Two Months Silence…

I regret that I haven’t written anything in my blog for quite a long time. Well, after nearly two months silence, I finally have the time to post something. A lot has happened, so I’m just going try to hit the highlights.

PTS
The main reason why I have so tardy to blogging is that I was out of town for most of November at the Practical Theological Seminar (PTS). Essentially, PTS is the SELK replacement for field work. Twice per year, all the vicars in the synod come together for 3 weeks of practical experience and lectures on practical topics. The topic for this session was Seelsorge, which roughly translates to “spiritual care.” For the first two weeks, we stayed in the tiny town of Bleckmar and worked in a hospital in Celle. For the last week, we stayed in Stuttgart and had various lectures and reports on the subject.

My initial experience was one of being overwhelmed. I had become fairly confident in my German abilities from many positive experiences in Dresden. However, I had not yet experienced the labyrinth that is academic German. The other vicars and our leaders were speaking such complicated German that I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I became very discouraged, and after 3 or 4 days of this, I was strongly considering going home.

Eventually, I started to get it. At the hospital, I was placed in the children’s clinic because they spoke more on my level. What I learned in spiritual care was very different than my fellow vicars. The children didn’t ask deep theological questions, but they did need someone to help them through an experience that could be very scary or lonely. I enjoyed my time visiting them. I am proud to say that one of the kids told me that I was “much nicer than the nurses.”

I had some good experiences getting to know the other vicars. There were three German vicars (fewer than most years), and all of them were quite personable. Also, one other American was in attendance, Jacob, a student from Fort Wayne. Last of all, we were joined for a portion of the three weeks by two vicars from South Africa. They had come on a journey to learn more about their roots, since their synod (Lutheran Church of South Africa) was founded by German missionaries. They spoke hardly any German, and so Jacob and I spent a lot of time translating for them. We mostly worked hard, but there was some time for fun, such as a couple side trips, a walking tour of Stuttgart, and a play that we saw.

During the last weekend of PTS, we had a couple free days, so I met up with Krista in Tübingen, where our friends Jonathan and Rachel live. We enjoyed catching up with them and seeing their town. Then, it was back to PTS for the last stretch. I was doing pretty well until the last couple of days, when we had all-day lectures. Finally, I was able to go home. I never expected that I would have so much homesickness for Dresden!

Grandma and Grandpa Senske Visit
I returned from PTS in the midst of a visit from Krista’s grandparents. They had already toured Bamberg and Nürnburg, where I met up with them. Our next stop was Rothenberg, which is an incredibly picturesque, little German town. We saw the Christmas market and the medieval city walls and lots of cute, windy streets. Then, we returned to Dresden, where I stayed for most of the remainder of their visit, as I had lots of work waiting for me. We enjoyed showing Grandma and Grandpa where we live and what there is to do in Dresden. I joined them for one side trip – to Prague. Prague is still a beautiful city, in spite of our problems with getting lost and getting ripped off. It was wonderful to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Senske, and they brought lots of cheer from the U.S.A. to us. For the rest of the details of their time with us, read Krista’s blog, which ought to be updated in a couple days.

Preaching, Preaching, Preaching
Of all the things that I thought I would accomplish in my life, I never expected that “writing two full-length German sermons in a week” would be among them. Altogether, I will have preached three sermons in the month of December. Pastor Rehr has really pushed me hard, but I think that it has worked out well. As I preached this morning, a very rare thing took place – the German laughed out loud in church! Thankfully, they were laughing with me. Also, I am excited about my sermon for the Sunday after Christmas, which received a special compliment from Pastor Rehr.

Speaking of pushing me, Pastor Rehr has decided that we need to work even harder on my German. He is pleased with my progress and my willingness to try, but he also wants me to go ever further. To this end, he wants for me to speak only German at home with Krista. This has been a big step, and we haven’t always been able to keep it up. For the most part, however, Krista and I have been able to communicate in our second language. This is only possible because Krista has picked up German very quickly through her language school, and she has now caught up with me. For my own language education, Pastor Rehr and I have been reading the Large Catechism together each morning and discussing theology. Also, I hope that I can take some sort of part-time course in the new year.

English Teaching
My work in Dresden is going to expand greatly in 2008. On 8 January, I will begin to teach a couple of English language courses, in order to serve the needs of the people in our congregation and also as a form of outreach. The majority of people in Dresden are unchurched, and so we are hoping that free English courses will draw some in and give them a positive contact with our congregation.

Along similar lines, we are talking about the idea of English worship services. There are a couple of English-speaking companies in the Dresden area, and we might be able to celebrate the divine service in English once-a-month, in order to reach out to this group. In the weeks and months to come, I will write much more about these efforts!

Christmas in Germany
For the first time in my life, I will celebrate Christmas in a foreign land. Thankfully, a couple families have taken us in, so that we will have friends to celebrate with. We will spend Christmas Eve with the Salzmanns, First Christmas Day with the Rehrs, and the Sunday after Christmas with the Mittrachs. Speaking of First Christmas Day, the Germans also have worship on Second Christmas Day (26 Dec.). Normally in the SELK, this is the day for pastors from neighboring congregations to trade pulpits for the day, and so Pastor Rehr is swapping with the Pastor in Weigersdorf. We have enjoyed our Advent celebrations in Germany, and we have visited many wonderful Christmas markets. We have acquired a beautiful collection of German Christmas decorations—a pyramid that is also a Nativity scene and a music box, an Advent wreath, a gaggle of Christmas stars, etc. I’m sure Krista will have more to say about the joys of Christmas in Germany!

Gesegneten 4. Advent!

Frohe Weichnachten!

Reformation Day

Reformation Day

Happy Reformation Day! It is a real treat to spend this day in Saxony, the home of the Reformation. Here, it is actually a state-wide holiday, where everyone gets the day off of work. To celebrate, we had a special festival worship service this morning. Of course, we sang all of the great hymns of the Reformation.

It is interesting how important Reformation Day is, even though Germany is not particularly Lutheran anymore. For example, Pastor Torgerson was telling me a story recently. He is the pastor who is leading the new Lutheran visitor’s center that the LCMS is starting in Wittenberg. He was on the streets of Wittenberg, home of Luther himself, and he asked a couple passersby who Martin Luther was. One of them answered—in all seriousness—that Martin Luther and Moses played together at the foot of the cross. He wasn’t sure whether he should laugh or cry. It definitely shows the need for the Gospel, even here in Luther’s own backyard.

Festwochenende

This past weekend was a very special event in the life of our congregation. After six years of hard work, we have finally restored our church building to its former beauty. They replaced the coal-burning heating system, rebuilt the damaged roof, repaired tons of water damage, remodeled the sanctuary (as well as the sacristy, kitchen, all purpose room, and everything else), and restored the organ. In celebration, we had a weekend of special concerts, church tours, food, singing, and the like. It was my job to handle a lot of the publicity for the event. I stuffed hundreds and hundreds of pamphlets in people’s mailboxes. Also, I made a PowerPoint presentation of all the best pictures of the hard work that went into fixing up our church. Beyond that, I tried to be generally helpful, and I talked to lots of people who attended, both members and guests. Overall, I think that it was a success, though I would have liked to see more people from the community come and see our church. We are all very thankful for the blessings of this beautiful building and—even more—for a faithful congregation, enthusiastic for the Word of God.

First Sermon

The previous Sunday (21 Oct) was a major milestone in my vicarage. I preached my very first sermon in German. With lots of help from German reference books and with Pastor Rehr’s careful proofreading, I was able to compose a solid sermon. I practiced it many times, and I felt entirely ready. Then, I got a call very early on Sunday morning. Pastor Rehr was very sick, and he would not be able to come to worship. We threw something together quickly—one of the elders led the service, and I preached. In spite of this last second confusion, the delivery of the sermon went well. I received lots of kind feedback from the congregation. Several elderly ladies proudly declared that they could understand my sermon without the need to read along. So, I’m glad that my accent did not get in the way. It was a wonderful feeling to have taken on a hard challenge and to have been successful. If anyone is curious to read my sermon, please send me a message, and I will pass it on to you.

Krista’s Birthday

My sermon was also Krista’s birthday present. Okay, not really, but they did fall on the same day. Krista’s birthday was fun. We had a couple of friends from language school over after church for brunch. I also baked a chocolate cake from scratch, which turned out well. Krista was also excited by all of her presents, especially the packages that she got from the States. Then, we continued the festivities on Tuesday, when we went to the opera. We saw Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) at the Dresden Semper Oper, one of the most famous opera houses on earth. It was a great production, and Krista has wanted to hear this particular opera for a long time.

Other Stuff
I’ve been too busy to blog much lately, but here is a quick rundown of our other activities:

We borrowed a TV, and so now we get the interesting cultural experience of watching TV in another language. They watch a lot of American sitcoms (dubbed into German) and a lot of reality TV. I’m getting pretty good at figuring it all out.

Our internet connection has been terrible lately. I won’t go into all of our woes, but we’re pretty frustrated. We apologize if we are not able to call or e-mail very consistently.

I’ve spent a lot of time making house visits lately. Pastor Rehr appreciates having someone else around, so that we can divide up the visits and keep in closer touch with the members of the congregation. One interesting note is that Pastor sends me to the houses of the people who have birthdays. Also, it is interesting that Germans take their birthday desserts very seriously. You are expected to have at least 2 pieces of cake, and you may well offend someone if you don’t take 3. As always, the people here have been most kind to me.


You never know where your picture will end up. About a month ago, we went to Halle to see the SELK brass festival. I ran into a friend from seminary, Brandt Klawitter, who just started a vicarage of his own here in Germany. A couple weeks later, I was informed that my picture had been published in Christian News. It turns out that a picture that Brandt took was posted on his blog and then subsequently put in Christian News article. How about that?

You can read more about Brandt's adventures on his blog: http://klawittertravels.blogspot.com/

On My Own

On My Own
Much has happened since my last entry. I have finished language school, learned the ropes of being a vicar, and now have been left on my own to take care of the congregation. There is a two-week school holiday (fall break, I guess), and so the Rehr family is taking a vacation for about 10 days. In the meantime, I am holding down the fort. It actually isn’t too busy, since a lot of programs have been put on hold during the school break (e.g., youth group, confirmation). Mostly, I have been given a list of people to visit. I am also practicing a sermon, writing another one, and doing research. I was pretty scared at first to make home and hospital visits by myself in German, but so far it has actually been a joy. I am getting much more conversational in German, even though I still get stuck from time to time. It helps that the people are so kind and so willing to make the effort to communicate with me.

München
One enjoyable practice here in Germany is for congregations to take trips together. This weekend, sixteen members of the Dreieinigkeitsgemeinde loaded up in vans to drive to München (Munich for those with an aversion to umlauts and guttural consonants). We spent time at our sister congregation there, the Trinitatis Gemeinde. When we arrived, they gave us a delicious, traditional Bavarian meal of ham, sauerkraut (the first that I’ve eaten since we arrived in this country, believe it or not), bread, and pretzels. Then, the pastor took us all on a tour of the city, where we saw gorgeous churches, fun markets, and more lederhosen than you could believe. We arrived in Munich for the last weekend of Oktoberfest, and people were just coming out of the woodwork with lederhosen, dirndl, and T-shirts about getting drunk. I would like to clarify at this time that most Germans do not own any lederhosen, especially not in Dresden, where you would get laughed out of town for dressing in such a Bayrisch fashion. We did not actually go to giant tents where the main Oktoberfest celebration is held because, as the locals said, only drunks go there. However, I did enjoy a moderate amount of fine Münchner lager, so all is well.

In the evening, we went to host families, and Krista and I stayed with a retired pastor. He received his doctorate from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and so he spoke excellent English. We ate “sausages in nightgowns” for dinner, which is the (tastier) German version of “pigs in a blanket.” Then, we talked for a long time. Pastor Wegenroth has lived a fascinating life, and it was interesting to hear all about his experiences as a leader in our sister synod. In the morning we attended church at the Trinitatis Gemeinde, in which we celebrated the harvest festival of thanksgiving. Afterwards, there was a huge potluck, filled with Bavarian delicacies, such as Leberkäse (which is literally “liver cheese,” though it contains neither, being a loaf of pork and beef). Finally, it was time to return home, and we zipped down the autobahn at ridiculous speed.

Worship in the SELK
At the most recent home Bible study that I attended, our topic of choice was worship. I understood most of what Pastor Rehr said, owing to the fact that most worship terms are Latin. So, I was excited that I understood “Collect” and “Agnus Dei” and so forth. Afterwards, I asked Pastor Rehr about worship in the SELK. Do the other SELK churches worship in a similar way to what I have seen at the Dreieinigkeitsgemeinde? He said there was some variety—for example, some congregations sing a slightly different tune for the “Amen.” My jaw dropped. That was as big of a difference as he could think of within their synod. I told him how this is not so in the U.S.—how there are many different styles of worship and how this has caused some controversy.

I think that there is something to be admired in the uniformity of worship in the SELK. Their single order of service is a tangible vision of their unity. Also, I should note that this uniformity does not equal monotony, nor do they hold onto this common liturgy just because they have always done it that way. I have observed a real joy of worship. At least here in Dresden, these people seem to truly love the divine service. They especially sing and make music with a joy and a power that is truly encouraging. They follow an ancient and traditional form of worship, and yet it is fresh and engaging.

My Little Guitar
I am thrilled that I found a cheap guitar last week. Krista and I checked out the Elbe Flohmarkt, which is a big weekly flea market. While most of the stuff there is junk, I did find a decent little guitar for only 22 euros. It looks like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree of guitars—small, beat up, and unimpressive. However, it has a very good sound and feel. I think I got a bargain. And—best of all—I finally have a way to contribute to the music of the congregation. It seems that every time that we gather together for anything, we sing songs. Sadly, I am a very weak singer, and I have been disappointed that my voice adds nothing to these song times. However, now I have a way to add to the music. I have brought my guitar to confirmation class and to youth group, and that has gone very well. I think that Pastor Rehr likes my guitar, and I will probably give it to him when I return to the U.S.

Youth Group
Now that my language course is completed, I have had the time to get more involved with the youth group at the Dreieinigkeitsgemeinde. So far I have mostly just been a quiet participant, but I think that I will be taking on more of a leadership role in months to come. The remarkable thing about the youth group here is how devotional they are, and also how strong their self-leadership is. First of all, these kids love to sing hymns and have devotions. I know very few youth groups in America in which a dozen teenagers are glad to come together on a Friday night for a couple hours of Bible study, prayer, and song (and eating, too—much like American teens, these kids can sure put away a lot of food). I think that it will be fun spend more time with them, and I hope to gain some insight into how this group works.

Americans in Germany
Even though I am an ocean away from home, I still find myself coming across a number of Americans over here. There is one exchange student from Michigan, who is living with a family in our congregation, and I had the chance to get to know her during our drive to München. Also, I met Pete Bayer, who is an American who married a German and settled down in Dresden. They had me over for dinner yesterday, and it was a wonderful time. I think that I have a lot in common with Pete, right down to our interest in board games and Star Wars. It seems to be not too unusual for Americans to marry Germans, as I met two families in München who did just that. So, I have had a couple more chances to speak English lately, which has been a pleasant change of pace. But don’t worry—I still get plenty of opportunities to learn German, especially since Pastor Rehr has decided to stop speaking English to me. He’s a tough taskmaster, but I can tell that he really cares for Krista and me.

German Reunification Day
October 3 was a special day—the celebration of the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. While this is roughly equivalent to our Fourth of July, the celebration is much quieter and more sober. The Germans are a little paranoid of patriotism, ever since what happened in World War II. So, there were no fireworks, no parades, and no rousing choruses of “Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit” (the German national anthem). Instead, most people seemed to spend a quiet day at home with their family. We got invited over by the Herbst family for a delicious lunch and a stroll in the Grosser Garten, which is the large park in downtown Dresden. It was a nice way to spend the day.

Prague and Other Adventures

Prague: Last weekend, my language school took a day-trip to Prague, Czech Republic. While it may not be very well-known among Americans, I have to say that Prague is a gorgeous city—one of the prettiest cities in all of Europe. The grand medieval and renaissance buildings survived the World Wars almost unscathed, which is very rare for central Europe. There is just so much to see and do there, that I know that I need to go visit again, hopefully for a couple days.

Here is the view from Prague Castle, which stands on a high hill in the middle of the historic part of town. As far as the eye can see are beautiful buildings from every architectural period in the last one thousand years.

This is one of many winding roads that twist and turn through the heart of Prague. Behind these buildings looms St. Vitus Cathedral with its Gothic spires. This church was built by the same architect as the Köln Dom, and these twin cathedrals are among my favorites in Europe.

One of the many dazzling stained-glass windows in St. Vitus Cathedral.

We ate dinner at this peaceful café, where we enjoyed some traditional Czech food—goulash, dumplings, potato pancakes, and beer.

Teaching: I have now successfully taught something from the Scriptures in German for the first time. It was a small thing, but it was an important step in becoming a full-fledged vicar. On Thursday nights we have a Vespers service and a Bible study. Pastor Rehr told me about the text that we would be studying, and I mentioned that I had preached a sermon on that text just a few months ago. He was excited to hear this, and he asked me to quickly prepare something to say as a small part of the Bible study. When I say quickly I mean it—I had about 25 minutes to read my old sermon and figure out something to say in German. It went well. I think that everyone understood what I was trying to say, and Pastor Rehr was pleased with my insights. It was an encouraging day!

Thanksgiving: For my language course, each of the members of my group had to give a presentation about some festival or tradition of our homelands. I chose to teach them about Thanksgiving. I had a PowerPoint presentation about the important parts of Thanksgiving—the history, how we celebrate, and what it means. And then I baked a pumpkin pie for everyone to try. It went pretty well, and it was a good way to push myself to learn even more German.

Other Sites: We have continued to see some of the many attractions in Dresden, while learning some more German in the process. This week we went to the Volkswagen factory (where they have a really cool driving simulator), the Felschlößchen brewery (a great tour with all the free sausage, bread, pickles, and beer that you could want), and Saxon Switzerland national park (a pleasant hike through impressive hills of sandstone).

Learning German and Getting More Involved

Language School

On Monday, we started into our language school at the Technical University of Dresden. It is about a 35 to 40 minute tram/bus ride from our apartment. The first day was an orientation, and the second day was a test. I was overwhelmed by the test’s focus on German grammar. And if I was overwhelmed, I know that Krista was doubly so, since she has only studied conversational German. At any rate, we didn’t do nearly as bad as we initially thought. According to our test scores, we were divided into nine groups, where A1 is pure beginners and A9 is advanced. I was placed in A6, and Krista in A3 (which makes us both “intermediate”).

So, I have now met with my group for four days, and it has gone well. Our teacher is real fun. He speaks only German to us, but he does it in such an animated and funny way that we always know what he means. The other students in my group are a mishmash from around the world—Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Poland, Ireland, and Bulgaria. The class has been a mixture of conversation and grammatical study. In the afternoons, we have participated in a variety of activities: a tour of the Altstadt (historic part of town), a tour of the Gemaeldegalerie “Alte Meister” Museum (an art museum including paintings by Rafael, Titian, Rembrandt, and Cranach), workshops, and so forth. We were supposed to go to the nearby town of Pillnitz today, but it was too rainy. My group has come to be known as the fun group. We get along well, and we try to do things together outside of class. For example, last night we all met up to go to a pub. The Argentinean members of our class (plus some of their friends) brought along musical instruments, and we were able to enjoy our own little gaucho band jam session right there in the pub.

On Saturday, we went on the excursion to Berlin. I had already been to Berlin twice in my previous travels, but it wasn’t expensive to go again. We received a very thorough bus tour of entire city, stopping to walk around at a stretch of the Berlin Wall, at Checkpoint Charlie, and at Gendarmstrasse. We also received a tour of the Reichstag, which is the parliament building of Germany. We went inside where the legislators meet, and then we went up on the roof for a spectacular view of Berlin. Afterwards, we explored a few of the sites that we had missed before, such as the new Jewish Holocaust Memorial and Information Center. For dinner, we got some delicious doner kebabs. For those who have not had this particular treat, a doner kebab is sort of the Turkish version of the Greek gyro, and they are immensely popular throughout Europe. It was a good day, and I was glad that I didn’t repeat too many things that I had seen before.

Installation

I was officially installed as the vicar at the Dreieinigkeitsgemeinde at the Sunday worship service. I also read both the Epistle and the Gospel readings for the congregation. Pastor Rehr challenged me to see if my American tongue could say “sprach” with a rolled “r.” I’ve almost got it right, but not quite. At any rate, my German is getting stronger and more confident, and so I am being entrusted with more duties. Next week, I will assist in the distribution of Communion, and I have also been assigned to preach for my first time in October. Crafting a sermon in German will be a challenge, but I’m ready to give it a try. Once again, the congregation was very warm and kind towards me, and it was a great second week.

Other Bits of News

• As an update to last week’s soccer news, my two goals did not come without a price. Once I had cooled down, I realized that I had wrenched my ankle rather badly. I was really hobbling, and it was especially painful to climb the four flights of stairs to my apartment. I got an ankle brace, and then I was at least able to function. Finally, after a week, it has started to improve. I’m hoping that in another week I’ll be back to full strength.
  
• I’ve learned more about an upcoming event, the Practical Theological Seminar. Twice a year, all the vicars in the SELK meet together for three weeks to learn more about practical theology. This time we are going to work in a hospital in Celle, where we will make visits and study pastoral care. We will then go to Stuttgart for some lectures on pastoral care topics. We will each make a presentation, and I am a little nervous about doing one entirely in German. I look forward to meeting the other vicars, and getting some hands-on experience. The PTS will run from the 12th to the 30th of November.
  
• Speaking of presentations, I have another one coming up sooner. In my language class, we are each going to do a 10 minutes presentation on some aspect of the culture or festivals or our home country. I am trying to decide what aspect of the U.S.A. to present. Any suggestions?
  

Goooool!

Special report: on Sunday evening, we gathered together a group of 12 from the church to play a little soccer. As previously noted, my soccer skills are pathetic, but this day was special. I finally ended a life-long drought of goals! About half-way through our game, I knocked one in from about 12 feet. Everyone was shocked. But that wasn't the end of it. Several minutes later I did it again. I bumped one in on a lucky break from just a meter away. Two goals in one day--and they were the only two goals that I have EVER scored. I may have just changed my fussball reputation: they used to think I was terrible, and now they think that I am one lucky dog. So, there it is--my one and only moment of soccer glory!

Worship at the Dreieinigkeitsgemeinde

This morning I attended my first worship service at my new vicarage congregation, and I completed my first official duty as vicar. This entire German experience seems more real now that I have been to Gottesdienst (church service) and met many more members of the congregation. I was a little confused and nervous, but I was also warmly welcomed and edified.

Worship in a SELK church is at once exotic and familiar. On the one hand, there were a number of traditions that were new or words that I did not know in German. I felt slightly self-conscious to be sitting up front in an unfamiliar church, but I was able to follow along fairly well. Thankfully, Pastor Rehr provided me with a printed copy of his sermon, so I was able to read along with it and understand a little bit more. On the other hand, the hymns were almost all immediately recognizable, being the great German hymns that have nurtured the Lutherans in America for generations. We sang some old favorites, such as “Now Thank We All Our God” and “Jesus, Priceless Treasure.” Also, much of the liturgy is identical to the service that we know so well as page 15 out of The Lutheran Hymnal. Even a few of the tunes, such as the Agnus Dei, are the same. It really gave me the sense that worship is not limited to just one place and time and tongue. Rather, in the divine service, we are joined together with all Christians of all languages, both past and present, as well as with the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.

My one duty was to read the Epistle lesson. I had practiced many times, and I think that I did alright. A few different people told me that my reading was “schoen,” which seems to be the German response to just about anything positive. I was honored to be able to speak the Word of God in my new church-home, and I hope that I will soon be able to do even more.

This service was a special occasion for several reasons. Beyond it being my first service, it was also the first Sunday with the newly-renovated organ. The organ music was beautiful and powerful, and it was complemented by very strong singing and the majestic brass choir that accompanied. The Dreieinigkeitsgemeinde has been blessed with incredible music. Also, this service was special because 50 worshippers were visitors from another congregation, Christusgemeinde in the town of Uelzen. They had come to tour Dresden and to join in our worship service. Afterwards, we had a large meal for everyone. I especially enjoyed the hearty soup/stew that they made for the meal.

We met a whole lot of new people, and I am struggling to keep all of their names straight. They were very kind and welcoming and excited to talk to me. I had a few good, long conversations, and we were invited over to a couple different houses for meals this week. I am very pleased to start making some German friends. We have been overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness of the welcome that we have received. I am so glad to be here, and I pray that I may be a blessing in return to these fine people.

Welcome to Germany!

It is three days into my vicarage, and I am still standing. My first impressions of Dresden and of the people of this congregation have been great. I have much to look forward to. Probably the biggest surprise has been how difficult the language is. I thought I knew a lot of German, but I still have a long way to go before I am fluent. Thankfully, we start language school on Monday. Also, I have realized that I am going to get into great shape this year. Already, I have been running around far more than I am used to. The best part of these first days has been the terrific welcome that we have received.

After a (thankfully) uneventful flight across the Atlantic, we were greeted at the Dresden airport in dramatic fashion. As we stepped out of the building, we were met with the sweet strains of “Ein’ Feste Berg is Unser Gott” (“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”) wafting across the air. Before us stood Pastor Rehr, one of his daughters, and another member of the congregation (brass instruments in hand), ready to give us a hearty German welcome. Martin Luther would have been proud.

Since our arrival, there has been a whirlwind of activity. We have been busy from the time we wake up until the time when we finally reach our pillows again. Some of it has been quite good: for instance, we moved into our apartment a week ahead of schedule, we got to play fussball (soccer) with our new German friends, and we have managed to collect almost everything we need to get settled here. Some of it has been quite frustrating: we have had more than enough of German bureaucracy in our attempts to secure visas. We have gotten to see lots of the city of Dresden. The Rehrs have shown us around some, we have explored a bit on our own, and we have poked into every other corner of town in our errands. I think that I will enjoy living here. Dresden is a very complicated city, and I don’t think that I can sum it up without many more words and many more experiences.

One of the best parts of my time in Dresden has been the kindness and hospitality of the Rehr family. They have welcomed us in as one of their own, even though it must be maddening to listen to our mangled German. Thankfully, Pastor Rehr speaks far more English than he lets on. Before I arrived, he had me convinced that he spoke virtually no English, but now I realize that he knows more of my language than I do of his. The Rehr family has fed us, taught us German, showed us around, played with us, and helped us through the maze of understanding a new place. Without them, we would be utterly lost.

I have received my first duty as vicar, albeit a small one. This Sunday I will read the lessons in church. I am excited to be a part of leading worship from the first week, and I hope that I don’t mispronounce anything significant. Thankfully, the epistle is taken from 1st John, which may have the simplest language in the entire Bible. Actually, I am beginning to appreciate the beauty of John’s writing through my experiences in German. John uses very simple words to convey rich and profound meanings. And I have only simple words in my German vocabulary, and I am learning very slowly how to squeeze every last bit of usefulness out of them.

Here’s just a couple more stories before sleep overtakes me. Last night we visited a couple, who are members of the congregation. Their cousin and his wife were visiting them from America. It was a very interesting, polyglot conversation around the table, as everything was said in various mixtures of English and German. Even though communication was sometimes bizarre, we all got along splendidly, and we appreciated their warmth and hospitality. Tonight, we played fussball with the Rehrs, another member of the congregation, and a few children that we met at the field. I only embarrassed myself a little with my lack of soccer skills. As I told them, I play soccer like I speak German. Krista was more impressive, scoring a goal and playing fairly competently.

More will be coming soon. At first, this blog will be mostly anecdotal, as I am getting settled and then attending language school. As I begin to take on more duties, I will focus on what work I have been doing in the church here. Thanks for reading!

Welcome

Welcome! My name is Paul Elliott, and I am a vicar of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Starting at the end of August, I will be serving in the Dreieinigskeitgemeinde (Holy Trinity Congregation) in Dresden, Germany, for one year. I plan to maintain this blog as a way for friends, family, and fellow Lutherans to keep up with my activities overseas.