Worship at the Castle

In another century this was the horse stable area. We parked our car across the road and went though the entrance into a courtyard where, I suppose they groomed the horses...in another century, as I have said. But today we were about to a worship.

The backdrop was the moated castle which belonged to the Earl and family. 

I know that most of you readers will want to picture some Disney-esque fairy tale castle but I was told this was considered a castle and it was rather grand and I was rather impressed and the Earl graciously allowed us to tour the grounds, complete with cemetery with lots of relatives with hyphens in their names...and I am glad that I don't have to pay for the waterproofing of the foundation.

And I should also mention that the courtyard/worship space in front of the castle was filled with flowering Buckeye trees. Really. Though, the priest was a bit baffled when I shouted "O-H" during the Passing of the Peace.

It was Ascension Day and so the local churches worshipped outdoors. The weather couldn't have been better nor the people more gracious to me as they gave me a welcome. Babies were baptized. The band played. Everyone spoke in a foreign language, which I suppose is a common thing here in Gremany.

I was stopped by a German woman and husband who told me of their life growing coffee in Angola in Africa. They were there when I was in neighboring Zambia and their country experienced an uprising. They moved to South America and then Portugal and San Francisco and now lived on the estate of the Earl because she was related to the family. I told her that I grew up in Ohio and she thought that exotic. I agreed.

But like every titled estate, there must be a church nearby and here is the Baudenkural Evangelishe Pfarkirche....or just the parish church. It goes back to the 12th century or maybe earlier. And it is a gem.

(A this is the view from the pulpit)

In the past few years they have done extensive remodeling and there was not a corner which was not exquisite.

Perhaps they might explore the issues of accessibility for those going to the balcony.

And I am still trying to decide just for whom this particular pew was, in the recesses of the choir loft...which by the way....was also exquisite.

What constantly amazes me is the attention to detail of these churches. Indeed, many of them are 800 years old or more and have withstood wars, plagues, dis-use, mis-use, and serious economic downturns. They have also been rehabbed countless times through the contributions of the people and the government and foundations. But somewhere, sometimes...in the midst of the remodeling, people capture a vision of what it means to offer God the details and the beauty of their lives...and to craft them into the details of their churches in which they worship.

Peace,  Bob