The Advent season can be celebrated in different ways, with family, at Christmas markets, with hustle and bustle, glitter or in the company of many warm-hearted women who came together for a special gathering at Grillensee in Naunhof from December 1-3, 2023.
The first Advent weekend in a quiet, white setting. According to Gabi Stangl, Women’s Ministries Director for the Mid-German Conference, she had already prayed for snow for this weekend in the summer. We received this "gift". And in addition, lots of love, warmth, tranquillity, inner peace, reflection, but also cheerfulness.
Despite the cancellation of the speaker, Heidi Albisser from Switzerland, the entire team around Gabi and Angelika Pfaller succeeded in preparing and organizing a time that took us into the events surrounding Christmas. The following thought was expressed in the sermon: Our Savior can understand us and our situations very well, because he himself was born into our world as a little baby in absolutely poor conditions. He has placed the longing for eternity in our hearts and he will certainly ensure that this longing is satisfied when we come to him. If I, like the yonder wise men had come to the manger, what would I have brought with me? What would I have given that corresponds to me? What would be my "heart's gift"? With songs, many moving stories, but also thematic projects, the entire weekend was a "refueling station", a recharging of batteries with Jesus.
At the end, one participant said: "We were given so much love!" We said goodbye with prayer and the singing of the "Lord's Prayer" and are already looking forward to the next meeting in April 2024 at the Waldpark.
A big thank you to Gabi, Angelika, Bruni, Katja, Birgit, Maike, Angela, Ina, to the staff of the "Grillensee" house and especially to our heavenly Father. We were able to reflect anew on what is the real reason to rejoice and celebrate at this time.
As reported by Mandy Voigt, SDA church in Leisnig