When we arrived in December 2020 in East London, we as a family were excited to discover a new part of South Africa and were looking forward to meet the people of the friendly city. However, our beginning wasn’t as expected.

On its way to East London our removal truck was looted and on top of that a nationwide lockdown was once again enforced due to COVID. This obviously put a bit of a damper on the beginning of our new adventure. Much to our disappointment the beautiful beaches that we were so looking forward to explore were closed and when our truck finally arrived, we had to deal with the loss that we had incurred. And yet in a strange way (God obviously often works in change ways…), all this made us once again realize just how fortunate we are that we belong to a wider Christian community, a community that cares about one another. For that is exactly what we experienced when we arrived under those difficult circumstances. Every so often there would suddenly be someone at our gate with a bag full of gifts for our children, or a prepared meal, or a card filled with kind and welcoming words. We didn’t know each other and yet the members of St. Crucis made us feel welcome and at home.

This is what Christian FELLOWSHIP is all about; being there for one another, when times are tough, caring for one another and accepting others, even strangers, into the fold. A kind of fellowship that is one of the pillars of the Church of Christ, something that carries us and keeps us united and strong especially in times of doubt, or when the challenges of the day seek to consume us like a raging fire. Yes, FIRE that was the next thing we as a congregation had to face, just months after our arrival.

During the night of the 17th of February, it was the night after we had our first Ash Wednesday service under strict COVID protocol, an electrical fault caused a fire in the church. Thank God, due to the swift action of the alarm company together with one of our church wardens and the fire fighters the blaze was stopped before it could cause total destruction.

However, the walls were blackened from the soot, the carpet was ruined and the church smelled like a campfire fuelled with plastic. But once again St. Crucis endured, stuck together and made the best of this unfortunate event.

And that is what I really appreciate about the St. Crucis family; in joy and in sadness we stick together.

Even though we might at times have felt overwhelmed by the challenges that we had to face and are still facing, together we remained and continue to remain hopeful. A wonderful trait I can only ascribe to our FAITH. Faith in the One, who carries us through thick and thin, who keeps us united in spite of our differences, and give us the courage and strength to continue to be Church here and now, come what may. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who says:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

That is what I will take with me as we as a family embark on yet another adventure with God, and for that I want to thank the St. Crucis family and also the Cape Lutheran Church as a whole. May you be blessed and continue to be a blessing!

Pastor Frank Schütte and Family Moving to Namibia

The congregation of St. Crucis Lutheran Church will bid farewell to Pastor Frank Schütte and his family. His final divine service at St Crucis will take place on 8 December at 10:30.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Frank, Nina, and their children for their dedicated service within the Cape Church and at St. Crucis.

Pastor Frank will take up office of Bishop of Namibia on 1 January 2025. His induction will be celebrated on 19 January in the “Christus Kirche” in Windhoek, Namibia.

May God sustain and blesstheir lives as they embark on this new chapter of ministry and service.