Dear Friends

Reading the watchword for this month left me with a frown: are these words from the prophet Jeremiah not contra to the name we came to know Jesus by from birth: Immanuel? God is with us. Here. Not far away.
Closer reading shows that Jeremiah warned the people against misguided faith (or “easy” faith). We think we can keep God “happy” with faithful rituals, yet God wants more than our barest minimum.

Sometimes we are very concerned about how we are seen by other people, though they only see scattered bits of our lives. We should rather be concerned about what God sees of us. And thus the question, “’Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the LORD, ‘and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the LORD” (Jer 23,23-24).
It is my deepest prayer that this month’s watchword will be a doorway to the abundance of grace in God’s presence.

IMPORTANT DATES
WORSHIP SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER:
▪ 1 Sep: English/Afrikaans Worship Service (@ 10:00) with Martin Detering
▪ 7 Sep: Church Committee (KV) meeting in George.
▪ 8 Sep: Worship Service @ Martin Luther Congregation in Pacaltsdorp
(09:30). Pastor Ronell Bezuidenhout will be preaching.
If possible, make this second Sunday of every month’s worship service also a high priority on your calendar. ELCSA Cape Church and ELCSA COD form part of one family of Ev.-Lutherans in the Southern Cape.

*10 Sep: Monthly Bible Study in George at Elsa Graser’s home: 4 Witpeer Street, Heatherlands. 09:30-11:00. (Please, feel free to bring a friend along!)

▪ 15 Sep: German/English Worship Service (@ 10.00) with Pastor Ronell. Holy Communion will be served at this service.
▪ The next quarterly meeting for Knysna/Plett/Sedgefield @ Rainer and Mariette Lieske’s house will be communicated to you in due time.
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Congratulations to all who celebrate their birthday in September.

2 Sep, Andrea Rothner
15 Sep, Yvonne Nuss
19 Sep, Traudel Henschel
22 Sep, Elke Meissner