Dear Congregation,
After discussions on the matter of tablecloths, the Church Committee agreed that in order to simplify laundry procedures, it would we useful to have a washing machine at the church. Please contact the office if you are able to donate a (used) machine.
Simplifying life would also be effected for the caterer on duty by having our coffee and tea between services only. So for the 10:15 German/Afrikaans service, tea time would be from 10:00 till 10:15. For the 9:00 English service tea time would be from 10:10 till 10:30. We would appreciate your feedback in this matter.

We are looking for a Public Officer, a person who would be registered with SARS and responsible for ensuring that SARS get the annual tax returns. Is there anybody willing to take this responsibility on them?
The outstanding bond/loan on 29 Middle Street amounts to some R185.000. The Church Committee has decided to pay off this bond by the end of the year, saving the congregation some R1.600 in interest monthly, some R19.200 annually! For this to be achieved, the Committee will use the reserves in Money Market (R100.000) and Cash on Hand (R40.000). The balance of R45.000 we want to
raise by way of a special fund raising project.
The Missional Work Group met on 11 June, together with Bishop Gilbert Filter, and again on July 5. On both occasions Hezekiel 37 was meditated upon: God is able to bring life again to a valley full of dry bones. How does this text apply to uns? I invite you to read it yourself and share your impressions or questions. Bishop Filter urged us to seriously wrestle with “5 Questions that Missional Congregations ask and answer”. We did so in a very small group on 9th July. We consider the fact that there are 20.000 Ethiopians in Belville and also our tenants in Middle Street 27 are Ethiopian Muslims. How do we relate in a meaningful manner to these Muslim neighbours of ours? How do we live our Christian testimony towards them? Thank you to all, who have taken a prayer card with them and are praying with us, at 8 am or 8 pm, for God to guide us in our missional endeavours. Please also note the date for the August meeting, this will be on 20th August, 10:00-12:00.
Baptism of Rose Nyakwanga: on the 12th of June, Rose, daughter of Samuel and Tariro Nyakwangwa, was baptised. Samuel and Tariro (along with her brother Fidel) are from the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and have become regular visitors of our English service. We hope they will enjoy the fellowship in our congregation. Baptism of Chaise Wilhelm Rodewald: On Saturday2 July, Chaise, son of Dieter and Marika Rodewald, was baptised on request of Pastor Ron Küsel of the Lutheran Church, New Germany, ELCSA/NT, where the parents are members.

new face in our midst is Wilfred Nkwanyana. He hails from Pretoria and is a member of the Lutheran Church there. He will be in the Cape for 6 months, working on the Cape Convention Centre Development. We hope he will too enjoy the fellowship in our congregation. He is an accomplished brass band player and musician.
On Monday, the 4th of July, Pastor Peter attended a Narrative Therapy Workshop in Mowbray, presented by FAMSA and Dr Elize Morkel.

  • The Counselling Support Group (CSG) meets once a month and works on counselling and visitation themes. Our next meeting is the 19th July at 10am at the church.
  • The quarterly German Kindergarten Church Service was held on the 24th July. The last one of the year will be held on the 27 November, 1 Advent, 10:15.
  • Bainskloof: A Special General Meeting is to be called regarding the future of the Bainskloof Resolution. This will take place on 31st July, 10:15 in our church centre.
  • In order to discuss the future of Bainskloof a meeting will be held at the Vasco Lutheran Church on 27th August, 9:00-12:00.
  • The Pastors’ Conference of the Western Circuit will meet on 18th August in Stellenbosch.
  • The annual Church Basar of our congregation will be on 3rd September, it will start at 08:00. All are welcome!
  • Please note the date for the Adventsbasar as well: this will be on 26th November at 14:30. All are welcome!
  • Joint Pastors’ Conference: Pastor Peter will be in Pietermaritzburg from 19th to 23rd September for a joint conference of the pastors from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Africa / Natal-Transvaal and the Cape Church.
  • Pastor’s leave will be from 1.10.2016 till 28.10.2016, with approval from the Church Committee.
  • To note in advance: We will celebrate Reformation Service, together with the Moravian and the Cape Orange Diocese Congregations in the Western Cape, on the 30th of October at 10:00 at the Strand Street Church. We will organise lift clubs for that occasion: We don’t want anybody to be left behind!

Interested parties are invited to a morning seminar/workshop on “Emotions and Feelings” on Saturday morning, 13th August. Anger and fear will be specifically attended to, as they are often referred to in the Bible as emotions that need to be managed constructively. Please advise Church Office (021-9485928) by Friday, 12th August of your participation.

“What kind of Church do we want?” The Circuit Conference West invites to a discussion on the future of the Church. There will be feedback from the Bishop regarding the Church Unity talks in Pietermaritzburg as well.
Networking: We need people willing to connect to congregation members and visit them. Please advise Church Office or Pastor Peter if you are interested.
Should you desire a house visitation or an office appointment, please do not hesitate to let me or the Church Office (Karin or Christiane) know. Please advise of congregation members in hospital!
In Memoriam:

  • Theodor Gorr (im Alter von 88 Jahren),
  • Ruth Grassmann (im Alter von 86 Jahren),
  • Horst Meyer (im Alter von 86 Jahren) und
  • Erika Anneliese Josefine Kiebler (im Alter von 86 Jahren).

Kind regards, Pastor Peter