From Trinity, Waterville to Trinity, Munchen

On Sunday, 13 May 2012, we had the privilege of worshiping at Pfarramt Trinitatisgemeinde in Munich, a congregation of the Selbstandige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (the German sister church of our LCMS). The congregation is located in a residential neighborhood, and appears to be a house converted into a church.

The readings were from the SELK one year series (very similar to the LSB one year series). It was Rogate (5. Sonntag nach Ostern) - the Fifth Sunday after Easter - and the service was a preaching service, not the Divine Service with Holy Communion. The texts were Exodus 32:7-14, 1 Timothy 2:1-6a, and John 16:23b-33. In the SELK hymnal, the prospers (readings and Introit) are printed right in the front of the book, so there is no need of a bulletin. Since we do not speak German, we were provided a bulletin with the text of the service printed in English and German in two columns.

Pastor Schmitt chanted the liturgy. The congregation sang the Introit responsively with a small group of three ladies. We sang at least part of six different hymns, including two Paul Gerhardt hymns, Vater Unser in Himmelreich ("Our Father Who from Heaven Above") by Martin Luther, "Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray," and the Easter sequence hymn "Christ Is Arisen." There were only about 40 in attendance (including 9 children) plus my family of seven. The people really sang robustly and well. We recognized most of the tunes and joined in as best we could. Lonnie, the organist and resident American, played very well and was our contact before the service.

We met lots of wonderful people in the congregation. They were very friendly. Most spoke quite a bit of English. After the service, the kids even played soccer out in the little courtyard in front of the church. This congregation is the only SELK church in Bavaria. People travel from all over, even Austria, to attend a confessional Lutheran church.

Herr Pastor Mumme