Exaudi Sunday

When we planned our trip, we picked Erfurt as our place to stay over a weekend so that we would have an opportunity to worship once again at Christ Lutheran where we had attended in 2007. But they were not there that day, instead worshipping elsewhere at a Kirchetage in Hannover.

Instead, we drove an hour to Mühlhausen and worshipped at the Kantatekirche where Pastor Kallensee serves.

 

The service began with a confessional service. Pr. Kallensee read the Ten Commandments, the Close of the Commandments, and a confessional address. Then we were absolved individually as we knelt at the altar.

There were only two readings, the appointed Epistle and Gospel. Despite the fact that there were only ten adults, three children, and us seven in attendance, the congregation spoke and sang boldly.

Pr. Kallensee graciously summarized his sermon for us in English prior to preaching in German. Pastor and congregation chanted the liturgy and the Sacrament was celebrated with great reverence. Only the chalice is offered and the people knelt around the altar without a railing.

Our opening hymn was On Christ's Ascension I Now Build, which the saints at Trinity, Waterville also sang on Sunday morning. After the service all the people greeted us warmly in their broken English. Before the service everyone had shaken our hands and greeted us as is their custom.

After pictures were taken (just as many by them as by us),

Pr. Kallensee invited us on a tour of Mühlhausen. He showed us the church J.S. Bach served as organist for one year and also where Luther preached.

 

We also saw the old city wall and other historic buildings. This city, like so many in Germany, is more than a thousand years old, full of history, joys, and sorrows. We will save those pictures for a future post.

Pr. Kallensee serves this congregation of forty as well as a congregation of sixty in Arnstadt, and a congregation of one hundred and twenty in Gotha. All were much bigger before the 1950's but Communist East Germany took its toll.

It was a joy to worship with the saints gathered in Mühlhausen. We speak different languages but we share the same love of Jesus Christ and the Lutheran faith.