Haltern 18th - 20th October 1991
Introduction by Ruth Camp
Twelve of us set out in a mini-bus from
church - John Ladd - chief driver and arranger of the visit and Peter Notley,
assistant driver and navigator - they were wonderful! We thank them very much.
David Ladd, who looked angelic all the time! Judith Fetherston, who kept
us all laughing; Christopher Maule-Oatway, chief interpreter and compendium of
knowledge on all subjects; Steven Dumbrell; Lynda Edwards, now an authority on
European loos; Norma, Roger and Melanie (walkman) Broadest; my husband Philip,
and myself, 'the nearest to religious',
I quote, who was available!
----------------------
After months of preparation we were
ready to go. People and luggage were loaded aboard the mini-bus and we set off
from St. Thomas's at 7.00 p.m. on
Friday 18th October. We had an uneventful drive down to Felixstowe where we
arrived at about 8.30 p.m. We collected our boarding passes, had a light snack
and boarded the ferry at about 9.30. p.m. after having our passports checked at
customs. We located our cabins and rest chairs and explored the ship. The ship
departed at 11.00 p.m. for Zeebrugge. Before the usual safety announcements the
Captain announced that force 8 to 10 gales were expected and the crossing might
be a little rough. David and I retired to our cabin at about 11.30 p.m. Sleeping was impossible because of the
continual pitching and rolling of the ship and the occasional loud crashes and
bangs that seem to emanate from the depths of the ship. I must have had an
hours sleep at the most. We got up at about 6.00 a.m. and had breakfast in bed
out of a plastic box which we purchased the night before. The ship docked at
Zeebrugge at about 7.00 a.m. the wind had dropped but it was still dark and
pouring with rain. We disembarked from the ship at 7.15 a.m. and went through
customs and passport control.
Our first task was to check the route.
After a brief conference with Peter we were ready to go. We drove out of the
harbour area with Peter gently reminding me to keep to the right. Our first
obstacle, a roundabout, keep to the right, Peter reminded me, and go round
anti-clockwise. We then headed in the direction of Brugge. We soon joined the
motorway past Brugge, onto Gent, Antwerp, crossing the border into Holland just
before Eindhoven, through Holland and stopping at Venlo on the Dutch/German
border to stretch our legs and have a snack. It had by this time stopped
raining and the sun was beginning to shine. Peter took over as driver I as
navigator. We rejoined the motorway (autobahn) and headed in the direction of
Duisburg and Oberhausen. We got a little lost on the autobahn in the Ruhr area
but we soon found our way and arrived in Haltern at midday. We drove straight
to Volker Friedrich's house where he joined us and directed us to the church
where we were greeted by the other families who were hosting us. We then split
up and had lunch with our respective hosts. In the afternoon Volker gave us a
guided tour of Haltern finishing in a cafe for coffee and cakes. In Germany the
shops are closed on Saturday afternoons so the town was very quiet, which was a
little disappointing for those in our party who wanted to shop.
Our first function in the evening was a
brief business meeting, at 6.00 p.m., to explore the future of the link, this
was led by Thomas Klare one of the three ministers of the church. The meeting
served mainly to introduce ourselves and say a little about our individual
functions within our respective churches. This was useful for further discussions
later in the evening. At 7.00 p.m. we took part in a Communion Service, led by
Gunter Johnsdorf. After a long night and day travelling this was a very
uplifting experience, both spiritually and physically.
After the service a buffet reception was
organised for us in the Church Hall. We were treated to a marvellous variety of
foods and made to feel extremely welcome. Gifts were exchanged and speeches
made. Ruth and I, on behalf of St.Thomas's, presented a picture showing scenes
from Norwich and Judith and Steven presented a plaque on behalf of the Scouts.
Christopher acted as an excellent interpreter throughout the evening. We were
photographed and interviewed by the local press as well. It was a very
enjoyable and happy evening. The reception finished at about 11.00 p.m. By this
time we were all feeling rather tired and ready for sleep, in a bed that did
not pitch and roll.
Sunday's activities began with Church at
10.00 a.m. led by Thomas Klare. A very good and moving service. After church we
had Sunday dinner with our hosts. In the afternoon we met at Lippramsdorf for a
farewell service. Coffee, tea, bread and cakes preceded the service, which was
led by Gunter Johnsdorf with Peter playing the organ. This was a an excellent
service that brought us all together before we departed.
We finally left at about 4.15 p.m. We
reached Zeebrugge at about 8.30 p.m. We had a snack when we arrived and boarded
the ship at 9.15. p.m. The ship was not so crowded as on the outward journey.
We found ourselves a nice position in the bar. Ruth went to the cafeteria to
purchase butter and we set down to enjoy the cakes and bread our friends had
given us washed down with 'moderate'
amounts of liquid refreshment. This was a fitting and very enjoyable end to our
weekend. We had a much better nights sleep as the sea was much calmer this
time. We finally arrived back in Norwich at 8.15 a.m.
Without exception it was a very
enjoyable and worthwhile weekend. We had only spent two days in Germany but it
seemed much longer. As was the experience last May it was amazing how quickly
everybody got on with each other and in a very short space of time were
relating to each other as friends of long standing. I'm sure that with the
experience of these two visits the relationship between our two churches will
strengthen and grow.
In next month's magazine I will include
the accounts and observations of other members of the group and also more
information and ideas about how the link will develop in the future.
Haltern Part 2
Observations
and impressions from group members
Christopher
Maule-Oatway
The people were very friendly, welcoming
and hospitable, something that I have experienced in the other parts of Germany
that I have visited. Certainly one or two 'characters' amongst them! I would,
of course, welcome the opportunity
to get to know them better.
Our tour of the town was too brief to
get much impression of its character, and I did not ask the questions to which
I now found myself wanting to know the answers. For instance, is it a bustling
town by day? Does it have much night life, or is it like many German towns,
where they 'roll up the pavements' at nine o'clock? No doubt I will find out
the answers on a return visit.
The main similarity between our two
churches is the number of regular worshippers. Is the average age of these
worshippers also similar, and what about the male/female ratio?
Finances do not seem to be a problem,
with the church tax presumably playing a major part here. Another unasked
question is whether they have to raise funds on their own for projects such as
the new organ which they are getting next year.
I was most interested to learn of the
church's involvement in community work, e.g. community nurses, kindergarten and
debt counselling. This kind of work must give the church a high profile in a
community, since it can be seen to be not just a building, or a collection of
people who worship there from time to time.
The services were rather similar to
ours, really, with hymns, readings, prayers and a sermon - a 'fizzer' of a
sermon on Sunday morning! The set prayers in the services seemed to be the same
as ours.
One spin-off from the visit, for me at
any rate, was the chance to get to know other members of our own congregation -
a welcome and rewarding experience.
So, where do we go from here? Specific
group visits, e.g. youth organisations, choir, etc., of course. It is no doubt
well worth while keeping the link alive, so hopefully visits by groups of
members of our two congregations will continue.
The German prayer will be now more
meaningful to me, since I will be able to bring to mind the church and people
for whom we are praying.
Linda
Edwards
Haltern is an attractive town of about
7,000 inhabitants. My impression when first arriving was that it seemed to have
a small town atmosphere but, as I found out during my stay, this was deceptive
as it spread out far more than I initially thought.
The shops appeared to be good, but it
was a pity they were closed when we were able to go round the town.
The one place which was open was a cafe
which we were taken in and treated to some really good cake together with
coffee or tea. This isn't the only eating place in Haltern, there are
restaurants and cafes of various nationalities including Italian, Chinese and Yugoslav.
The town is predominantly Catholic with
proportionately a small number of Protestants. Germany has a Church Tax apart
from voluntary contributions therefore the Church doesn't seem to have the
financial struggle which our churches seem to have. The Erlöser Kirche is very
well maintained and decorated. There is a spectacular painting above and behind
the alter depicting Christ with his followers at his feet. Apparently the
painter used local people as models for the painting and his own hand is featured
in the picture!
The people are very friendly and our
hosts seemed to do their utmost to give us a good time. I found I was expressly
forbidden to even remotely help with the household chores. When, after having
lunch upon arrival I went to pick up the plates from the table I was
immediately told "danke, danke, leave!". I was also told not to touch
the breakfast table when my host, Marianne, had to go out for petrol.
Going back to food, it struck me that
some of us appeared to have been given similar food. My lunch on Saturday was
noodles with chicken and spices followed by coffee, cheesecake and (if I had
room to eat it!) fruit cake. For breakfast I was given rolls with the choice of
various cold meats, home-made strawberry jam and marmalade or cheese. I was
also given egg and bacon ("your English breakfast?"). This was
accompanied by coffee although, like others of our party who I spoke to , I was
apologised to for not having been offered tea - "English like tea".
Sunday lunch at Gerda's consisted of Chicken noodle soup, followed by beef
stew, potatoes and green salad, then a sort of mousse. The meal was followed by
coffee and accompanied by wine or fruit juice. Sherry was in liberal supply
throughout the weekend. When after our farewell service, we said goodbye as
though we were lifelong friends.
Norma
Broadest
The Church in Haltern runs a Mother and
Toddler Group three mornings a week, co-ordinated by Gisela, our host, but
organised by a different group of parents on each of the three mornings so no
one feels 'obliged' to attend every session.
It is also responsible for the Ann Frank
Kindergarten which caters for children from 3 to 6 years old. In Germany
families who have nominated a particular church to the Government have a
percentage of their taxes taken at source and returned to the relevant church,
which pays one third of the cost of the Kindergarten fees. The families pay one
third and the Government the remainder. The Kindergarten is open to every child
from the age of three who wishes to attend. While we were in Haltern Gisela
learnt that the Church Council had approved the appointment of one more
full-time and one part-time teacher to cope with the increase in numbers. There
will be approximately 100 children attending this year in four classrooms.
Gisela showed me the Kindergarten from
the outside because it was half-term as in Norwich. I was able to look at a
special glass panel by the front door which she and Cordula, Volker's wife, had
painted with trees, flowers and figures of children as a thank you to the
Kindergarten when their older children had left. They also have a 'Mid-Life
Group' similar to Adelphi, but open to both partners!
P.S. Following the wonderful welcome we
received in Haltern we had a less than wonderful one here - we found a broken
window and evidence of an unwelcome guest! However we were very fortunate as an
alarm went off and nothing was taken and very little disturbed.
Peter
Notley
We attended morning worship in Haltern
Church. Four or five hymns, some from the international section of their hymn
book, to well known tunes common to both our hymn books. Verses were sung
alternately in German and English. There was no choir to lead the singing, but
there is one; which sings on special occasions. Their newly appointed full-time organist, Frau Bartmann accompanied the service on the
organ in the West gallery.
The 'farewell' service was at
Lippramsdorf - a smaller modern church equipped with a new classical organ.
I was made most welcome by Pfarrer
Günter Johnsdorf and his wife Maria, together with their seven months old son
Heinrich.
Possibilities for further visits
include:-
1.
Preparation of music by both choirs for a concert in one or both of our
churches.
2.
A visit by our own choir to give a midweek concert and sing their service with
them, either with or without the Haltern choir.
David
Ladd
I was really looking forward to going on
the ferry but after our very rough trip I had second thoughts.
When we arrived at Zeebrugge and set off
to Haltern. Just after crossing the Dutch/German border we stopped in a small
cafe for a snack. I decided to try some of my German, by asking for two cheese
rolls but ended up with two teas. (so much for my German). We then set of with
Peter driving to Volker's house in Haltern. I was left on the doorstep while
Volker took every one else to the church.
Colin one of Volker's sons showed me
round the house and to where I would be sleeping. When Crispin, Volker's
younger son, arrived he also showed me round the house again, when Robin the
eldest son arrived he also took me round the house, but I couldn't refuse as I
did not want to offend them plus I didn't know the language.
Dad and Volker came back, and later we
went into Haltern where we went sight-seeing and ate many cakes.
Later after a massive dinner we four
boys played monopoly, with Robin translating the cards. The road names were
different for example they had Park Strasse. Volker arrived later and took me
to church, we had a small service and afterwards we had the welcoming evening
where there was lots of food and a slide show of when they came to see us in
May. After our Sunday meal we went to Lippramsdorf where we had the good bye
service and again lots of cakes (I think I could like staying in Germany!!) We
left at 4.15 for our trip back to the ferry. Once on the ferry we located our
cabins and rest chairs. We all met in the bar to have yet another meal of cakes
and bread which our German friends had given us. The trip back was less rough
although I still didn't get much sleep. We arrived back at home at 8.50 to find
mum waiting for us with a cup of
tea and another cake.
I think from reading these accounts it
was a very enjoyable and successful visit. The question now is where do we go
from here? Steven Dumbrell is returning to Haltern in February next year to
further the links between our respective youth organisations. The Choir is
planning a visit and exploiting the ideas Peter Notley outlined above. Other
ideas include praying for lists of people in Haltern, exploring the idea of a
common Lent Course and the enchant of clergy. A more immediate activity is for
members of each congregation to correspond with each other. If any one wishes
to pursue the last idea please let me know. We are also interested in any other
ideas that will further the aims of this partnership.
John
Ladd
No comments:
Post a Comment