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Ship of Fools: Sankt Johannis, Flensburg, Germany

The Mystery WorshipperThe Mystery Worshipper Shipmate
edited December 2019 in The Mystery Worshipper

imageShip of Fools: Sankt Johannis, Flensburg, Germany

Prayer, praise and wonder, and a flute sextet – but no mulled wine

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here


Comments

  • UrgandaUrganda Shipmate
    Wonderful report. Thank you. I feel I am learning things I really want to know.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Yes, it's good to hear of How Others Do Things! I used to attend a Lutheran church in London occasionally, and always enjoyed the music, and hymns.

    BTW, I wonder if the lack of young children might be because this church offers more 'traditional' worship, and another church in the team caters more for young families?
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    Some have criticized MW as being frivolous, disrespectful, sacrilegious, etc. But I've always felt it has an educational purpose. Who is it who wrote: "And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray." (I know the answer.)
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Oliver Goldsmith, for those who don't!

    Miss Amanda is, as usual, Right. MW is certainly educational, for those who wish to be educated.
  • UrgandaUrganda Shipmate
    Paradise in a cave? Have I missed something? Do you mean the whole building is a cave?
  • PortolaPortola Shipmate
    Thank you for the detailed and interesting report. Since I am a member of the Evangelische Kirche I was able to identify with your experiences. Advent in the German Lutheran Church is a thing of beauty and intensity. One small detail of the service you described was slightly out of place with regard to tradition. Psalm 24, the hymn "Macht Hoch die Tür" and the gospel reading of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem are all designated for the first Sunday of Advent. The church year begins with the first public presentation of Jesus as the Messiah ("Son of David"), riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The donkey indicates that Jesus will establish his royal reign in a humble, gentle manner - not by means of deadly violence; the palm branches symbolize his ultimate victory, which is celebrated traditionally on the second Sunday of Advent, which has the theme of the Second Coming in glory. However, this is not meant as a criticism of the vicar, who undoubtedly had a good reason for her choice of themes.
  • PDRPDR Shipmate
    edited December 2019
    "Macht hoch die Tür" translated as 'Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates' is a favourite of mine. Thank you for reminding me of it, it has been a while since we last sang it. I think, in fairness to the Pastor, that we clergy all play around a bit in Advent.
  • Lincoln ImpLincoln Imp Shipmate Posts: 7
    Urganda wrote: »
    Paradise in a cave? Have I missed something? Do you mean the whole building is a cave?

    The vaulting is very low and long, and the painted foliage and medicinal plants are classic symbols of everlasting life and thus Paradise. The green tendrils, vines, lush flower-heads and blossoms are also symbolic of the Garden of Eden. I think it was slightly edited, and unfortunately I could not include my pics. There are some on the net which are better than the church website.
  • Lincoln ImpLincoln Imp Shipmate Posts: 7
    Portola wrote: »
    One small detail of the service you described was slightly out of place with regard to tradition. Psalm 24, the hymn "Macht Hoch die Tür" and the gospel reading of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem are all designated for the first Sunday of Advent.

    I wondered at that too. I think it was because it's a team ministry and they seem to have different types of services each Sunday in each church, so they did not have that reading on Advent Sunday in St. J, but possibly a family crib service or so while the other church in the team had "proper" Advent.

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