Dean Mandla Thwala and his deputy Rev. Jabulani Nkosi (pastor at the Lutheran Church, Pella) arranged and led the diocesan synod of the LCSA diocese in KwaZulu/Natal on Saturday, the 9th June 2012.
Pastors and delegates from most of the 11 different congregations gathered in the Lutheran Church at Pella under God’s word and in his presence to listen to reports from the bishop on the work of the LCSA (Bishop Report 2012.6 Pella), the dean on the work in the diocese and also from the treasurer (Mr. Thomas Mabasa) and Rev. Peter C. Weber (Ohlangeni) on the status and work of ALPIK, which helps to grant sustainable incomes to the pastors of the diocese with the help of LCSA and FELSiSA congregations – but also from every pastor from the various parishes and congregations.
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- Finalizations before the synod between Dean Thwala and his deputy Rev. Nkosi – who both work as a good team with their pastors and lay delegates to run a very blessed synod
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- Even early in the morning, when the shadows are still long – there is a lovely blue sky over the Lutheran Church in Pella
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- Just look at that beautiful blue sky – and that’s in our deepest winter! What a wonderful place to live in the kingdom of our God. This is the Lutheran Church in Pella, KZN
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- Just look at that friendly smile – such gracious hosts!
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- Reporting on the work of “Alpik” – a work that strives to provide sustainable income for the local pastors in the KZN diocese with the help of congregations in both the LCSA and the FELSiSA
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- Reporting on the work in the Lutheran congregations in Chatsworth/Phoenix
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- He lives and you shall live too!
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- Farm School associated to the LC in Pella
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- This is where P. Themba Mkize grew up – and his brother is still and elder and the lay delegate of the LC in Pella
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- Warming up in the morning sun on this bright and chilly winter’s morning and in front of the stately parsonage of the Lutheran Church in Pella
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- Doing the washing on Saturday morning, while the vegetables grow even in the midst of winter
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- Don’t think that you will get to heaven ahead of those already passed away, because the living Lord Jesus Christ will raise them in the flesh so that they too will be with him in eternity +
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- Another series of sermon in isiZulu published by Rev. K.G. Tiedemann distributed at the synod
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- The diocesan leadership sitting at the table leading the synod
KwaZulu/Natal is the only diocese in the LCSA, which has Lutheran churches amongst Indian people. Their pastor Missionary Rainald Meyer reported on the work in both congregations in the Durban area: Chatsworth and Phoenix.
Besides the LCSA diocese in Botswana the diocese in KwaZulu/Natal has a significant contingent of missionaries from the Mission of Lutheran Churches (MLC), which is the official partner and mission agency of the LCSA. Yes, the LCSA is an official member of the MLC – together with the FELSiSA – and this is a very helpful, fruitful and blessed co-operation and partnership in full church fellowship for many years and even decades already. Yesterday Rev. Roger Zieger (Director of Missions from the “Lutherische Kirchenmission” Bleckmar – an official branch of the SELK) was an official guest at yesterday’s meeting too. He greeted the synod with words from 1.Cor.12,4-7 and is today preaching at the Mission festival at the Lutheran Church in Kirchdorf, which is a neighbouring congregation of that in Pella, where the synod gathered yesterday.
As rector of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria) I also gave an overview of the latest developments at our Seminary and especially about our plans to expand the facility with adjacent property to accommodate the growing numbers of students in both the theological and diaconic programs, but also to raise sustainable income by providing accommodation to volunteers, students and visitors on mission and educational trips to Southern Africa (Rector’s Report 2012 KZN Pella).
Wilhelm's space 