FROM THE PASTOR WHAT IS THE REFORMATION? Inside this issue: Watchword 2011 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom.

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1 Watchword 2011 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom.12:21) October & November 2011 Inside this issue: From the Pastor 1 Social Event 2 Advent Services 3 Bible Reading Plan 4 The Praying Hands 5 From the Pastor Welcome Tyson! The Praying Hands FROM THE PASTOR WHAT IS THE REFORMATION? 31st October years ago. Dr. Martin Luther fixed The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power of Indulgences on the door of the Castle s Chapel in Wittemberg, Germany. Forgiveness of sin was sold by the church and Papers of Indulgences were given to the people. Luther said: NO! Forgiveness cannot be purchased on money! Jesus paid for our sins on the cross! Forgiveness is free by faith in Jesus! - And so began officially the Reformation. We, as Lutherans, are children of Luther s Reformation. We are celebrating this Reformation Month in honor of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who allowed Dr. Martin Luther to restore the truth in the church. - From the 95 Theses, we will highlight three matters in the services during this month of October. The first one will show us the necessity of repentance and faith in Christ to receive forgiveness. The second one will highlight the Gospel as the true treasure of the 1 church. And the third one will tell us about the correct use of money in the church. We will use also some Luther s hymns, prayers and parts of a Liturgy he prepared (Luther s German Mass- 1526) in a special Order of Service. - Don't miss the services. God bless us all as we celebrate this Reformation Month! Pastor Walter 27 Settlers Drive, Edgemead Parsonage : (021)

2 Reformation Social Event In commemoration of REFORMATION DAY, we are planning to have a SOUP & MOVIE evening at the end of October Date : Friday, 28 October 2011 Time : 19H00 Venue : St. Thomas Church, Edgemead Several kinds of soup will be served first and then we will watch the film LUTHER, with the actor Joseph Fiennes. Reserve this day in your diary. Donations will be accepted. ABLAZE th ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMATION Praying to the Lord of the Harvest, LCMS World Mission, in collaboration with its worldwide partners, will share the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS with 100 million unreached or uncommitted people by the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation in CONGRATULATIONS Tyson was born on 15 th September! Congratulations to Jason and Lisa van Dijk, and to the proud grand-parents August & Michelle Hohls and Brenda van Dijk (Jent, in memoriam). Page 2

3 Advent and Christmas As this Newsletter covers till end of November, we announce St. Thomas schedule for the new Church's Year. Put the dates in your diary. If relatives and friends are coming to celebrate Christmas in Cape Town, let them know about this schedule. - If you are around, or if you are traveling for the Christmas Holidays, let pastor Walter know about your plans. 27 th November - 1 st Sunday in Advent 9:30am Advent Service 04 th December - 2 nd Sunday in Advent 9:30am Advent Brunch and Christmas Celebration 11 th December - 3 rd Sunday in Advent 9:30am Confirmation service; Zenka Deetlefs 18 th December - 4 th Sunday in Advent 9:30am Advent Service 24 th December Christmas Eve (Saturday) 7:00pm Candlelight Service 25 th December Christmas Day (Sunday) 9:30am Christmas Service 01 st January - New Year (Sunday) 9:30am New Year Service From the Treasurer... Our finances are looking healthier as we find ourselves going into the 4th quarter of the financial year. Church offerings for September amounted to R15 165, against the budgeted R which shows a promising rise. This translates into an offering income of R for the 1st 9 months of the year, against the budgeted R However, we must continue in this vein if we are to meet our financial commitments, so please remember the congregation when you show appreciation for your many blessings! 3 Page 3

4 BIRTHDAYS Bible Study Your words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name. Jeremiah 15:16 We are called by God's name as well like Jeremiah, since our Baptism, when God gave us His name and accepted us as His children. We are part of His family, the Holy Christian Church. God gives us His food, the spiritual food to nourish our faith and to strength our Christian life, - His Holy Word. The Bible Study is a good time of fellowship around the Word of God, as we search in the Bible and did eat His truth. And we can confess as well: Your Word is to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. - Come and join the Bible Study group every Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:00pm. 01-Oct Matthew 21, Oct Matthew 21, Oct Psalms Oct Matthew 22, Oct Matthew 22, Oct Matthew 22, Oct Matthew 22, Oct Matthew 23, Oct Matthew 23, Oct Psalms Oct Job 1, Oct Job 1, Oct Job 2, Oct Job 2, Oct Job 3, Oct Job 4, Oct Psalms Oct Job 5, Oct Job 6, Oct Job 8, Oct Job 9, Oct Job 11, Oct Job 12,1-6;14, Oct Psalms 22, Oct Job 19, Oct Job 31, Oct Job 32, Oct Job 38, Oct Job 40, Oct Job 40, Oct Psalms 20, Nov Job 42, Nov Job 42, Nov Job 42, Nov James 1, Nov James 1, Nov James 1, Nov Psalms Nov James 2, Nov James 2, Nov James 3, Nov James 3, Nov James 4, Nov James 4,13--5,6 14-Nov Psalms Nov James 5, Nov James 5, Nov Matthew 24, Nov Matthew 24, Nov Matthew 24, Nov Matthew 24, Nov Psalms Nov Matthew 24, Nov Matthew 25, Nov Matthew 25, Nov Matthew 25, Nov Jude 1, Nov Jude 1, Nov Psalms Nov Isaiah 40, Nov Isaiah 40,12-26 OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2 - Gita Schreiber 6 - Storm Marriot-Watson 15 - Zenka Deetlefs 20 - Jenny Rewitzky 22 - Mike Sandmann & Faith Dini 25 - Deon Deetlefs 28 - Carl Runds Glynnis Rewitzky 13 - Dennis Rewitzky 20 - Christy Johnson 22 - Matthew Crouch Page 4

5 The story behind the picture of the Praying Hands Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children.eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of the elder children, Albrecht and Albert, had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines. They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn.. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you." All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No no no no." Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at 5 the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother...for me it is too late." More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands." The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone! Page 5

6 Evangelical Church (Lutheran Confession) St. Thomas Congregation Church 27 Settlers Drive, Edgemead Parsonage: 10 Van Gogh Street Panorama 7500 Street Address or P.O. Box N1-City 7463 Church Councillors Ekhard Köhne Marja Wybrow Quinton Aubrey Shawn Johnston Divine Service Every Sunday at 9.30am Sunday School Holy Communion Pastor Ps. Carlos Walter Winterle Treasurer Paul Böhmer Women s Guild Chairladies Jackie Karshagen Sunday School Christy Johnston Banking Details ABSA (Parow ) Account Name: St Thomas Acc Number: PURPOSE STATEMENT To promote fellowship in a friendly environment, where God s love in Christ is proclaimed (proclamation) love for one another is exercised (care) loving others is practised (outreach) Loved by God. Loving others. 6 Page 6

7 ST. THOMAS CONGREGATION - EVANGELICAL CHURCH (LUTHERAN CONFESSION) SUNDAY SERVICES AND DUTY ROSTER AUGUST - SEPTEMBER Service Times: Every Sunday at (with Holy Communion) / (U) = Usher. DATE SUNDAY 02 October 09 October 16 October 23 October 30 October 16 th Sunday after 17 th Sunday after 18 th Sunday after 19 th Sunday after Reformation Sunday 06 Nov All Saint's Day (observed) 13 Nov 22 nd Sunday after 20 Nov Last Sunday in the Church Year Thanksgiving Day 27 Nov 1 st Sunday in Advent 04 Dec 2 nd Sunday in Advent CHURCH COUNCILLOR S. Johnston(U) E. Köhne M. Wybrow (U) S. Swiegers A. Runds E. Köhne (U) S. Johnston C. Runds (U) E. Köhne M. Wybrow (U) S. Swiegers S. Johnston (U) A. Runds E. Köhne (U) S. Johnston (U) M. Wybrow E. Köhne C. Runds (U) M.Wybrow (U) S. Johnston READER + READINGS SUNDAY SCHOOL ALTAR DUTY & SERVING THE LORD'S SUPPER E. Köhne: Is 5:1-7; Phil 3:4b-14 Psalm 80:7-19; Matt 21:33-46 C. Melck: Is 25:6-9; Phil 4:4-13 Psalm 23; Matt 22:1-14 E. Johnston: Is 45:1-7; 1 Tess 1:1-10 Psalm 96:1-13; Matt 22:15-22 H. Peyper: Lev 19:1-2,15-18;1 Tess 2:1-13 Psalm 1; Matt 22:34-46 C. Melck: Rev 14:6-7; Rom 3:19-28 Psalm 46; John 8:31-36 E. Köhne: Rev 7:2-17: 1 John 3:1-3 Psalm 149; Mattew 5:1-12 E. Johnston: Zeph 1:7-16; 1 Tess 5:1-11 Psalm 90:1-12: Matt 25:14-30 H. Peyper: Deut 8:1-10; 1 Tim 2:1-4 Psalm 67; Luke 17:11-19 E. Köhne: Is 64:1-19; 1 Cor 1:3-9 Psalm 80:1-7; Mark 13:24-37 E. Johnston: Is. 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14 Psalm 85; Mark 1:1-8 School Holidays (no Sunday school) School Holidays (no Sunday School) Flower Duty: The person on duty is requested to make a flower arrangement to be placed either on or next to the altar (the flowers are to be taken home afterwards). Altar Duty: The person on duty is requested to fill the communion vessels and wafer plate and place them on the altar (and wash the vessels after the service). The Elders/ Assistant in altar duty assist the pastor with serving the Lord's Supper. Tea Duty: The person on duty is requested prepare the cups and sauces before the service, switch on the urn, serve coffee and tea after the service (provide milk), and wash the dishes. NB: If a person on duty is unable to fulfil his/her duty, please make alternate arrangements with the Team. A Willis G. Meier J. Peyper H. Peyper Ulrike & Keegan M.Skibbe S.Swiegers Tarryn & Maxine A. Willis E.Köhne Christy & Errin M.Halm S.Johnston Elke & Zenke A.Willis H.Peyper Tarryn & Maxine J. Peyper G. Meier Ulrike & Keegen M.Skibbe S.Johnston Christy & Errin J. Peyper H. Peyper Elke & Zenke A.Willis S.Johnston FLOWERS TEA DUTY C. Johnston C. Johnston L. Wilson F. Dini F. Dini M. Wybrow J. Karshagen J. Karshagen L. Swiegers T. Köhne T. Köhne E. Crouch M. Hohls M. Hohls C.Johnston L. Wilson L. Wilson M. Deetlefs L. Swiegers L. Swiegers Lauren Swiegers E.Crouch E. Crouch J. Karshagen M. Wybrow M.Wybrow F. Dini M. Deetlefs M. Deetlefs M.Hohls 7 Page 6