Dear friends of ESSA – “ Give thanks to the Lord!” Ps 136:1-26
From the time we are young, we are encouraged to use the “magic words”, thank you and please. We are told rightly that when we use these words, others are likely to return the favour of courtesy back to us.
Scripture also enjoins us to give praise to the Lord FOR ‘He is good and His loving kindness endures forever’ Ps 136. This repeated refrain, says John Calvin, teaches us that to praise the Lord properly, we must acknowledge that everything we receive from Him is bestowed by His grace. The Hebrew for “give thanks” means to confess, or acknowledge, and thus calls us to thoughtful worship, spelling out what we know or have found of God’s glory and His deeds.
Ps 136 is a call to give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His loving kindness endures forever. The psalm then grounds the causes of such praise in God’s power in creation vs 5-9, in His salvation vs 10-15,17-20 & 24, and in His providential care of His people vs 16,21-23 & 25.
As the year draws to an end, I wish to encourage you to thoughtfully acknowledge God and spell out all He has done in providing for your needs, in His gracious salvation towards you and in His power displayed in creation. Not merely because thanksgiving is “magical”, but because God truly is good and His hesed endures forever… – Mosala Baletseng
Hugh Wetmore, 1937-2022
In the space of little over a year, our community was rocked by the deaths of both Carmena and Dr Phil Capp. We are now saddened to share news of another founder’s passing, Rev Hugh Wetmore. A lover of hymnody, Hugh was instrumental both in the genesis of our seminary and in the shaping of many other gospel initiatives. One of these was EFSA, a precursor to TEASA. Our bulletin cannot hope to list of his achievements but a fair tribute can be found here. Hamba kahle, dear brother .A good year!
2022 showed what ESSA is able to do when our systems are working properly. Enrolment increased to twenty, and sixteen modules were presented from Jan to Dec. Despite a good intake last year, however, we need new students. Kindly help us by liking our Facebook page and promoting the seminary in your circles! We welcome opportunities to visit churches and share about our programme.
Campus talk
We are most grateful for grants received this year for security upgrades and sorely-needed maintenance. The new cameras work well, and the automatic gate is a huge relief. Here painters are restoring the old sash windows at 200 Pine St. Further projects in view include refurbishing the stable sheds behind the admin block, and moving the ESSA cross from the old Lutheran church to the new library. If you have skills in these areas we’d love to hear from you.
Praise & prayer
- Thank God for His strength that carried staff and students through this year.
- The memorial garden at 200 Pine St continues to be renovated by willing volunteers.
- Praise God for visits from Harold & Annette le Roux, Eunice Rajuili, Jackie Smallbones.
- Liisa Zondervan is back with us but her visa application needs a long-term solution.
- Still no word from CHE on our accreditation. Continue to intercede for this.
Calendar
- Final module: NT Survey II 5-9 Dec, Dr Rose Nyirimana
- Closing lunch 13 December
- First module 2023: Study skills 16-20 Jan, Kristy Sankey / Liisa Zondervan
Wishing you the Master’s touch, in His time.
Carl Brook (principal)
? Would you consider a once-off gift this Christmas? ?
Give towards training that is holistic, evangelical, contextual.
ESSA, FNB (Boom St.) 5093 1189 217 SWIFT code FIRNZAJJA76
|
