After the extended break, in which Christel and Wolfgang Hermann were on leave in Germany, we get back to our task added strength and energy.
In this entry, we want to report about our visit to the Rupelrath Congregation in Solingen. Our last visit was more than ten years ago which mainly made itself felt by the fact that the children we met then now had children of their own. The former pastor, Hans Wilhelm Ermen, and his wife Sigrid, are now in pension but still live in Solingen. We were welcomed warmly by the new pastor and his family. We had corresponded with Pastor Clever in advance about our participation and had agreed to take part in the congregations Summer Festival, which would be linked to a family service. Two days before the Summer Festival we received an e-mail from him saying it had been cancelled due to bad weather conditions. Now it became evident how flexible and imaginative this congregation is: everyone contributed by bringing salad, home-made bread, cake, ice-cream or fruits from the own garden , for the banquet. We were impressed. The church was transformed. Tables , chairs and colourful banners corresponding with the theme „Welcome at the Table“, were set up. I was already fascinated by the way youth and elders greeted each other: it seemed like a family gathering. We are, after all, children of God and part of His family.
Pastor Clever played guitar; I knew none of the songs but they were easy to learn. Soon after the opening prayer, we were called to the front. Pastor Clever posed the following questions: How is the table set for the children in South Africa in our projects? Where is the greatest need? How and in what areas can the Rupelrath Congregation help through their contribution? In the background we played a slide show of pictures showing the children in the ELCs and afterschool programmes. Through this, the members of the congregation could get an idea of the projects.
The sermon dealt with the parable of the great banquet. It consisted of a lively demonstration in which fruits and vegetables were used to represent the various characters. This unusual depiction had the effect of underlining the pressing question: Why do the invited guests not show up? Why all the excuses? It also stood out how important this banquet is for the Lord. The children were seated right in the front and could not resist occasionally commenting. The offering collected in the Service was for our work with children in South Africa.
This visit was a great blessing for us, as we could see with our own eyes how this congregation has remained loyal and devoted to people of a different culture. There are always new initiatives, in this congregation, which demonstrate that the church is a network of relationships, held together by the love of God and by our great responsibility to share this love with others.
We are truly grateful to know this congregation and for receiving their support in the form of prayer and donations.
Christel Lorato Hermann