both theoretical learning and practical application, all rooted in biblical teachings. One of the key lessons was recognising God as the Master Farmer and Creator. Participants reflected on the biblical teaching that, from the beginning, God entrusted humanity with the responsibility to work the land and care for the garden He created. This reminded participants that human beings have a responsibility to protect and care for the soil and the earth. The workshop also explored practical ways to care for the soil using locally available, reusable materials. Participants learned about the importance of using grass as “God’s blanket” (mulching) to protect the soil and plants, as well as other materials such as wood ash. Over three days, participants were introduced to the three important foundations of Farming God’s Way: Biblical principles, Management, and Technology. Practical demonstrations included vegetable garden layouts, land preparation, planting seedlings and seeds, crop rotation, and vegetable planting using correct measurements and techniques. One of the most meaningful moments of the workshop was the prayer session held in the garden. Participants reflected on the importance of placing God at the centre of their farming activities. They learned that before working with the soil and planting seeds, it is important to pray and ask God to bless the garden and to provide an abundant harvest of fresh, healthy produce. The representatives expressed their gratitude to the Province and Green Anglicans for their continued support and commitment to empowering communities through environmentally sustainable and faith-based initiatives. At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants committed themselves to becoming God’s ambassadors for sustainable food production and environmental stewardship. They agreed to cascade the knowledge and skills gained during the workshop to Mothers’ Union members and other community members across the parishes and throughout the Dioceses of Pretoria and Johannesburg.