Wir möchten den Kontakt zu unserer Partnergemeinde in Alpena, Michigan (USA) wieder verstärken. Deshalb tauschen wir regelmäßg Informationen, Andachten, Predigten oder Gebete aus.

  Zum diesjährigen Osterfest haben wir die Andacht von Pfarrer Disselhoff aus dem aktuellen Gemeindebrief nach Alpena übermittelt.



  Easter man by the baptism

  The Eve of Easter celebration is the high spot of the church year. It is the night of the Good News that the darkness give way the light that the death was overcome for ever.

  The Word of God is given to us plentiful. It illuminates our way through the night. The texts out of the Bible represent the most important stages of the salvation history: beginning with the creation of the world, over the Exodus and the promise of a new creation by the prophet Ezekiel to the new creation of the world by the risen Christ.

  From all acts of God which the Bible hands down the Resurrection of Jesus is the greatest act.

  The entry of the Easter candle in the dark church room, the festive "Gloria" and the cheerful "Hallelujah" give the night a unique beauty. But not the impressive beauty is the point within this celebration may it be really very impressive and deep symbolical by the candlelight. For after that follows the intrinsic part of the Easter ceremony: The baptism liturgy.

  On this moment of the revival of baptismal promise our way through the Lent is directed. We will be asked three times if we reject the evil and believe in God. That are the same questions our parents have been asked when they brought us to the baptism.

  Of course we go to the church to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. But the consequence of the Resurrection is the baptism. The baptism translates – so to speak – the Resurrection into practice, into the practice of life. In the baptism reaches us the salvation history which has begun with the creation of the world and culminated in the Resurrection of Jesus.

  In the Letter to the Colossians – out of it will be read on the day of Easter – we find an appeal to the baptized: "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (3, 1-2)

  In this world in which all is mixed with all, in which all will be related, in which all religions are lumped together we should be thankful for our baptism and our vocation, for the greatness and dignity of being Christian. It is true that we have to master this life like all the other people, we have to fight against our old human being within us, but we experience rays of hope, experiences of Resurrection and we know we are approved and supported by God.

  Easter men   When we will be asked about our faith during the Eve of Easter celebration and when one drop of the baptismal water falls on our heads, we open our hearts for Christ that the power of his death and his Resurrection goes deeper into us all the time and can have an effect so that we become more and more redeemed Easter men. By that we can illuminate with the light of our Easter faith and by our Easter joy not only or life but our world which longs for the novelty of life.

  Happy Easter
  Henning Disselhoff

  [Translation: Erich Neumann]





Hier können Sie alle bisherigen Dialoge mit unserer Partnergemeinde noch einmal nachlesen:

Januar 2008, Februar 2008, März 2008, April 2008, Mai 2008, Juni 2008,

Juli 2008, August 2008, September 2008, Oktober 2008, November 2008, Dezember 2008,

Januar 2009, Februar 2009, März 2009, April 2009, Mai 2009, Juni 2009,

Juli 2009, August 2009, September 2009, Oktober 2009, November 2009, Dezember 2009,

Januar 2010, Februar 2010, März 2010, April 2010, Mai 2010, Juni 2010,

Juli 2010, August 2010, September 2010, Oktober 2010, November 2010