Latest News
This page has the Latest News from the Synod as it happens.
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EAD Youth Camp 2008 - Wartburg
- 19/02/2008 (click image for gallery)Friday
They all started arriving after school, with our first session starting at 18h00.
Tante Biene got Onkel Connie to put up a basketball ring for us, but what goes up, must come down; and the ring lasted about 30 minutes before it was brought down. It was the ring's fate not to stay up for long before it was brought down again, but we were thankful to Onkel Connie for being patient enough to put it up, a second and a third and a ... time.
Then for supper, Tante Sabine served the famous "eat as much as you like" hamburgers. With real beef patties. Needless to say some of the guys got it right to eat 6 of them.(they were not very hungry the next day)
Saturday
We all woke up at 06h30 to have breakfast with the boys who had to go and play cricket. Sadly enough they got thumped, badly !!!
Our sessions when very well with the most amazing participation, and a couple of break throughs with some of the youth.
The youth were taught to Share Scriptures and Encourage, to Pray for each other and to Learn about God by encouraging their parents to teach them, how to get involved in their church and community and finally the value and importance of Worship.
Our session on work saw the youth making a commitment to giving an hour a week in different areas of their church life. God worked in the hearts of these young adults and He put it in their hearts to work for Him.
But during all of this we had to deal with 32 degrees(40 with discomfort levels) So the swimming pool was used a lot.
(see pictures)
The evening saw us watch a movie, Facing the Giants, to witness how much one can do when you put your trust in God and are not afraid to confess Him and call on Him to help you in your daily activities. The movie really brought home the realization of LIVING FOR CHRIST brings us CLOSER TO CHRIST (Lionel set up his one seriously amazing speaker for this event and it was audible on the other side of the property.)
Sunday
LEARNING, PRAYING, WORK, WORSHIP, these were the Four areas of our faith that we looked at on Saturday, and today was Sunday, the day where we put all four of them into practice during the worship service.
The youth walked to Our Saviour's and brought with them a generator as the electricity went out just before 08h00.
Then we introduced the congregation to two songs that we had learnt, Come now is the Time to Worship and I will offer up my Life. Together we worshiped the Lord our God with our Hearts, Voices and Prayers.
The lunch and final review showed just how amazing and on fire for God this youth really is.
This camp showed me how much the community and congregation care for their youth. Elisabeth and Dr. Thom practiced their guitars until their fingers were aching, just to learn the new songs.
Connie and Sabine opened their house, the yard to us, and worked hard to make sure that everything was so perfect.
Thank you to all who helped, to Sabine for cooking, to Elisabeth, Dr. Thom and Carmen for making music and for their participation, and to Birgit, Connie and Mr. Prince for their help with arranging and catering.
To God be the Glory both now and forever.
Brass Band Festival 2007 - Pretoria
- 01/07/2007This years' celebration by the 'Brass Band Federation' of the Free Evangelical- Lutheran Synod in South Africa took place at the German School(DSP)in Pretoria. At 09h30 the festive programme was opened with a morning rendition under the leadership of the principal conductor, Pastor Chris Johannes. The hymn 'Rejoice My Heart Be Glad and Sing' set the tone for the joint celebratory event.
The theme for this 78th Festival read: From Grace to Joy in Christ. This was subdivided into three sections (1) The sermon of Christ (sola scriptura-solus Christus); 2.The blessed divine service (sola gratia); 3. The joyful faith (sola fide). The Divine Morning Service took up the first section. Retired president Albers held the sermon from 1.Corinthians 2,1-5. The festive congregation was strenghtened and renewed in the faith, that the Cross stands in the centre of the Christian Faith, and the assignment of the Church is and remains: To proclaim this fact. A new addition this year was the individual leaders of the assembled Brassbands took part in the General Prayers of the Church, which were then followed by "Kyrie eleison" (Lord, have mercy upon us) in response by the congregation.
The second section was devoted to the Grace of God in Jesus Christ in hymn and word. Pastor Reinhold Thom addressed the congregation in Afrikaans to include other language speakers into the festivities. This was followed by the Blessing, which began with a hymn: "Komm, Herr, Segne Uns." This section was then ended with the great praise by Johann Sebastian Bach - "Ehre und Preiss sei Gott dem Herrn", After a short interval for refreshments, medals were awarded. President Ahlers encouraged all the members of the Brassbands to continue praising God with the music. Also smaller groups were included.
The last section - under the theme "the joyful faith" - began with a remembrance for Brassband players who had passed away. The hymn "Awake My Heart With Gladness", proclaimed to all present that those who have died in Christ, go to Christ in eternal joy in heaven. However, our life on earth is still a reality with all its problems which we must still face. The last Hymn was of great encouragement to all groups - players and listeners alike.
This day of many Blessings ended with a devotion and prayers by Pastor Ullrich Volkmar from the Independent Evangelical- Lutheran Church (Germany). And now an urgent and moving prayer for our country was said, followed by the Brassband's rendering of the last hymn:" Herr, unser Gott, gib Fried dem Land .. " - a sincere prayer from the heart brought before God. The closing hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God", was played by the Brassb Bands to the accompanying singing of the festive congregation. We may look back on a successful Brass Band Festival, and thank the congregation of Pretoria for their hospitality.
For more Brass Band Festival 2007 Pictures Click Here
Youth Day 2007 - Pretoria
- 31/06/2007This year the 64th Synodical Youth Day took place at the German School in Pretoria. About three hundred young people took part in an enjoyable day of singing and sport. The day began at 09h00 with a Church Service during which the Youth Choir Leader, Bernard Böhmer, conducted a selection of religious songs and hymns to enhance the Church Service. The musical work by J.M. Bach: "Halt, was du hast." belonged to the greater musical scores performed to the Glory of God. Some majestic English musical works were performed and appreciated, which by now have their regular place in the programme.
The Children's Choir began with a performance in the second half of the day's programme. They were conducted by Mrs Heidrun Johannes. Thereafter some individual groups sang and performed for the enjoyment of their listeners. Lovely to see that so many young children in these small youth groups enjoy what they do.
The morning continued with traditional choir music by the collective youth, who also sang Folk-songs for the audience. The Blessing "May the Path lead us together ... " (Möge die Strasse uns zusammenführen ...) was a fitting end to the musical programme.
The sport began after lunch and opened with a colourful Polonaise. The traditional costumes were lovely against they grey background of the dry brown winter landscape. Then the contesting began in the different sport disciplines, and all had fun - boys and girls. There was Volleyball, Touch Rugby and Medicine Ball throwing to mention a few. Last but not least was the "Tauziehen" (Tug-o-War), always participated with much excitement by the bystanders in particular.
We look back on a most enjoyable day, always with thankful hearts towards God our Father for all His Blessings.
24/06/2007Ordination of Rev. Chris Johannes
The 3rd Sunday after Trinity, celebrated on the 24. June 2007, was an occasion of joy for the St Peter's Ev. - Luth. Congregation in Greytown. With tremendous gratitude to the Lord of the church, the congregation celebrated in its midst the ordination of its Vicar Christoph Johannes.
Pastor Johannes, who originally comes from the area around Lüneburg, originally graduated with an MSc as a researcher in Physics and Biology, he soon received his teacher's diploma and was active for many years in the field of education.
In 2000, he laid down his post as school principal in Wartburg, KZN, and reported to the Synod as a theology student. Soon he was tasked with serving in the Immanuel Ev.-Luth. Congregation in Pietermaritzburg as an assistant under the supervision of Pastor Siegfried Köhne. Pastor Johannes' tasks concentrated on confirmation instruction, congregational visits and youth work. During this time, Pastor Johannes began with studying theology full-time through the LCMS "DELTO" Course (Distance Education Leading Toward Ordination).
At the end of 2002, Immanuel Pietermaritzburg received an own permanent pastor, and Pastor Johannes was sent by the synodical council to the vacant St Peter's Ev.-Luth. Congregation in Greytown as a vicar, with the congregation's approval. There he completed his studies while working full-time in the congregation.
On the 11. June he concluded his training in the form of a colloquy exam before the examinations commission of the FELSISA. After a sum total of six and half years of study, four of which were completed on site, the St Peter's Ev.-Luth. Congregation, Greytown, called Pastor Johannes to be its shepherd and pastoral caregiver, and so he was ordained on the 3rd Sunday after Trinity and installed as pastor loci.
(click images to view larger versions)
Back Row - left to right: Pastor K Schnackenberg, Pastor Karl Böhmer, Pastor H Straeuli, Pastor D Schnackenberg, Pastor Kurt Böhmer
Front Row - : Pastor W Köhne (emer.), Missionar P Weber, Pastor C Johannes, Präses P Ahlers, Pastor E Mkhabela, Pastor S Köhne
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