New Germany
Lutheran Church

The New Germany Lutheran Church (NGLC) is a very diverse congregation, situated in the residential part of New Germany called "The Wolds".  Our members are spread across the North-Western parts of the greater Durban area, from Westville, to Berea, to Kloof and Gillitts, but many live in the  immediate vicinity of the church. 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.
 
We consider our diversity as central to our identity as a congregation, as reflected  in our Vision Statement:
We celebrate our diversity, united at the foot of the cross,
as a caring and growing congregation in our community.
 
This vision finds expression in the many ministries and programmes of our congregation:
  • Treasure Island Children's Church, an exciting Children's bible programme which runs parallel to our English Service
  • Church Music with a variety of instruments and styles
  • A congregational Library with quality Christian books and media
  • Junior and senior youth, and confirmation classes
  • Various Home Bible Study Groups
  • Our Care Group, which provides food parcels and financial assistance for the education of members in need, holds jumble sales, and makes home and hospital visits.
  • Involvement in a variety of Ecumenical projects in Pinetown and Durban
  • Fellowship Breakfasts with guest speakers
  • An annual Fellowship Camp for young and old.
  • Our annual Advent/Christmas Bazaar
  • Children's Bible  Programme for the Pre-primary School on our property
 
Since the 1990's, NGLC has deliberately and consciously opened its doors to people of all backgrounds, which has resulted in a vibrant membership while at the same time bringing about a deeper connection to the surrounding community.

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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  Pastor:
  Martin Büttner
  Cell No:
  0636248787
  Email:
  pastor@
  newgermany.co.za
 
Church Services:

English Contemporary Service:
8h30 every Sunday (Holy Communion on 2nd Sunday of the month)
German Service:
10h00 on 1st and 3rd Sunday
(Holy Communion on 1st Sunday of the month)                                              

Contact details:
(031) 100 0499
office@newgermany.co.za
www.newgermany.co.za

Physical Address:
6 Callie Road, The Wolds,
New Germany 3610

Postal Address:
P.O. Box 112, New Germany, 3620

GPS Coordinates
-29.795812 S 30.874916 E
Google Maps    https://goo.gl/maps/ShZ6Pz7qCrmuzs9U7