Newsletter to Members and Friends

Home , Bad Essen, Bad Laer, Bohmte, Hilter

No 12 Christmas 2014

Newsletter to members and friends

Anibonani abangame, dear Friends of Partnership, NEWS from liebe Mitglieder und Freunde sowie Freundinnen von The Friends of The Skill Training centre Partnership Committee in Bishopstowe During the last months the com- 8th Oct, 2014, Mr Pius Mbuyisa This is our Newsletter No. 12, mittee focussed on adjusting the sent this message: Christmas 2014 charter of Friends of partnership "The good news is that the project to the challenges by the changes at Bishopstowe is moving fast now in its structure and by revenue re- since KZNCC took the initiative to greet you all in gulations. We will hopefully finalize help some funding with chicken, this Advent season in the name the new charter on occasion of the piggeries and ducks farming. The of our Lord Jesus Christ. general meeting on 19, May 2015. Deanery is waiting for the dig- We are all preparing for Christ- ging of the ground to be comple- mas. Maybe the following words Chairperon’s Visit ted. Pass all the best wishes to all will only match older people, for to South Africa friends there and hoping to meet sure they originate in the head Rev. Heribert Duscha has the one day. Yours in Christ. of a man who becomes aware idea to see the South Africa part- Pius Mbuyisa" of his own age: Despite all the ners and friends maybe in Janua- commercial and different other ry 2015. He is looking for a fitting distractions which are not only date and flight for South Africa. in Germany connected with the- The main purpose of his visit will se weeks before Christmas we be to bring forward the publica- prepare thoroughly for the days tion of the partnership book on the of Christmas. In these days we South African side. remind and celebrate this unique present which God gave to all humankind when sending Jesus gives thanks to partners and friends for all Christ into this world. Let us just companionship, hospitality and love in 2014 and invites to enjoy this present! share 2015 under the motto of our church: Ngalokho yamukelanani, njengalokho noKristu wasamukela, ukuze kudunyiswe uNkulunkulu. Annual Meeting AmaRoma 15:7 Members of Friends of Nehmt einander an wie Christus euch angenommen Partnership will meet hat zum Lobe Gottes. (Röm 15, 7) for the annual assembly Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, on May, 19th, 2015. in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7 Delegations and other visits

Common cooking and public viewing the question, how church can be at- Youth meeting in Melle-Georgsmarienhütte circuit tractive for young people. A workshop on HIV/AIDS at the Has- te Vocational School gave important impulses for all who were involved. And, of course, the encounters and joint enterprises were important: common cooking, public viewing of the World Championship or the common rehearsal of gospel choirs. In addition to these centrally orga- nized events, there was left space in the guest family and in partner congregations. Here too there were many intense encounters. In line of the youth encounter, con- nections have been created in many ways: in South Africa, three circuits

Henning Enge, Circuit Youth cluding youth ministry. A broad pro- worker of Melle-Georgsmarien- gram was designed to meet diverse huette Circuit, reports: opportunities. Young people should “From 2014, Jun, 28 to July, 19 nine have space to get to know one ano- young adults with their leader Dali- ther and to share. su Sithole from the South African Particularly, intense talks with refu- partner circuits Durban, Umngeni gees took place, e.g. with a young and Umvoti were guests in the cir- Iranian woman which escaped due cuit of Melle-Georgsmarienhütte. to being a Christian and currently This youth encounter was one of the lives in Melle. We also met a group first circuit wide delegations and en- of refugees in Hamburg that arrived counters in our new circuit. via the Italian island of Lampedusa in Stay time roughly divided into two Germany and had found asylum in sections. In the first week, the de- the Church of St Pauli in Hamburg. legates were mainly guests of Haste In the workshop on "Youth and Vocational School in Osnabrueck. Church" and by participating in the The following fortnight the young Church wide youth camp of the people were hosted in our circuit in- Church of Hanover we followed up

(which since 2013 are partner circuits to Melle-Georgsmarienhütte) had to work together in the planning and selection of delegates. And also for the new circuit of Melle-Georgs- marienhütte, this encounter was the first large joint action in the field of partnership work. To experience both, school and church youth work has proven suc- cessfully. A new evidence was on hand that creating meeting places and enabling mutual getting to know was well accepted. Delegations and other visits

17, November, 2014 Anke Meckfessel gave hints to the two News from Mpumalanga follwings reports in local newspaper: and Oldendorf parishes German retired Vocational School Principal Renovation of the crèche shares knowledge with South Africans In addition to the news in our pre- ceding newsletter we can report that the créche was opened in May 2014.

Jürgen Kipsieker, member of the the first two weeks they have been Partnership Committee in Melle- working in the guest house repai- Georgsmarienhuette, was (in Octo- ring doors, cabinets, beds, sani- ber / November) in Umvoti Circuit tary equipment. Thereafter a new for six weeks to redirect to (young) kitchen was provided with new people, to learn and perform inde- electrical appliances. The work- pendently minor renovation work. shop participants should later in- A "training ground" has been the sert their knowledge in their own circuit center in Hermansburg. In congregations. 10 October, 2014: Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung: Visit begins in Hilter Melle-GMHütte Circuit strengthens friendship with South Africa Oldendorf parish is still raising funds, particularly when the parish bids farewell to Pastor Keding (see photo) who will retire on January 31, 2015.

b.r. Hilter/ Georgsmarienhütte. from these purposes, the South Four South African parishioners Africans visit a farm, the “Osna- are guests in their partner con- brück Workshop” in Schledehau- gregations in the former circuit of sen and the Vocational Schools Georgsmarienhütte. The first get- in Melle. On the program, there is ting to know or the reunion was also a two-day stay in the German celebrated in Hilter. Two weeks Si- Hermannsburg. nenhlanhla Musuku, Lucia Nguba- Sinenhlanhla Musuku is at home ne, Thokozani Nlhlongo Jabulani in the South African Hermanns- Ngubane want to visit their partner burg in the Province of Kwa-Zulu parishes of Hilter, Vehrte and Bad Natal. Her partner congregation is Rothenfelde, Bad Laer and revi- Hilter. The South African thanked ve the contacts. New educatio- for the support of the John the nal opportunities for young South Baptist congregation of Hilter by Africans are another focus of the which was the congregational visit. By these visits the Education house was renovated and is now Fund should be promoted. Apart a busy center. Delegations and other visits

News from Chatsworth and Barkhausen-Rabber parishes 9 November 2014, Ernst-August Gausmann from Barkhausen-Rabber parish reports: "From the Indian Ocean to the River Hunte" "From the Indian Ocean to River Hunte" the Wittlage newspaper ran the headline of an article by Eck- hard Eilers on the occasion of the visit of a delegation from our partner parish Chatsworth. Yes, really, from the other end of the world in our world. The contrast can hardly be greater. About 12,000 km from home, in a different climate, in different conditions, other life realities lists performed to the glory of God, burg Castle and to the Luther Hall and yet – as it turned out, we had and - of course, to the honour of in Wittenberg were the top high- also much in common. Our three our guests from South Africa.The- lights of these days. friends from the rainbow nation re was also strawberry and cream Back to Barkhausen-Rabber, get- visited us during the period from – fed up - but unfortunately there ting to know our community and its June, 14th to 25th, 2014 and lived was not enough for all, so on the structure was on the agenda. The in private accommodation in Bark- way home we had to look for more delegation visited the Marienkirche hausen. to enjoy at home. in Rabber and the St. Catherine's The visit was under the theme: On Monday and Tuesday, we were Church in Barkhausen. A visit to congregational life – partner- on the road tracing steps. In Thu- the Independent Lutheran Con- ship in a changing world and in ringia and Saxony, Mr Sanders gregation Rabber as well as to changing structures. This theme and I accompanied Olive, Collin, the Baptist Chapel in Lintorf gave was supported by an ambitious and Robin to the most important a good insight into religious life of and varied program. places of the Reformation and our region. The Visit to the mosque At Hamburg Airport we welcomed Martin Luther’s life. We visited the in Linne was a very special and our friends from Chatsworth and Wartburg, Eisenach, Erfurt and good experience. In a friendly di- travelled by train to Bohmte. On Wittenberg. It was a pity that the alogue the Imam and our guest, Sunday, we visited with our guests Castle and the town church due to Pastor Collin Chellan, agreed that and members of the congregation restoration works were not to be God's love is above all. the Circuit Brass Festival at the visited. Yet we succeed to bring In the following days, several visits strawberry farm Boeckmann in Os- close the historical events and to followed. Among others we visited tercappeln. In an open air service fill them with life. The visit to the the Clothiers Museum in Bram- about 300 hundred instrumenta- Bach House in Eisenach, the Wart- sche. People from this area emig- Delegations and other visits rated to South Africa. Even today their traces can be found in your country. We visited the exhibition of the “Battle of Teutoburg Forest”, and historic Osnabrück, city of the Westphalian Peace. A visit to the Dean of Bramsche Circuit, Hans Hentschel and to different diaconic institutions completed the insights to our church life. The whole visit was repeatedly in- terrupted by numerous encounters and talks, meetings and discus- sions with our parish council, congregational groups, and especially farewell party. A small hosting team loved ones, respectfully as well on private level. A special surpri- brought our guests to Bohmte Rail- with acceptance and tolerance. se for our friends happened at way Station. From there, two of our The meeting has brought us closer the end of the visit program. They team accompanied Olive, Collin, together by communion, exchange were highly delighted by a flight trip and Robin on their way to Ham- of experience, friendship and love, through Wittlage area and Bram- burg. A great meeting thus came to and the desire that our faith may sche circuit. an end. grow. And all this was combined The partnership visit from Chats- What remains? With great pleasure with the desire for expanding, dee- worth ended with a festive service we look back on open talks, shared pening and strengthening our part- with our gospel choir, as well with a laughter, on warm encounters with nership. God bless them!

News from Pirna circuit and Pietermaritzburg North and Mtulwa parishes. 22 November, 2014, Ina-Maria Vetter reports: Service on Partnership Reformation Decade: with South Africans "Reformation and One World" The congregations of Pirna Circuit The Lutheran Church of Saxony plan to worship for partnership - invites all Saxon partnerships for hopefully at the same time with the a meeting in 2016 following the partners in Emtulwa and Pieter- theme of the year "Reformation maritzburg on 22 March 2015. The and One World". It is intended that committee of our District Synod two partners and a representative will develop some moduls which from Saxony attend the meeting. are made available to the congre- A great festival of partnerships is gations. scheduled on 12 6th, 2016 in Mei- ßen (Photo), which is the "cradle" Cooperation with Melle- of Saxony. The partners in South Georgsmarienhütte Africa are informed and ready to On a first encounter of the two come to take part in this special chairladies Anke Meckfessel and event. We will not invite them as Ina-Maria Vetter it was agreed to planned before in 2015 but only inl continue the partnership between 2016. East and West. Details will be checked in a further meeting with the Committee in Pirna, scheduled to take place in connection with the Service on Partnership in Pirna Circuit. Delegations and other visits

Vistors from Pietermaritzburg South to Melle St Petri: 29, October 2014, Mrs Monika Schlonski reports: News tiles in Mooi River church Sunshine in their hearts 30 October, 2014, Mr Noh Khumalo sent this picture:

From July 16th until August 6th Mel- - at Papenburg where the cruiser le-St Petri was pleased to welcome dockyard is located and Mrs Mfeka, Mrs and Mr Mthethwa - at Bremerhaven’s immigration from Pietermaritzburg South. They museum. did not come as a delegation, but - One day they spent in the Nether- on private initiative. lands in the city of Deventer to The welcome party at the parish get an impression of another Eu- hall in St. Petri was also the fa- ropean country. rewell party for the youth group, But they surely enjoyed mostly the which was going to leave Melle af- contact to almost all people who ter three weeks staying in Germa- have been or who are still involved ny. As private visitors, our guests in partnership with Pietermaritz- had got a lot of invitations to see burg. their friends in Melle, Bad Essen, They as our guests and we as and Bad Eilsen. their hosts harvested the fruits of They also enjoyed the arranged long lasting partnership due to the program and had the chance of roots, which had been planted 30 sightseeing years ago. - in the city of Wolfsburg where When they returned to South Afri- the company of VW is producing can winter, they had lots of sunshi- cars, ne in their hearts.

Mooi River congregation, Pieter- maritzburg South parish, succed ed in tiling the church about nine years after the dedication. Some Melle Petri congregants are already preparing to be present in Oc- tober 2015 at the 10. anniversary of the dedication, and the Mooi River congregation started to prepare this visit by installing a special committee. Delegations and other visits

Lintorf Trombone Choir in Pinetown 17 November, 2014 Hinrich Güntge © higu11/14 reports Wish for further contacts, especially between the Youth Leagues In October, members of Lintorf parish visited in common with members of the Partnership Commit- tee of the Lintorf John the Baptist Parish, their partners of Pinetown parish. We guests from Lintorf got to know and appreciate Timely, Si- busisu Sipho, Ephraim, BB, Rev. Duma, Rev. Nzele and many dear people in Pinetown. Performances of us trombonists in two church services and at the Old Aged Home could meet musical traditions. Du- ring the first church service the po- werful voice of the congregation red stoles enjoyed the eye and also the word is often taken over by lay with the many rhythmic elements the sense of smell was spoiled by people. was even along with the soft and the generous gift of incense. Three Pinetown congregants ac- almost silent, however, sounds of The five congregations of Pine- companied the 11 member group the chorales, the trombone choir town Parish presented themselves of Lintorf when visiting the Hluhlu- intoned. On the second Sunday, by drama or singing to the Lintorf we National Park. Moreover we vi- the blowers succeeded to com- group during a tour. Their leaders sited Evangelical mission commu- bine the well-known melodies with told about their trials and tribulati- nity Kwasizabantu (Erlo Stegen) in the singing of the congregation. ons, but also about joys and pro- Kranskop, the German school and The Lintorf vistors met a different gress. We always prayed together. the Mission Museum in Hermans- Lutheran expression of liturgical In Kwandengezi they collect for a burg, and South-Eastern Diocesan attitude, by which vibrant colour church building, the plot is already office of in Umpumulo. and acoustic elements could be purchased; so far they use a class- With a braaie in the Japanese gar- experienced: "Acolytes" accom- room. St. Paul is guest in the An- den in Durban and an emotional panied the worship, bells and other glican Church. Churches are esta- farewell the Lintorf group was said rhythm instruments from the con- blished in Klaarwater, Dassenhoek “Good Buye” by their partners. gregation joined the hymns, colo- and Salem. The proclamation of Lintorf people afterwards experienced a short stay in Cape Town What remains? Contacts remain thanks to E-Mail and what’s app. Impressions remain of worship and life in South Africa, the desire for prayer and as well for financial, and of course the wish for further contacts, especially between the Youth League there and our youth groups here; ...and the certainty that - God willing and we live - we will meet again in a few years.

More photos on: https://www.dropbox.com/ l/88GhjQoXa7YbyiLltqqNro Delegations and other visits

Bad Essen and Christianenburg parishes: Trombone choir of Bad Essen visited partner parish Christia- nenburg, Report by Anke Hamker (member of Bad Essen parish, published in CUMULUS, parish newsletter, December-January-February edition) No matter if white or black With the blessings and good wishes of the congregation the mot- ley group took their way to South Africa. We (4 young people, 14 adults) were warmly welcomed at the Durban airport. On 26 October 2014, we were part of five services or meetings in five different congregations and have been warmly received by all partakers of the service. The music of our band wo- wed the worshippers, even though history and the Zulu culture. Dag different groups of the congrega- the music of the brass was almost tober and Hans-Georg Kok had tion and individual gifts. On No- drowned out the big songs of the perfectly prepared excursions to vember 8 we arrived back at 16:00 people. the Drakenberg and another one to in Bad Essen – tired from the long We saw great differences in the the St. Lucia National Park on the journey, impressed by the con- congregations in buildings and Indian Ocean. trasts between rich and poor, the equipment. (Due to lack of a chur- On 6 November, we were sincerely musicality of the people and their ch building in Umgababa they wor- adopted in the center of Christia- hospitality – no matter if white or ship in a classroom.) In "Posselt nenburg Parish, St. Boniface, by black. Memorial", there were no window panes and the corrugated iron roof was leaking. But the enthusiasm of all worshippers was fascinating. Over all the services appeared to us somewhat "Catholic. The Re- formation day was celebrated with fervour, we sang "A mighty fortress is our God” following the tune of "Daughter of Zion" or "Great God we praise you". In addition to the contacts in our partner congregation a city tour in Durban with pressed South African Rhosta Gcaba wrote on 5, November, 2014: The hymn of which I had asked the melody was sung beautifully by all of us. I remembered that in Germany it is a Chrismas Carol melody. All the hymns you shared with me were played. Tomorrow is farewell and I will ask if they could sing another well-known hymn in Germany which we know just a bit here. Co-operate!

Don’t hesitate to pass over a comment about this newsletter, news to be published or e-mail addresses of other interested persons to [email protected]

Association „Friends of Partnership“ e.V. Membership application Hereby I apply for a membership in „Friends of Partnership“ beginning with ______. I agree with the aims of the association as mentioned. Maybe... Annual subscription (1,00 Euro/month = 12 Euro/year) ...someMaybe... body wants to join our association “Friends of partner- (10,00 Rand/month = 120 Rand/year) ...some body wants to join our ship”. These are our objectives: association “Friends of partner- other subscription amount The development association “Friendsship” These of partnership“ are our objectives: works an _____ Euro/month = ______Euro/year theThe developmentconviction that association partnership between“Friends ofpeople partnership“ of different works name. family name ______culturean the convictionshould be that encouraged partner- inship order between to achieve people justiceof diffe- and ______peacerent culture in this should world. be So encoura- our as- sociationged in order supports to achieve partnership justice pysical address ______onand circuit peace level in this as world.well as Soon ourcon- gregationalassociation supportslevel in the partnership circuits of ______Melle-Georgsmarienhütte,on circuit level as well as on Bram- sche,congregational Durban, levelPirna, in theUmnge circu-- postal address ______niits andof Melle, Umvoti. Durban, Our Pirnaassociation und backsUmngeni. and Our develops association constituent backs ______projects,and develops does constituent promotion pro-of pu- blicity, fund raising, and other jects, does promotion of publici- email ______measuresty, fund raising, on this and concern. other mea- To apply for membership please sures on this concern. for German only: print and fill in the application To apply for membership please Account Nr.: ______form,print andand fillsend in the it to application our treasu- rer, Mrs Franziska Hesse, c/o form, and send it to our treasu- Diakonia, Riemsloher Straße 5, Bank and Bank Code: ______rer, Mrs Elke Eilers, Sonnenweg D-49324 Melle, Germany. 3, D-49152 Bad Essen, Germany. You may as well simply send a ______You may as well simply send a mail encluding your details to I will set up a standing order to the account of "Friends of [email protected] encluding your details to Partnership” [email protected]. Annual subscription in Germany place, date ______isAnnual at least subscription Euro 12.00. in ForGermany rates is at least Euro 12.00. For rates in South Africa, please, ask Fran- signature ______ziska.in South Africa, please, ask Elke.

Eingetragener Verein zur Förderung der Partnerschaft der Ev.-luth. Kirchenkreise FRIENDS Durban, Melle, Pirna und Umngeni / Registered Association for the Promotion of Partnership by the Evangelical Lutheran Circuits Durban, Melle, Pirna and Umngeni Vorsitzender/ Chairman: Heribert Duscha, Parkstr. 5 31707 Bad Eilsen, Tel.:(0949/ 0) 5722/892469, E-Mail: [email protected] Bankverbindung: Konto-Nr. 101 493 Kreissparkasse Melle (BLZ 265 522 86)