WOMEN'S SABBATH IN GREIFSWALD, HANSE CONFERENCE, GERMANY

When in January 2020 we planned to hold a women's Sabbath in Greifswald in September, we had no idea that this might be almost impossible. Nobody thought about Corona and the consequences for almost all areas of life. Only in August a small team consisting of Karen, Susanne, Dörthe, Nancy and Ruth decided to organize the special Sabbath in detail. Especially in this uncertain time with its many questions, such a day can be helpful for the participants. The topic "Attention, Fear! - Pay attention to your fears and keep them at a distance. How can you find God in this?” was meaningful for our time. In the morning sermon, Dörthe vividly demonstrated with the help of a travel bag packed with numerous worries, problems and fears, that we humans give all these packages to God in prayer. But then we often put these packages back one by one and start carrying the "care bag" again. Jesus says in John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Fears, worries and problems accompany us as humans. But Jesus offers a very personal solution. HE has overcome the world, in Him and with Him we can find peace, our inner being can be healed, fear no longer has a dominant place in our lives. These thoughts were deepened in the afternoon. In a casual round of talks, personal experiences and stories were shared based on Bible passages saying "Fear not". A delicious lunch and refreshments on the sunny terrace rounded off the pleasant atmosphere of the day. Singing and cheerful sharing of experiences almost made us forget that we still live in Corona times. It was a blessed day all in all. At the end of the day, the participating women agreed: We would like to do something like this again. And then maybe with even more participants. The future is in God's hands and nobody knows what the coming year will bring. If it is His will, there will be a women's Sabbath in Greifswald on September 11, 2021.
Reported by Ruth Bohnefeldt (Greifswald church) Photo: Karen Carmienke