Christmas magic in Bebra: Trombone choir inspires at the Advent service!

Christmas magic in Bebra: Trombone choir inspires at the Advent service!

On the first weekend of Advent, the Evangelical church community in Bebra awakened the festive anticipation of Christmas with an impressive concert service in the Church of the Resurrection. Under the leadership of Pastor Christoph Brunhorn and Pastor Martin Schacht, the church was well filled. The priest welcomed the congregation and the musical program of the service made hearts beat faster.

Andrea Wetterau had prepared the flute circle, which contributed to the festive atmosphere with Advent and Christmas songs. Visitors were able to enjoy, among other things, classics such as “Deck the Halls” and the popular Advent songs “Open the door, the gate opens wide!” delight. The trombone choir, under the direction of Igor Karassik, rounded off the musical part and accompanied the Lord's Prayer and the blessing with its solemn playing. Martina Freitag on the organ ensured a harmonious start to the service with a sensitive prelude.

A lively dialogue about Christmas

As part of the dialogue sermon, the pastors took those present into the biblical story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, symbolized by a donkey. This pictorial representation aroused great interest, particularly the subsequent discussion about the symbolism of the animals at the nativity scene. The Advent Gospel was read out together and the meaning of the ox and donkey, even if they are not explicitly mentioned in the Gospel, was discussed. The priests sought to question old ideas about God and encourage people to look with new eyes at the child in the manger.

Another touching message came from a young girl who made an appeal to adults to make room for all children in the world. These topics, which were also addressed in another solemn event, the ecumenical Nativity celebration on Christmas Eve 2023 in the Hofkirche, testify to a deep need for a safe and loving environment for the youngest in our society.

Powerful musical performances

The program delighted the audience with further highlights: The project choir, led by Martina Freitag, presented songs such as “Joy to the World”, “This Little Light of Mine” and the “Christmas Madrigal”. The final piece “Daughter Zion” in particular left a lasting impression on the visitors. A positive response from a participant emphasized the beautiful design of the service and the positive atmosphere.

Musical design also plays an important role in Neuburg. There, people celebrated an ecumenical Nativity celebration in the Hofkirche on Christmas Eve, which had to be moved to the church due to unsafe weather conditions. After the blessing, over 400 visitors sang “Silent Night” together, creating a shared experience that will be remembered. Here too, city priest Herbert Kohler and Protestant pastor Steffen Schiller offered a profound reflection on the animals depicted at the nativity scene and their significance for our understanding of God.

These days in Bebra and Neuburg it is clear how much music and communal celebrations illuminate the light of Advent and connect us with the deep meaning of Christmas. As the good old saying goes: The light shines brightest in the darkness!

Further information about the festive events can be found at HNA and Katholisch Neuburg.