St Peter's Lutheran Congregation, Pretoria

08/08/2026

Good day!
With my retirement from St Peter's Lutheran, I will now cease posting on this site. It will soon be deleted.
Thank you for your support, your follows and likes and responses over the years.
I hope you received some blessing from God through the posts on this site - and pray that God may continue to bless you!
Detlev Tönsing

Send a message to learn more

01/08/2026

Saturday, 01-08-2026
Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you (2 Thessalonians 3: 1-3).
God willing, the Word of God may continue to spread and transform people - even if the world seems to be in disarray! Lord, continue to liberate, transform, and empower people with your love!

31/07/2026

Friday, 31-07-2026
Paul writes: We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself ... This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again (2 Corinthians 1: 8-10).
Suffering is never pleasant! But Christians do not easily be disheartened because they serve a Lord who has gone through intense suffering and expects his followers to follow him. Lord, if possible, spare us suffering that goes beyond our capacity to endure. Make us strong and resilient when it strikes!

30/07/2026

Thursday, 30-07-2026
But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does it destroys himself. He will get hurt and dishonor, and his shame will never be wiped away (Proverbs 6: 32-33).
For good reasons, sexual discipline was enforced in African and European traditions. The modern idea of sexual freedom has caused immense harm: broken hearts and bitterness, jealousy and hatred, broken families and fatherless kids, venereal diseases and AIDS. Lord, help our population regain a sense of sexual responsibility! Let our conduct show others how blessed a healthy relationship can be!

29/07/2026

Wednesday, 29-07-2026
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was short ... So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way (Luke 19: 1-3).
Yes – there was also corruption among high officials in biblical times! This man was wealthy, but guilty before God and rejected by the community. How poor the wealthy can become! How fortunate this man was that Jesus came his way, visited him, and changed his life! Lord, let us not miss our true wealth!

28/07/2026

Tuesday 28-07-2026
Go to the ant, you who are idle; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, doing nothing? When will you get up from your sleep? (Proverbs 6: 6-9).
These are harsh words at a time when so many people have lost their jobs, or never had one. However, it is important not to accept the situation, but to begin something productive: a small workshop or business, a vegetable garden, repairing shoes and clothes, or a creche. Lord, give us the courage and the imagination to become inventive and humble enough to begin something, even if it is very small.

27/07/2026

Monday, 27-07-2026
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1: 2-3).
Life depends on the light that the sun radiates. During the night, we cannot see, we are cold, we want to sleep. This is also true for spiritual life: Without the Spirit of God our lives are dark, dreary and meaningless. Lord, you are the light of the world and with you we too can become the light of the world!

26/07/2026

Trinity 8_

26 July 2026

We wish you a blessed Sunday, and greet you with the watchword for this week from Ephesians 5:8-9

Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

Wandelt als Kinder des Lichts; die Frucht des Lichts ist lauter Güte und Gerechtigkeit und Wahrheit.

Leef dan as mense van die lig. Uit die lig kom alles voort wat goed en reg en waar is.

Marchez comme des enfants de lumière! Car le fruit de la lumière consiste en toute sorte de bonté, de justice et de vérité.



Psalm 106

Readings: Old Testament Epistle Gospel Sermon

Isaiah 2: 1-5 Eph 5: 8-14 Matthew 5: 13-16 John 9: 1-7



We invite to the following services:

2 August 8h30, St Peter’s, Combined Service with farewell of Pastor Detlev Tönsing

9 August 8h30, St Peter’s, English Service with Holy Communion

10h15, Ohlthaversaal, Gottesdienst mit Abendmahl & Abschied Detlev Tönsing

16 August 8h30, St Peter’s, Combined Service

23 August 8h30, St Peter’s, English Service

10h15, 81 Nicolsonstr, Afrikaans-Duitse Erediens met Nagmaal

30 August 8h30, St Peter’s, Combined Service – Spring Service



A podcast of the sermon is at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1941821/episodes/19550268

The written sermon is at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WAHmwY5RfFAR8BS-BPQuSKkafGT_lyrz/view?usp=drive_lin k
Daily Readings are at https://drive.google.com/file/d/101htNExUsq8Tnd0OrFv0f2rtRcnr9UUP/view?usp=drive_link

The Pew leaflet is at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wcxJ1T4lfrODOHcXccDuGwdYVfgI1VQG/view?usp=drive_link



We thank PRC North for the service duties today.

We thank those who gave for the collection of the past services: English R 7 789.00; HC R 2 361.30, Afrikaans-German R 1020.

You're invited to a workshop with Pastor Jan Duvenage (Dean of the NELCSA Northern Circuit), on Saturday, 1 August, 10:00 to 12:00 at the Johannesgemeinde - Pretoria (or online). Theme: Church revitalisation. Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/ZVc5BXYd8F



You are invited to a coworker training weekend from 14 to 16 August, in Hermannsburg, KZN. Themes: Storytelling (M Büttner), Introduction to Reformation (M Büttner), 21 Keys to effective Children’s Ministry (I Engelbrecht), Encountering Depression and Anxiety (G Lindegger), Introduction to the Church Year and Lectionary, History of the Hermannsburg Mission. Register by 7 August: https://forms.gle/8VrQKodY6KUKTDWs6

Applications for a year as Volunteer in Germany through the Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Hermannsburg) are open. Closing date: 31 July. Contact Pastor Detlev for more information.

NELCSA invites to the eQuip retreat, “In Christ – a new creation”, 24-27 Sept, Stoney Ridge Camp, Hekpoort, Registration & more info https//forms.gle/ENiMQtse8wv5J8a26

A Newsletter is available at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bpn_66B6Cka6j1qhygJLnjV42Sh1t2x5/view?usp=drive_link

Our pastor Dr. Detlev Tönsing is on limited duty. We thank all those who stepped in so that our Sunday services can proceed as normal.

Please contribute articles for the coming Newsletter by sending them to Pastor Detlev before the second-to-last Sunday on uneven numbered months for inclusion in the next edition.

You can follow St Peter on the page where we post notices and daily texts.

Wir laden ein zur Bibelstunde am Mittwoch um 10h00 im DSW Konferenzraum

Wir laden ein zur Seniorenfreizeit vom 21. bis 24. September in Padre Pio Retreat. Information & Anmeldung: Romy Prigge 0817414234.

Das aktuelle Forum / Vuurvliegie liegt aus und ist bei
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YkUmvQWHSiO_SzcLA13T4rhnOTSFvQK/view?usp=drive_link

May the triune God bless our congregation, church, city and country

26/07/2026

Sunday, 26-07-2026
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord (Eph. 5:8).
The Bible loves to use images. Here are four images: children follow the example of their parents, light shines in the darkness, a tree gives fruit, and servants please their Master. Lord, let your Spirit rule us!

25/07/2026

Saturday, 25-07-2026
In that day Israel will be the third, together with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance' (Isaiah 19: 25).
In the days of Isaiah, Assyria and Egypt were the political and military 'superpowers', while Israel was a tiny and weak nation in between. God wants to place little Israel next to the two great powers and then bless all three. If politics is conducted in this way, whether nationally or internationally, there will be justice and peace. Lord, make us mindful of the victims of oppression, exploitation, or neglect!