Lutheran Disneyland?

A Wittenberg street with the Castle Church tower in the background.

Brian's impression of Wittenberg: "This town feels like Disneyland."  I remember our visit to Disneyland - we couldn't ride Space Mountain because they were renovating.  Here they are renovating the castle church, so we couldn't stand next to the famous doorway where Luther supposedly posted his theses.

The Castle Church door,
commemorating Luther's posting of the 95 Theses --
no Admittance

But later, standing in the courtyard of the Lutherhaus, where Martin and Katie lived and boarded visitors from all over the world, a shiver went down my spine, something unlike anything I felt at Disneyland - "This is it," I thought.  This is really where it all happened.  These are the rooms they worked in, the doorways they passed through, the hallways, alleyways and chambers where the Reformers had conversations that would change the world.  Yes, this town has the charming feel of a made-up medieval dream, but every now and then you pass a house that has not been renovated in a while, and the cracks and crumbling cornices, the century's dirt and strange architecture remind you that these are no facades-that this beautiful, storybook village was the battlefield for the soul of the modern world.

In the courtyard to the Luther Haus.

I'm in Wittenberg

The view from our room at the Luther Hotel in Wittenberg

My son, brother and myself arrived in Wittenberg today.  The area around the town is flooded, and they have officially cancelled the Luther Wedding festival that was supposed to be this week.  I'd show some pictures, but this site doesn't seem to want to upload from German Internet.  I will keep posting what we're doing and try finding a way to get pictures up.
UPDATE: It's June 25th and I'm back home now and have decent Internet, so I will add pictures to the blog and try to fill in some details I didn't get to when I was on the road.  Here is the first email I sent to my wife Susan from Germany, which gives an idea of the time we had getting here.  She read portions of it at church:

Finally reached the hotel

Had a rough time getting here

Bus ride from airport to train station was awful

Brian wanted pizza from pizza hut, BUT didn't eat much as it seemed to be topped with tuna - then

Train was late

Then we accidentally sat in first class (and got kicked out)

Then missed our stop and since it was an express it took us all the way to Leipzig

So we took a slow train back

But missed the fact that the last connection was by bus

So we missed the bus 

But walked into this little town

And a nice lady from the fire station

Gave us a ride into Wittenberg

But on the way she told us the festival has been canceled due to all the flooding

We passed flooded fields

And saw sandbags along the road into Wittenberg

Flooding on the river Elbe in Wittenberg

 

So far, except for Veronica who gave us the ride, Germans seem to be easily irritated people...at least easily irritated by us

But we're here in our room and it's a beautiful little town and we will make the most of it

Paul just took a shower (just survived an attack by the shower head)

and Brian's sound asleep (but we will wake him up to go eat soon)

So far I have not been able to get my debit card to work at the ATM

But I will give it another try once we find another one nearby

Paul got his to work so we do have some money

This wifi is very slow

So I doubt the phone calling will work

Will try once I get the phone charged.

Anyway we are alive and surviving and will soon venture out after some vegan food

Miss you very much

Tell George we love him too

And tell everyone we said hi

 

Love ya

The Luther statue at the town square in Wittenberg
where the festival wasn't taking place.



for the road ahead

Rick Steves' guide to Germany has been the
cornerstone of our planning.  Great advice for the
budget conscious - and he's a proud Lutheran!

k

a community of grace

This morning I worshipped with our friends at Grace Community Church.
Pastor Jeff Olson played guitar and led the service, which included communion.
They are a mission congregation of a small Lutheran denomination,
holding services in the cafeteria at Wiregrass Ranch High School.

blessing the children

Children from the Little Pioneers Daycare celebrate graduation day
at Atonement.  As my last official act before my Sabbatical,
I shared a blessing and opening prayer for their ceremony on May 31.

in the spirit

Lutheran Church of our Savior Tampa
celebrates Pentecost with a flock of paper doves,
each one bearing the name of a church member.

Getting Away

"As often as possible Jesus withdrew

to out-of-the-way places
for prayer"                                        

— Luke 5:16

     For years, bishops and church leaders have recommended that congregations grant sabbaticals to their pastoral staff.  A sabbatical is an extended time of withdrawal from the regular routine of ministry meant to be taken every seven years.  Pastors use the time for prayer, study, rest and renewal.  As opposed to a vacation which is focused on recreation, a sabbatical is specifically spiritual in tone. 

      I am excited that this summer I am about to take my first sabbatical.  Especially in the wake of the recent building renovations and the launching of our capital campaign, I have a list of projects set aside because there has been no time to get to them.  Many of those projects require focused attention and preparation.  Some just require prayer and clear thinking, which is not so easy with the perpetual interruptions of running a parish.

     A pastor recently reminded me that even Jesus needed time away from his disciples and away from the crowds in order to pray and refresh himself.  As I get closer to my sabbatical, I’m feeling it more and more.  I want to thank this congregation for granting me this sabbatical time, and I’d like to share with you my basic plan for the next three months.

     GERMANY IN JUNE: As a good Lutheran of German heritage, I have always had an interest in going to Germany,.  Studying Martin Luther and the Reformation in seminary has made me a big Luther fan.  One of my personal goals is to read all 55 volumes of Luther’s writings that are available in English.  So far, I’ve read 12 of them.   When my brother proposed a family trip a few years ago, I didn’t really have the time or the money. With this sabbatical approaching, it was finally starting to look like a possibility.  Then Rick Will shared his photos from his own trip to Germany, including pictures of him standing by the famous Wittenberg chapel door where Luther posted the 95 theses.  Rick told me how proud he was to visit those Lutheran heritage sites, and encouraged me to go.  He advocated with the council and helped establish a sabbatical fund to help with costs.

So in June I will be spending 2 weeks in Germany, flying into Berlin with my brother Paul and son Brian (yes, Su and George preferred staying home).  We will be staying 3 nights in Wittenberg, followed by a night in Erfuhrt in the very monastery where Luther trained to become a monk.  In Wittenberg we’ll be attending the annual festival reenacting the wedding of Martin Luther and Katie von Bora.  The rest of our time will be focused on traveling around Munich, Salzburg, and Berlin.

      JULY OUT WEST: In the interest of a change of scenery for the whole family, we will be taking a road trip out west in July.  One goal is to visit my birth mother out in Los Angeles, and since Su and the boys have never been west of Texas, this will really be their first chance to explore this part of America.  Our route will take us through Yosemite, past the Grand Canyon, and through some places I’ve never seen before. 

      AUGUST PROJECTS: In August I expect to be closer to home, visiting area churches and developing ideas for a new Saturday service at Atonement.  I will also be studying, working with some new software, and developing a DVD-based Bible study for home use.

     As you can see, I expect to keep busy.  You can keep up with what I’m doing by checking in on this blog.  I want to thank you, and give special thanks to the tremendous team filling in for me, including our deacons (Suzi, Joe, Scott, Karen and Detlev), Marcia, Pastor Fred Agnir, and in August, Pastor Deborah Steed.  And I hope and pray that you too will be able to get away and be refreshed this summer.

 

Peace,

Pastor Scott