This year, the last Women's Sabbath in Lübeck took place on October 14, 2023. The morning was filled with an extensive program with organ music, a mission report presented by our little sisters in the faith, wonderful choir music, and, last but not least, a moving sermon by Nancy Duske.
Petra Lolk was officially honored as she stepped down from her position as Women's Ministries leader after around fifteen years. We will miss her very much! Petra has dedicated herself wholeheartedly to women's ministries. She has lived up to her high aspirations of giving women a special status: to recognize and thank women for what they do in their tireless variety of tasks and as pillars of society and the community. This is no small thing. Everything has its time. Petra will devote herself entirely to "Enditnow" and continue to use her strength for God's glory.
The theme of this Sabbath in Lübeck was "wandering in the desert". Every journey through life can lead us through desolate times, as sin and evil do not stop at us Christians either. All of us know endless expanses, good phases of life and the less good ones, where everything begins to sway and sandstorms swirl around our ears. What is it like - metaphorically speaking - to go from oasis to oasis with God as the king's daughter? Through the drought of these desert marches, we are also confronted with the "stopover" of forgiveness. This was highlighted in the sermon and explored in greater depth in discussion groups on the Sabbath afternoon. Together we women thanked God, our Creator, in songs of worship. At the end, a lovingly decorated table served delicious cakes and tarts for our physical well-being. And so a lively Sabbath came to an end, which many will certainly remember for a long time to come. The theme of "desert wandering" will be continued in Bad Schwartau in 2024, where Nancy will demonstrate further aspects of how we can master things together with our Lord.