Ship of Fools: Island Church of Poel, Kirchdorf, Poel, Germany

The Mystery Worshipper

Ship of Fools: Island Church of Poel, Kirchdorf, Poel, Germany

13th century Gothic church, well-organized preacher and spirited congregation produce holy joy

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here

Bishops Finger

Thank you for a most interesting Report about a beautiful church which is obviously a very important part of the community.

Forthview

Thanks also from me for this interesting report.
Reading the 'Gemeindebrief' (parish newsletter) for October and November I was reminded that 'Reformationstag; on 31st October is still a public holiday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
with a church service at 11 a.m. bringing together choirs from some neighbouring parishes.

On the other hand the Lutheran 'Buss und Bettag '(Day of repentance and prayer) held on the Wednesday before Ewigkeitssonntag (Sunday of Eternity) is no longer a public holiday as the service is a 6pm.

(Reformed Christians in Austria celebrate Buss und Bettag on 8th December as it is already a public holiday in honour of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary)

Portola

Thank you, Forthview, for looking up the parish newsletter. The 4 choirs which joined the Kirchdorf choir for a service on Reformation Day were not from neighboring parishes on the island, but came from churches which were scattered far and wide on the mainland, as far away as a 45 minute drive. It was quite an achievement to form one choir out of these 5, which illustrates the magnetic appeal of the Island Church of Poel as well as the organizational talents of the choir directors.
Regarding October 31: Back in the days when people still used paper notebook calendars, some young people in a church group had discovered that October 31was a public holiday in Eastern German states. So, they were wondering why Halloween had such a high standing in Eastern Germany, even though they had once learned in confirmation class that Oct. 31 commemorates the day that the Reformation was initiated by Martin Luther when he posted his 95 Theses. Reformation Day is actually part of the DNA of German and Protestant identity, but how many people realize this?

Forthview

Many countries in Europe now celebrate Halloween on the American pattern with skeletons and ghostly symbols. Tonight,5th December, is the Eve of St Nicholas Day and in Austria as well as St Nicholas there are the different variety of KRAMPUS figures. Krampus is a half man,half goat figure who frightens children while St Nicholas brings presents to the good ones.
As in the Halloween festivities nowadays it is a mixture of the good and the scary.