Dear Congregation,

The new Church Committee has now taken up its duties and meets on a regular monthly basis. Should there be any concerns or questions regarding its functioning, you are invited to address Gisela Prüter directly with your queries. (or write an email: giselap@medscheme.co.za).  We are still in the “running in” phase, and  acquainting ourselves with our various duties and challenges.

The Committee members and spouses met on the 15 April for a social braai at the home of Pastor Peter. It was a good time to get to know each other better and   discuss various ideas.

As the roof has now been fully paid, the Committee has decided to close the Roof Fund and would like to thank all who have so generously contributed  towards it!

Regular English services have started on Sunday 3rd April. So far we had four of them. In each service there have been some new visitors. We have a minimum of liturgical framing and use more time for reflection, prayer and exchange. Hymns may be chosen during the service by the participants and interested parties are  invited to suggest Bible texts or themes for sermons. Over the next six months a monthly advertisement will appear in the Tygerburger.

English Bible Studies have started on Thursdays, at 10:30 in the morning. As with all meetings, every congregation member is welcome to join. Sprouting from this EBS is the idea of holding of a morning seminar/workshop on “Emotions and Feelings” on Saturday morning, 13 August. Anger and fear will be     specifically referred to, as they are often referred to in the Bible as emotions that need to be managed constructively.

The first German Kindergarten service (once a quarter), was held on the 24th April and received many positive comments. Songs are uncomplicated and suitable for smaller children. The sermon was a narration of the Prodigal Son story. The time was limited to 45 minutes. Our next German KiGa service will be held on the 24th July.

The Principal of the Kindergarten has identified a list of maintenance issues, and these have largely been attended to. Many thanks to Ulf Demasius and Danie   Steytler!  The congregational meal, 24 April, was well attended with some 50 participants, who feasted on a delicious meal after service. Thank you, Gisela Prüter and all dedicated helpers for getting this idea going! We must definitely do this again.
The Missional Work Group (MWG) had its first meeting on the 2.4. At the first meeting there was a lot of reflection by participants as to where the             Congregation finds itself at the present, as well as an input by Bishop Filter.

John 21 was the text of our devotion and we contemplated what it might mean for us that  Jesus advised his disciples to go against convention and custom and throw the fishing nets on the right side instead of the usual left side. We have since realised that the woven carpet depicting the catching of the fish is hanging incorrectly and the carpet will be reversed, so that the mirror image will show the net on the right hand of the ship. On the 7th of May we will be contemplating Ezekiel 37,  1-4, where in a vision Ezekiel witnessed how God’s Spirit restored the dry bones of the House of Israel back to life again.  (This second meeting on the 7 May will be reported later on).

Our next meeting will be on 11 June, 10:00-12:00. This is an open meeting and all congregation members are invited to attend and  articipate. Prayer cards will soon be made available to the congregation, inviting all to join the MWG in prayer (suggestion: daily, either 8am or 8pm for 5 mins) for God’s guidance in our missional endeavours.

No further progress has been made regarding ideas and plans for a new arrangement of the benches and the removal of the front barrier in the church. We will keep you informed when we have some ideas to discuss with the congregation. Please note: No unilateral changes will be made. Any possible changes will only be made after consultations and with the clear consent from a general meeting of the congregation.

The matter of the synodal decision concerning the proposed merger between our Cape Church and ELCSA/NT is  still under discussion on the level of the respective Church Councils.  I hope to be able to give you a date later in the year, on which there will be a meeting on Circuit level, where this matter will be reported in detail, discussed and explored further.
Speaking of Church Council. The CC and the Bishop issued a statement on the matter of President Zuma, from which I quote:

“We fear that Mr Zuma’s half-hearted apology on the 1st of April 2016 does  not undo his flouting of the constitution or inspire confidence that he will  uphold the constitution without  being dragged before court. On the contrary, his behaviour is destroying the moral fibre of our society and is a major cause for conflict and polarisation amongst our people. We have no alternative but to join others in calling for his immediate resignation as President of the Republic of South Africa.”   

The full text is available on request.

The annual Church Day was held on the 13th March in Strand Street with Pastor  Felix Meylahn preaching on the watchword of the year from Isaiah 66, 13: “I will comfort you like a mother comforts her child”. The service was well attended and a picnic in the Church’s courtyard followed the proceedings.

On the 12th April Pastor Peter attended the LCC Pastors’ Conference in Worcester. When reflecting on the bygone Reformation Service in Athlone last year (1.11.15), I had to express my disappointment regarding the participation of the Cape Church: only some 25 persons attended from our side! Surely on the occasion of such a festival, we should be able to find the motivation for fellowship with our fellow Lutherans?  Nevertheless, it was decided to celebrate the next Reformation Service together again on the 30.10.16 at the Strand Street church. We will organise lift clubs on that next occasion.

As Convenor of Circuit Conference West (so confirmed by Church Council in the absence of an active, elected Circuit Conference, Committee or Chairperson), I have requested all congregation to send a delegate to a meeting on the 14 May  (9:00) to reconstitute the Bainskloof Management Committee, of which I   ended up as Chair, Minute keeper and General Damager   :-)   (by default)!    Kreuzkirche also needs a new representative on this Bainskloof Committee, as   Ulrich Sachse has bowed out after many years of service (Many thanks to Ulrich!).  Any volunteers?  I have not yet received any opinions and suggestions from the congregation on the following matters:

  • Are there a number of persons (say 20) interested in a retreat (“Gemeindefreizeit”) in Bainskloof or otherwise? What topics would be of   interest to you?
  • Is there interest in an evening Bible Study or Housegroup or such? This would be aimed at the working congregation members who cannot attend daytime activities.

Should you desire a house visitation, please do not hesitate to let me or the Church Office (Karin or Christiane) know. Please advise of congregation members in hospital!

Finally: Dot and I enjoyed our  week’s holiday, which included  the Wilderness and Addo Park  and concluded with a family  wedding in East London.  The Garden Route is beautiful!  

Kind regards, Pastor Peter