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  Watchword 2016

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

From  the  Pastor’s  Desk

Jesus  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father  Almighty  

When  we   confess   the   second   article  of  the  Apostles’  Creed,  we  say:    

(I   believe)   inJesusChrist,Hisonly Son,ourLord, whowasconceived bytheHoly Spirit,bornof   the  Virgin  Mary,   suffered  under  PontiusPilate,was crucified,   diedand  was  buried.   He   descended   into   hell.   The  third   day   He   rose   again   from   the  dead.   He   ascended   into   heaven   and  sits   at   the   right   hand   of   God   the  Father  Almighty.  From  thence  He  will  come   to   judge   the   living   and   the  dead.  

Have  you  ever  realized  that  this  brief  summary   of   Jesus   humiliation   and  exaltation   has   eight   affirmations  about  the  past,  one  about  the  future,  and  only  one  about   the  present?  He  sits   at   the   right   hand   of   God   the  Father   Almighty.   This   is   our   comfort  for  our  present  days.  Our  faith  is  not  only  based  on  what  happened  in  the  past;  not  only   in  what  will  happen  in  the  future;  but  our  faith  is  also  based  on   the   living   and   ascended   Christ  seated   at   the   right   hand   of   God   the  Father  Almighty!  

Newsletter  May  -­‐  June  2016  

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From  there  He  sent  the  Holy  Spirit  on  Pentecost  Day   to  always  be  with  us!  From   there   He   has   His   eyes   open  upon   His   church   and   looks   after   His  believers,   taking   care   of   each   of   us!  From   there  He  will   once   come  back,  so   that   where   He   is,   we   shall   be   as  well!  (John  14:3).  

We  are  living  in  the  Millennium,  -­‐  the  time   of   grace   between   Jesus  ascension   and   His   second   coming.  And  this  time  of  grace  is  summarized  in   this   simple   sentence   of   the  Apostles’  Creed  that  says:  (Jesus)sitsattherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty!    

How  many  times  have  we  said  these  words  only  with  our  lips  and  not  with  our  hearts?  Make  a  break  and  think  a  little  bit  what  this  means  for  your  life  and   for   the   life   of   people   living  around   you   as   you   are   a   living  witness  of  Jesus  in  this  world.  

As  we  are  celebrating  Ascension  and  also  Pentecost,  remember  why  Jesus  

ascended  into  heaven  and  what  He  is  doing   there  seated  at   the   right  hand  of   God   the   Father   Almighty.  Remember  also  that  the  Third  Article  of   the   Apostles’   Creed   speaks   about  the  work  the  Holy  Spirit   is  doing   just  now   with   the   blessing   of   the   One  who   is   seated   at   the   right   hand   of  God   the  Father  almighty:  He  gathers  the   Holy   Christian   Church   into   the  fellowship   of   the   believers,   and   in  this   church   He   forgives   our   sins  through   the   Word   and   the  Sacraments,   sharing   the   benefits  Jesus   conquered   by   His   death   and  resurrection   with   all.   This   is   present  tense!   He   is   among   us   and   gives  Himself  to  us.  

Jesus  is  still  at  mission,  seated  at  the  right   hand   of   God   the   Father  almighty.   Believe   it   and   live   in   this  assurances.    

Pastor  Carlos  Walter  Winterle  

 

         

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Congregational  News  _________________________________________________________  

New  Members:  

Ronell  Koch  and  her   children  Mikayla  and  Vaugh  Koch,  and  Axel  Pape,  were  officially  received  as  St.  Thomas  members  on  10th  April.  We  welcome  them  in  our   fellowship   and  wish   them  God’s   blessings   as   they   are  worshipping   God  and  have  been  nourished  by  the  Word  and  Sacraments  among  us.    

 New   Elder:    David   Cairncross,   elected   at   the   last   AGM,  was   inducted   as   St.  Thomas’  Elder  on  10th  April.  We  are  sure  that  God  will  bless  his  work  and  tasks  as  Elder,  being  part  of  our  team.  

Pastor  Chris  Johannes:  We  thank  Pastor  Chris  and  his  wife  Edeltraud  for  the  good  work   done  during   Pastor  Walter   absence   in  March.   Thank   you   for   the  support  many  gave  to  Pastor  Chris.    

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 Pastor  Walter’s   trip   to   Germany:  Pastor  Walter  had  a  blessed  trip  to  Germany.   He   had   opportunity   to  do   seven   (7)   presentations   on  Mozambique   in   several   churches,  and   also   a   presentation   to   the  “MissionsKollegium”   in   Bleckmar,  where   representatives   from   the  SELK  (Synod)  were  present:  Bishop  Voigt   and   the   Synodical   Church  Councilors;   and   all   the   Mission  Board.  After  this  he  and  Lídia  took  two  weeks  annual  leave  with  their  children  during  Easter  week.  Their  6th  grandson  was  baptized  on  19th  March.    

 

 

Pastor   Walter’s   family:   Our   oldest  son,   Léo   and   his   wife   Carol   plus  children  Lea  and  Luis,   from  Germany;  and   our   youngest   son   Paul   and   his  wife   Flávia   plus   Lucas,   from   Brazil,  visited  us  in  April.  Léo  stayed  for  four  weeks   and   Paulo   for   two   weeks.   It  was  a  special  time  to  enjoy  our  family.  It   was   the   first   time   that   the   three  cousins   met   each   other.  

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Pastor   Inock   has   been   doing   a  Theological   Study   under   supervision  of   Pr.   Walter.   He   received   a  Certificate   at   the   Service   on   6th  March,   attesting   the   courses   he  already   completed.   As   he   is   planning  to  go  back  to  DRC,  this  will  help  him  in  his  ministry  there  as  well.    

 

Donations:  

-­‐ St.  Thomas  received  a  donation  from  our  brother  Graham  Lear,  living  in  the  UK,  to  buy  four  new  benches  for  St.  Thomas  courtyard  and  to  redo  the  Memorial  Wall.   This   donation   is   in   loving  memory   of   his   late  wife  Frankie,  whose  ashes  are  buried   in  St.  Thomas  Memorial  Wall.  He  read  about  our  projects   in   the  E-­‐Bulletin  and  decided  to  send  this  donation.  We  thank  our  brother  Graham  for  this  support.  

-­‐ Rolf  Hillermann  donated  soap  dispensers,  paper   towel  dispensers,  new  toilet   roll   dispensers,   rubbish   bins   for   the   bathrooms,   and   also   toilet  paper,   paper   towel,   hand   soap,   etc.   This   is   what   his   company   does.  Dennis   installed   the   dispensers.  We   thank   both   for   the   donations   and  the  work  done.  

-­‐ St.   Thomas   received   also   a   donation   of   R   20,000.00   to   assist   with   the  refurbishment  of  the  kitchen.  The  project  of  the  kitchen  is  ongoing  and  will  be  done  this  year,  God  willing.      

The  FELSISA  Pastor’s  Convention  2016  will  be  at  Sitilo  Game  Farm,  Pongola,  from  8th  to  12th  May.  More  news  after  the  Convention.    

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Wedding:    

Ingrid   Rewitzky   and   Axel   Pape  were   united   in   Holy  Matrimony  on  30th  April  2016  at  St.  Thomas  Lutheran   Church.   Pastor  Walter  performed   the   Religious  Ceremony,   and   Pastor   Arthur  Becker   the  Civil  Ceremony.    We  wish   Ingrid   and   Axel   God’s  blessings  for  their  life  together.    

 

   

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The  Most  Neglected  Part  of  the  Small  Catechism  July  2nd,  2014  Post  by  Pastor  Jordan  McKinley  

 As   is   my   custom,   I   was   wasting   time   on  Facebook  one  day,  and  I  came  across  a  post  from   a   friend   that   posed   this   question:  “What   is   the   most   neglected   part   of   the  Small   Catechism?”   I   thought   about   it   for   a  moment,   and   a   few   answers   came   to   my  mind   very   quickly:   the   table   of   duties   and  confession  and  absolution  (even  though  it  is  right   there   in   the   5th   chief   part!).   After  letting  my  mind   think   on   these   texts   for   a  moment   or   two   and   my   own   experience  growing  up   in   the  LCMS,   I   read   the  answer  the  original  post   gave:   “As   the  head  of   the  

family  should  teach  it.”  Boom.  That  hit  me  like  a  ton  of  bricks.    If   you   thumb   through   your   1986   Small  Catechism   (the   actual   catechism:  Commandments,   Creed,   Our   Father,  Baptism,   Confession/Keys,   Lord’s   Supper,  Daily  Prayers,  Table  of  Duties,  and  Christian  Questions  with   Their   Answers),   this   phrase  (or  a  form  of  it)  appears  seven  times  by  my  quick  count.    “As  the  head  of  the  family  should  teach  it…”  

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It  appears  at  the  beginning  of  five  of  the  six  Chief  Parts  and  in  two  other  places.  If  a  man  considers   himself   to   be   a   confessional  Lutheran,   this  phrase   really  ought   to   shape  the   way   he   practices   his   Christian   faith.   In  the   words   of   the   Small   Catechism,   what  does  this  mean?    First   and   foremost,   this   means   that   the  Small   Catechism   is   a   book   for   the  home.   If  the   first   time   a   young  man   sees   the   Small  Catechism   is   at   his   congregation’s  confirmation  class  informational  meeting  or  at  the  first  session  of  said  class,  this  part  of  the   Small   Catechism   has   already   been  neglected.   In   this  example,   the  head  of   the  household   has   abdicated   his   God-­‐given  vocation   of   the   bishop   of   the   home   and  abdicated   it   to   the   bishop   of   his   parish.  Now,  we  certainly  pray  that  all  our  Lutheran  pastors  are  capable  teachers  of  the  faith  as  contained  in  the  Small  Catechism,  especially  since   bishops   are   supposed   to   be   “apt   to  teach  (II  Tim.  2:24).”  But  if  the  first  time  this  young  man  see   the  catechism,  he’s  already  behind.   Our   young   children   need   these  texts,   just   as  much   as   12,   13,   and   14   year  olds   need   them   (just   as  much   as   heads   of  households  need  these  texts).    Now,   you   might   think,   “Here’s   a   pastor  looking   to   make   his   job   easier   when   it  comes   to   confirmation.”   Admittedly,   you’d  be   right   to   think   so.   It   would   be   easier   to  approach  the  task  of  teaching  a  class  on  the  catechism   if   the   texts   were   familiar   to   the  student   (in   a   perfect  world,   they’d   already  be   memorized,   so   more   and   in-­‐depth  instruction  can  replace  the  threatening  and  cajoling   pastors   often   have   to   do   to   get  students   to   do   their   memory   work).   Yes.   I  will   admit   to   this.   However,   it’s   also   a  

Scriptural  idea,  too.    In   Deuteronomy   6,   God   commands   the  people,   “Hear,   O   Israel,   The   Lord   our   God,  the  Lord  is  one.  You  shall  love  the  Lord  your  God   with   all   your   heart   and   with   all   your  soul   and   with   all   your   might.   And   these  words   that   I   command   you   today   shall   be  on   your   heart.   You   shall   teach   them  diligently   to  your  children,  and  shall   talk  of  them  when  you  sit  in  your  house,  and  when  you   walk   by   the   way,   and   when   you   lie  down,   and   when   you   rise.   You   shall   bind  them  as  a  sign  on  your  hand,  and  they  shall  be  as  frontlets  between  your  eyes.  You  shall  write  them  on  the  doorposts  of  your  house  and  on  your  gates.”    As  if  that’s  not  enough,  a  few  chapters  later,  God  says  again,   “You  shall   therefore   lay  up  these   words   of   mine   in   your   heart   and   in  your  soul,  and  you  shall  bind  them  as  a  sign  on  your  hand,  and  they  shall  be  as  frontlets  between  your  eyes.  You  shall  teach  them  to  your  children,  talking  of  them  when  you  are  sitting   in   your   house,   and   when   you   are  walking  by  the  way,  and  when  you  lie  down,  and   when   you   rise.”   Now,   when   God   says  something,   it’s   important.   But   when   God  says  the  same  thing  twice—truly,  truly—we  should  be  listening.    All   of   this   has   made   me   feel   incredibly  guilty.   In   fact,   since   I’ve  been  a  pastor,   I’ve  been   to   two   conferences   that   have   had  some  focus  on  at  home  catechesis  that  have  induced  this  feeling.  My  children  are  young  (4,   2,   and   8   months),   and   it’s   hard   to   do  what   God   commands   me   to   do—not   as   a  pastor,   but   as   a   husband   to   my   wife   and  father   to   my   children.   It’s   hard,   and   I   fail  miserably.  I  am  certain  I’m  not  alone  in  this.  

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How   easy   is   it   to   forgo   family   devotions  because   of   a   busy   day   or  week?   Vacations  are  especially  tough,  because  it’s  hard  for  us  to   justify   bringing   a   stack   of   books  with   us  on  the  road.  If  you  have  small  children,  you  know   how   much   “stuff”   they   need.   How  easy  is   it  for  a  week  of  not  doing  devotions  turn   into   a   month?   Oh,   wretched   father  that   I   am!   Who   will   deliver   me   from   this  body  of  death?  We  (including  me!)  need  to  repent  and  believe  the  Gospel.    Now,   what   I’m   going   to   advocate   isn’t   a  magic   bullet.   I   don’t   claim   to   think   by   my  doing   (or  your  doing)   that  we  can  save   the  Missouri   Synod   or   the   Church   catholic—that’s  Christ’s  job.  I  can’t  even  promise  that  it   will   keep   your   children   in   the   one   true  faith—that’s   the   Holy   Spirit’s   job.   I’m   also  certainly   not   unique   in   my  recommendations—I   don’t   like   innovation;  it’s   too  much  work!  But   I  will   promise   that  by   doing   these   things   I’m   going   to  recommend,   the  Holy  Spirit  will  be  at  work  in   the   midst   of   your   family,   because   the  Spirit  works   through   the  Word   (Romans  10  and  AC  V).  

• Do devotions with your family—your whole family—every day. Set a time to do it. Stick with it.

• Shut off the TV. Don’t do anything else while you’re doing your devotions.

• Use a set form with your devotions—a liturgy, if you will. Lutheran Service Book has some good options on pp. 295-298. Routine with kids is important. Heck, routine with adults is a good thing. When you can’t lug all your devotional books with you, if you have the liturgy with you in your mind, you don’t necessarily need a

book. This is a good thing for parents on Sunday mornings, too, who can’t hold a hymnal while wrangling their children in the pews.

• Sing a hymn. Don’t just skip it because you don’t have a pipe organ in your home. There are some options for music in CPH’s catalogue, but this isn’t necessary, either. My family sings a capella (without music), and it usually works pretty well. Nothing leads a human voice better than a human voice. I’d also suggest that you try to memorize hymns. Again, if you know hymns by heart, you don’t have to bring your hymnal with you when you travel!

• Read the Scriptures and talk about them. Right now, we use CPH’s Story Bible, which comes furnished with questions. This even helps kids with reading comprehension! Most importantly, though, faith comes by hearing (Romans 10).

• Pray the catechism. President Harrison recently translated Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray” and put it in a booklet, and this is a good place to go. With children as young as mine, praying the catechism right now means that we simply say the 10 Commandments, Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. At the end, we also say Luther’s evening prayer. We do this every night, and the repetition has paid off. My kids know these primary texts.

• Teach your kids to make the sign of the cross and fold their hands. Little hands are busy. If they learn to do these things, there will be less fidgeting and poking and hitting of siblings (well, that’s my hope).

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This  may   seem   intimidating   at   first.   It  may  seem   disorganized.   For   us,   we’re   trying   to  figure   out   what   works   best   for   our   kids.   I  have   plans   to   work   up   to   perhaps   praying  Vespers   at   home,   but  we   aren’t   there   yet.  Devotions   with   your   family   will   change  shape  as  your  family  grows  and  ages.  Like  I  said,   though,   these   are   suggestions.   But  teaching   your   kids   the   faith   isn’t   a  suggestion.  It’s  necessary.  Not  because  you,  by   your   doing,   are   able   to   work   up   your  faith  into  perfection,  but  because  it’s  God’s  

Word.   He’s   the   One   at   work.   As   St.   Paul  reminds   young   pastor   Timothy,   “Keep   a  close   watch   on   yourself   and   on   the  teaching.  Persist  in  this,  for  by  so  doing  you  will   save   both   yourself   and   your   hearers   (I  Tim.   4:16).”   And   what   a   joy   it   is   to   sing,  pray,   and   confess   together   as   a   family.   I  rejoice   that   God   has   given  me   this   task   of  teaching  the  faith  to  my  children!    

(Sent  by  Shane  Swiegers)  

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BIRTHDAYS    MAY  02  –  Ingrid  Rewitzky    03  –  Stephan  Böhmer    07  –  Flávia  Roveda  Winterle  11  –  Keegan  Karshagen    15  –  Keith  Luenow    19  –  Karl  Crouch    20  –  Mona  Hillermann,                      Martina  Reinstorf  21  –  Johanna  Horstmann  24  –  Vaugn  Everdt  Burger  25  –  Inock  Kagarabi  Byamungu  26  –  Willem  Avenant  27  –  Tilana  Ndebele    29  –  Gunther  Meier    30  –  Lydia  Meier  31  –  Erika  Marriott-­‐Watson                      Dieter  Reinstorf    JUNE  01  –  Dumisani  Ndebele    11  –  Roberta  Eggers,  Fábio  Nunes  16  –  Brigitte  Boehmer,  Amina  Kagarabi                    18  –  Mikayla  Marie  Burger  19  –  Ian  Crouch,  Tatiana  Winterle                  24  –  Lauren  Swiegers    

26  –  Leanne  Swiegers,  Cindy  Burns    27  –  Mari  Johnston,    Aimee  Johnston  29  –  Tiago Miguel 30  –  Shelagh Blackmore

BAPTISM  ANNIVERSARIES        MAY  

01  –  Conrad  Clifton                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13  –  Martin  Skibbe    &  Juergen  Hohls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              25  –  Erica  du  Toit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          27  –  Jason  Dini                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        28  –  Stephan  Boehmer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          30  –  Carl  James  Crouch    

   JUNE  03  –  Anton  Potgieter                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        09  –  Keegan  Karshagen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14  –  Leo  Josef  Dini                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18  –  Caleb  Potgieter                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              21  –  Guenther  Meier                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  28  –  Brian  Ravenscroft                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        30  –  Dieu  Mercy  Kabiraba  Kagarabi                      Amina  Kagabari    

WEDDING  ANNIVERSARY          16.06.2007  –  Jason  and  Faith  Dini

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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 12255 N1-City 7463 Divine Service Every Sunday at 9.30am Sunday School Holy Communion Pastor Ps. Carlos Walter Winterle

☎ 021-9303734 081 482 1018 E-Mail: cwwinterle@yahoo.com.br

Church Councillors David Cairncross 083 3337630 Shawn Johnston 021 5591069 083 3259965 Heindry Peyper 081 0394013 021 4243949 Ingrid Pape (Rewitzky) 082 5809577 Women’s Guild Chairlady Margrit Deetlefs 081 2824777 021 9133529 Sunday School Brigitte Böhmer 082 3222356 Banking Details ABSA (Parow 502 110) Account Name: St Thomas Account Number: 404 1515 600  

 

www.st-­‐thomas.org.za  

 PURPOSE  STATEMENT  

To  promote  felloship  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.