Dear Congregation,
Renewal of the Contract with Pastor Peter: Pastor Peter advised the congregation toward the end of September that he was unable to renew a 2/3 contract, now that a full parish post was no longer an option. From the 1st November 2016 till the 31st March 2017 Pastor Peter will fill a ¾ post, as decided at the Special General Meeting of the 6th November 2016. This will mean that he will not be employed one week per month in our congregation from now on, and that he will be searching for a full time post elsewhere. The pastor will therefore not be available to Kreuzkirche Bellville for one week of each month as listed:
7-13 November,
17-23 December (leave days: 12-16 Dec=5 days),
1-7 January,
12-18 February,
17-23 March (leave days: 24-31 March=8 days).
Pastor’s leave: A warm thank you to all who took care of various services and Pastor Meylahn for being on stand-by!
Joint Pastors’ Conference: Pastor Peter attended the JPC in Pietermaritzburg from 19-23 September with the pastors of ELCSA/NT and Cape Church. Many different themes were discussed, but the most important one was, that close cooperation between the Cape Church and Natal/Transvaal Church must continue, even though the unity talks have been shelved for the moment.
Annual Reformation Service: This was celebrated together with the Moravians and the Cape Orange Diocese Congregations in the Western Cape, on the 30th October 2016 at the Strand Street Church.
Special General Meeting on the 6th November 2016: A report by Detlev Ahlert .

Adventsbasar, on 26th November at 14:30, all are welcome!

German Kindergarten Service: The last one of the year will be held on 27th November, 1st Advent, 10:15. We will celebrate Advent together with the Kraaifontein Congregation on Sunday afternoon, 4 December, 16.00 in Kraaifontein. We will travel there together, departing 15:30 from Kreuzkirche and provide lifts for those who want to come along. We don’t want anybody to be left behind! (The Kraaifontein Church is at 36 Snell Rd, Kraaifontein. Directions: Driving over the N1, go down Okavango Rd turn left into Frans Conradie. Turn 2nd street left into Rembrandt, then left into Milnerton Rd and then right into Snell Rd. See map below.)

Adventsbasar Evaluation: 28th January 2017 at 9:00.
Missional Work Group: 21st January, 9-11 am.
Confirmation: We will celebrate the confirmation of Zoë Buhr-Engelke and Gustav Langhoff, together with their families, on Sunday 26th February. Details to follow.
Church Day 2017: It will be celebrated, if all goes to plan, at the St Johannis-Heim on Sunday 5th March 2017. Details to follow.
English Bible Study: Wednesday evenings, 7-8 pm, by appointment only.
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: Frederike Faber passed away on 10th November, aged 92, at the St Johannis Heim. The memorial service was held on the 18th November in the Heim.
Kind regards,
Pastor Peter