united at the foot of the cross

Our Services

Our weekly Sunday services give expression to the diverse background of our members around the common language of English. Our English services are quite informal, and we make use of a variety of music styles, ranging from contemporary praise and worship to traditional hymns. As a historically German congregation, we also have German services twice a month, to serve our German members. The German services follow the traditional German Lutheran liturgy, and the songs are also more traditional.

Ministries

Congregational Library

The library corner is a happy meeting place for avid readers, where books are exchanged, recommended and discussed.

Care Group

This group speaks the language of love in practical ways. They provide food parcels and financial assistance for the education of members in need, hold jumble sales, and make home and hospital visits.

Fellowship Camp

This camp is a melting pot of young and old, families and singles who come together for a time of fellowship and growing in faith.

APN Retirement Homes

APN is a legacy left to us by people who have gone before us. It is set on beautiful grounds and is a haven for the retired,

Founded in 1848, New Germany Lutheran Church is the oldest congregation of the ELCSA (N-T). The congregation was started by a group of German settlers, who were brought to the area to grow cotton. They named  the area Neu-Deutschland (New Germany) Since cotton proved  to be unsuitable for the area, they changed their crop to vegetables, which sold well in the growing town of Port Natal/Durban. They convinced the missionary Carl Wilhelm Posselt to become their pastor. At the time, Posselt was building up the mission station Emmaus near the Drakensberg. He agreed to their request, on condition that he could at the same time continue his mission work among the Zulu community living nearby. New Germany thus became the first German congregation of the Berlin Mission Society, sharing a pastor with the nearby mission station Christianenburg. This pastor-sharing arrangement continued for many decades.
 
After the area around the original church building was declared an industrial zone, the congregation moved to its current premises in 1969. The old Church, which is a national monument, is still standing, but no longer owned by the congregation. NGLC strives  to preserve its long German heritage, while at the same time staying relevant to and serving its current membership.
 
The new premises made it possible to develop a pre-primary school on the property, which is still serving the community to this day.  While the pre-primary is a separate entity now, we continue our involvement in it through through Bible programmes, practical support and representation on its governing body. Of similar importance to the congregation is the APN Retirement Homes, which is adjacent to the church. The congregation was instrumental in the establishment of this retirement home, which has become a home for many elderly congregation members, as well as other elderly persons from the  wider community. Through Bible Study groups, singing times, reading hours, special church services, pastoral care and other initiatives, we contribute to the well-being of the residents. We are formally represented on the APN Board and members meeting by several elected members, and our pastor, who is also the Chaplain of the home.

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