It is great to be back home. Our two weeks in Germany were a blessing, but there is nothing as wonderful as coming back home and being among those who know us best.
Those of you on this list for a number of years will doubtless recognize the themes upon which I am likely to reflect in the weeks to come. We experienced God much the same as on our last trips - through the people. The members of Sts. Peter & Paul and St. Andreas welcomed us into their homes and into their lives. We experienced the Church as a place of great history and as a community alive in service.
Helga is the matriarch of the parish. She directed our work in cleaning the churches. As we did so, she spoke of the buildings and told stories of how the history affects current church life. We learned at in the alter of St. Andreas there are bones (human bones it appeared) which were in a reliquary at St. Nicholas Church. The exact origin of these is unknown, but the stories included reference to St. Nicholas. The presence of those bones, and the care in making sure that they remained in the sanctuary of the worshiping community, served as a reminder that the community of saints includes those who live and those who have gone before.
Herr Herman hosted three of our group for dinner one evening. His English is weak, his witness is strong. He was one of those involved in the Candlelight Revolution, the movement which brought down the Berlin Wall. He told the students of his trip to Berlin, to take a swing at the wall and dislodge this barrier to freedom.
When looking for assurance of God's presence, we so often look to the heavens. It is at God's people that we should direct our gaze. It is among them that we are able to see the hope and promise which sustains us in our own journey. It is among them that we are able to see the spirit which directs our days and our deeds.
It is good to be back home. I look forward to seeing (with renewed eyes) God's work among all of you.
Pastor Chris
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