The parishes in the district do their best so that a community can develop even without the external rituals and physical contact. Here is an overview.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - "Easter takes place in the hearts this year." Peter Demmelmair, the pastor of Tölz, finds nice words to describe the holidays in difficult times. He is certainly not happy at all. The current situation “makes it particularly clear that the church is dependent on community. We are not purely inward. ”
Parish Association Bad Tölz
According to the strict rules of social distance, community is most likely to be created in communities on the Internet even on Good Friday and Easter. According to parish officer Brigitte Blösl, carmets will be broadcast on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. on the homepage of the Catholic parish association Bad Tölz. "They are celebrated on a small scale and broadcast on the Internet." According to Demmelmair, the parish youth also prepared a way of the cross for the Internet, "with representations from the different churches of the parish".
On Good Friday, the crosses will be covered in the Franciscan Church, Brigitte Blösl continues. In the churches there is also information for house worship that everyone can take with them. Unlike usual, there will be no holy grave on Calvary. The diocese also instructed that, says Blösl. On Easter Sunday, Pastor Demmelmair will publish an Easter greeting as a video message on the homepage.
Evang. Tölz Church
For the children, their “Zappelphilipps”, the evangelical community Bad Tölz came up with something special: They received postcards with an invitation to watch a video service. "There were three of us in the church and presented a picture book," says Dean Martin Steinbach. The 13-minute video can be viewed at youtu.be/Fn6vpKX0O8g.
In addition, an Easter greeting is distributed to the community members, together with the community letter. "It is still the old letter, with our main topic climate and environment," says Steinbach. "We were badly surprised by Corona." Nevertheless, it was decided to keep the topic. "But the dates in the letter are largely obsolete." As soon as it became known when church life could be resumed, there would be a new letter.
As usual, the Easter candle is lit in the Protestant church. The bells will ring at 6, 12 and 6 p.m. "We also invite you to personal prayer," says Steinbach. So far, four to five parishioners - with the necessary distance - have always come to church at the usual time of worship on Sundays to pray. "Then the altar candles burn and I play music," says Steinbach, who also refers to the offers on the homepage and the services broadcast on television.
St. Jakob Lenggries
In order to keep in touch despite the lack of a common liturgy, there are also various offers in the Catholic parish of Lenggries, said pastorate officer Christoph Freundl. There will be three speeches on the homepage: Pastor Josef Kraller on Holy Thursday (from 7.30 p.m.), Rosmarie Meßmer on Good Friday (from 3 p.m.) and Freundl himself on Holy Saturday (from 9 p.m.). "The church will also be decorated on the respective days as for the services." These are days with very special, different moods. These should be visible to visitors to the churches. The Youth Agape takes place on Maundy Thursday - this year via video. "The participants received the gifts free of charge and without contact," says Freundl. “You have to try new things. This is good."
Easter and Sunday are provided in the parish church in Lenggries and in the churches in Wegscheid, Fleck and Fall. Everyone can - but only with their own candle - pick up the light and bring it into their home. In addition, everyone is invited to celebrate a house service with a blessing. "We already got some photos from families from Palm Sunday that show that really nice celebrations were made," says Freundl. It is nice that the old custom of house service is reviving.
St. Nikolaus Jachenau
"Unfortunately, I have to celebrate the services on the big holidays in Easter in the parish church to the exclusion of the faithful," the pastor of Jachenau, Father Gracious, announced: on Holy Thursday at 7 p.m., the celebration of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday 3 p.m., the celebration of Easter night at 9 p.m. and the solemnity of the resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday at 9 a.m. However, believers are expressly not allowed to be in the parish church during services. "But I cordially invite you to join the celebration at home in prayer," Father Gracious said to the Catholics.
Parish community of Benediktbeuern
A special edition of the Church Gazette was printed in Benediktbeuern, says Father Heiner Heim. "Every festival is described in detail there." The advertisement is in Kochel, Benediktbeuern and Bichl, as are the house services. "We have equipped our showcases with pictures and topics." On Good Friday, the crosses are in the church, there is the possibility of lighting a candle.
Easter campaign of the religious order in the Benediktbeuern monastery
The Easter candle will then be lit on Sunday, from which the faithful can take the light home with them. The church will also be decorated, albeit less than in other times. Heim: "Unfortunately, more is not possible this year."
Evang. Kochel Church
In Kochel, the Protestant pastor couple Elke and Matthias Binder are preparing for Good Friday. Then they want to read the 22nd Psalm and the story of the Passion at 3:00 p.m. at the hour of Jesus' death, then remain silent and cover the altar until Easter.
Practice for Good Friday: The pastor couple Elke and Matthias Binder cover the altar of the evangelical church in Kochel am See.
© private
In a message to the community, they believe there are several reasons for mourning: those who died from Corona, those who were in need because of Corona, and other suffering. And last but not least, mourning for the unusual celebration of Easter together. But: “God is not absent. He takes part and gives support. ”The celebration is also possible without going to church. You can pause, pray and read at the same time.
Parish Association Home Garden
"The most important statement is: Easter takes place and we celebrate Easter - even in the times of the corona virus," emphasizes the Catholic pastor of St. Tertulin in Schlehdorf, Simon Tyrolt. "It is not the date that counts, but what we celebrate at Easter: the victory of life over death - the resurrection of Jesus - and with it the hopeful message that it is not death but life that is blooming for us."
That the associated rituals cannot be performed in the usual way: "Yes, it is painful," says Tyrolt, "but inevitable these days."
In order to keep in touch with the faithful, the pastoral team in the parish association also relies, among other things, on video messages or Easter greetings that are available in the churches and can be called up online. In addition, according to Tyrolt, letters were sent to all parishioners aged 70 and over on April 1. "The Way of the Cross was traditionally prepared by the parish council of Schlehdorf / Großweil - just adapted to the circumstances" posted online as meditative texts that invite thought. " As a prayer invitation, except for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday - the bells ring at 7.30 p.m., explains Tyrolt. This is how a prayer community is created.
Parish Association Gaißach / Reichersbeuern
“Easter also means accepting what is happening,” says the Deacon Joachim Baumann from Reichersbeurer. You have to get involved in this spiritual process and also let go of familiar images. Then the transformation could also happen from God. "Health is the top priority now."
The churches in Gaißach, Greiling and Reichersbeuern will be decorated according to Baumann, and there will be a smell of incense. An Easter fire is lit in Miesbach on Saturday. From there, the deacon takes the light with him to Gaißach, where the Easter night traditionally begins at 9 p.m. A film is to be created there, which can be viewed on Easter homepage on Easter morning. The light then comes to Greiling and Reichersbeuern. At the consecration of the food, he asks the faithful to do the same as with the palm bushes and not to carry the baskets to the churches. Every baptized and confirmed person can ask for the blessing.
Even if it is unusual for many believers to do without services: "Praying is about the relationship between God and yourself - and nobody else," says Baumann. “I also miss the community. But now it's about taking the situation seriously. "
The Easter message in particular that something bright can be seen in everything dark is very important at this time. "I believe in a God who does not pass the open wounds of this time, but stands by." This is how Deacon Baumann emphasizes the many volunteers who are currently helping to alleviate the need with help. "It's all Easter. And it will make us strong. ”He hopes that the solidarity shown in many places will continue to have an impact after Corona.
Sachsenkam parish
The parish council and the Mitanand network meanwhile are calling to celebrate a different kind of Easter service on Easter Sunday. The bells are rung at 9 a.m. "Then please come to the balconies and the gardens and strictly adhere to the distance restrictions", says the invitation. Subsequently, in Sachsenkam and Piesenkam, individual musicians in the village play an Easter fanfare in several places. "Afterwards we sing together, Christ has risen" (Gotteslob 318/19) with brass accompaniment. "Everyone is invited to sing along and pray. If you want to celebrate, you are welcome to bring your Easter candles with you to the balconies or gardens.
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