Note: this is an abridged form; to read the full version, please contact our Church Office.
Towards the end of 2015 (November), the Parish agreement was ended by St Petri, Paarl, and Pastor Peter tendered 6 months’ notice to St Petri as Pastor of Paarl Congregation. The Cape Church undertook to pay the difference in salary from June till the end of October 2016.
This allowed for the implementation of the plans agreed upon at the 2015 AGM for the introduction of a regular English service every Sunday at 9:00 from the 1st April 2016. The service is not bound by traditional liturgy (although certain elements have been retained), and remains flexible. The second service is celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical form, German or Afrikaans.
A monthly German service has been held in the St Johannis Heim. Afternoon devotions have also been held there twice a month by Pastors of the Cape Church. A new confirmation course was held with two children, Zoë Buhr and Gustav Langhoff, their confirmation on 26 February 2017.
We did have four Kindergarten services (in German). Every month, on the first Thursday, the whole Kindergarten attends a devotion in the church for about 20 minutes. Ingrid Brunke has Bible story sessions with the children once a week.
Several bazaars were held. On Thursdays, the prayer meeting, German Bible study and Open Doors continued and have been faithfully supported. A bi-monthly “Seniorentreff” was also held.
The CSG (Counsellor Support Group), with 4-5 members, met monthly.
The new Ott organ was inaugurated on the 31 January with an impressive organ concert service. The Pekelharing organ was sold to the Basilika Dreieichen, in Stockern, Austria. Proceeds from the sale covered the cost of reassembling the Ott organ in the Kreuzkirche.
The annual Church Day was held in Strand Street on the 13 March, and was well attended by the Cape Church. The same venue also hosted the Reformation festival end of October.
The Congregation was invited to a combined Advents singing (Mid December) with the Lutheran Church in Kraaifontein.
Several incidents of crime took place this year. The CCTV system which was installed had to be reorganised after some cameras had been stolen. This has led to a decision by the Church Committee that the installation of a security fence is of high priority.
The Missional Work Group met regularly , once a month. On several occasions, Bishop Filter also attended. The formulation of a vision (an English, multicultural, community oriented church) and a mission (a policy for implementing the vision) remains a challenge.
A Roof Fund was initiated to renew roofing on the church and the repairs on other sections. The loan on the house on 27 Middel-straat was paid off.
The Church Committee, consisting of four new members (G. Pruter, U Demasius, D. Ahlert, D. Steytler) and one re-elected member (E.-G. Brunke) commenced their duties at the end of March, and had regular monthly meetings. They met for a social meal in April at the Pastor’s home and for an end-of-year function at Kaapzicht (many thanks to our host Danie).
The Garden of remembrance was attended to.
Towards the middle of September, it became clear that Cape Church Council would not extend its financial support beyond 30.9.16 and no other options had emerged for the maintaining of a full-time post. Consequently, Pastor Peter announced that he was not in a position to renew a contract for a 2/3 post after 31.10.16. A Call-Committee was established under the guidance of Bishop Filter. A 5-month interim contract (3/4 post, from November till end of March 2017) between Pastor Peter, the Church Committee and the Cape Church was then concluded.
The Circuit Conference West remained essentially dormant in the past year. After deliberations, the Bainskloof Committee has handed the responsibility for the Centre over to Church Council of the Cape Church. The office of Kreuzkirche will still handle bookings.
Pastors’ Conferences were attended regularly by Pastor Peter. He also attended the Joint Pastor’s Conference in Pietermaritzburg (18-23.9.16) and several functions of the Lutheran Coordinating Committee (LCC).
In conclusion, Pastor Peter would like to extend his thanks to all the Kreuzkirche members and Church Committee for all their hard work and cooperation in the past year and wishes you all God’s blessings for the future.
Pastor Peter