Preachers in the Desert
Lois Zweck and Lutheran Archives Archivist Bethany Pietsch view the Preachers in the Desert storyboard at the LCANZ Church House Exhibition Centre in Adelaide. The display highlights a story uncovered by Lois and Christine Leske (inset) during their work transcribing and translating Hermannsburg Mission Committee correspondence from 1923, which was originally written in old German script.
Lois’ favourite hymn is ‘In Thee is Gladness’, which is number 386 in the LCA hymn book. The original German (In dir ist Freude) was translated for our hymnal by Pastor Henry Proeve, who was a member of the hymn book committee and translated many of the classic German hymns into English. He was also very involved with Lutheran Archives and Lutheran history and was the original creator of the synodical history diagram which is now displayed in the ‘Early Migration’ section of the exhibition – still referred to as ‘the Proeve Diagram’ by archives staff and volunteers and used constantly.
In the picture of Lois and me at the exhibition, I am showing her the ‘Preachers in the Desert’ display, which is a story Lois discovered together with another volunteer, Christine Leske. For the last few years, Lois and Chris have been working together to transcribe and translate the Hermannsburg Mission Committee correspondence from 1923, which is in the old German script and had never previously been worked on. One of the first letters they worked on included a passage in which teacher H. A. Heinrich, who was running the mission in the absence of a pastor or missionary, describes working with Arrarnta evangelist Moses Tjalkabota to prepare sermons for the congregation, using notes sent up each month by Pastor J J Stolz. I thought it was a fantastic story when Lois and Chris showed me these letters, and I included it in the 2024 exhibition at General Synod. It has now got its own panel and display box in the permanent exhibition in church house – which I think Lois was very pleased to see!
A few weeks later Christine came in and saw the display when she attended for a tour with her husband, Ev through Once were Lutheran Leaders (OWLS) group. Her phot viewing the exhibition is in the inset.
Come and see this display for yourself! Book through exhibitioncentre@lca.org.au for guided tours or group visits, or just drop in.
More details, see www.lca.org.au/exhibition-centre
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