On the doorstep: 20 small open-air celebrations on Christmas Eve

Created: 12/17/2021, 10:02 AM

From: Wolfgang Schörner

With the light of Bethlehem: the two pastors Julian Lademann (left) and Bernhard Holz.

© Wolfgang Schörner

A year ago, due to the corona pandemic, there were many small open-air church services on Christmas Eve, at the same time in two dozen locations in Penzberg.

This year there should be a repetition.

The idea was so successful that "Christmas at the door" may also be retained in post-Corona times.

Penzberg - This year Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. will take place at 20 locations in 20 locations: for example, in the playground of the elementary school on Südstraße, at a turning area in Maxkron and on playgrounds.

"We invite Protestant and Catholic Christians and everyone who wants to pray," says Maria Braun, parish officer of the Christkönig parish.

The 30-minute celebrations are organized by the Catholic parish in cooperation with the Protestant community.

The churches have baptized the campaign “Christmas is just around the corner” - in both senses of the word.

The celebrations take place practically on the doorstep.

One could also say: The Church comes to the people.

Or: “God comes to people”, as the Catholic pastor Bernhard Holz explains.

The idea for the open-air celebrations was first implemented a year ago, born out of the necessity of the corona pandemic.

There was a lot of positive feedback at the time, reports Holz.

One would have to do something like that again, they said.

According to him, the positive response made the decision to repeat the outdoor services easier.

The first considerations began at the end of September and beginning of October.

At the same time, there will also be Christmas masses in the two Catholic churches.

The Protestants celebrate in the barn at Gut Hub.

However, space is limited.

Visitors have to register.

In some cases the “3 G” rule applies.

It is very good that all options have been planned, says Protestant pastor Julian Lademann.

So nobody is excluded.

“No door is closed,” he adds.

A team consisting of at least two people is responsible for each outdoor station.

Pastor Holz will be on standby in the afternoon if someone is absent or needs support at one of the locations.

During the celebrations, visitors will sing, pray, and hear a story from the Christmas Gospel.

Anyone can come without registering.

If you want, says Maria Braun, you can also bring a lantern and take the peace light from Bethlehem home with you.

Would this also be an idea for post-corona times?

Pastor Lademann can imagine that.

“People's needs are becoming more diverse.” He also thinks of people for whom the church is too full on Christmas Eve.

However, according to Pastor Holz, one “naturally does not want to wean people from the classic Christmas services”.

20 times "Christmas is just around the corner"

The open-air services will take place on Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 4 p.m. in 20 locations.

A registration is not required.

The following applies: 1.5 meter distance between households and mouth and nose covering.

Turning place, Loisachstr.

50, Untermaxkron

On the Etz 11

Reindl / Heinz 3

Turning point at Hochfeldstrasse 41

Playground / soccer field behind Neue Heimat 18/19

Crossing Stockseeweg / St.-Klara-Straße

Primary school playground, Birkenstrasse

Corner of Rothwiese / Saelweiherstrasse

Playground Rossweide / Angerklosterstraße

Playground Katzenbuckel

Turning point Kapellenwiese

Frauenschuhstrasse 45

ESV-Platz, Fischhaberstraße 33

Round stone behind the high school

Meadow on Franz-Marc-Strasse

Bus stop "Im Dittenried"

"Brunnenplatz", In der Au

The school yard of the Mayor Prandl School

Turning place, Therese-Zenk-Weg

Wendeplatz, Am Isabellenschacht

Catholic services on December 24th: Christmas mass at 5.45 p.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Wladimir in Steigenberg and at 10 p.m. in the Christ the King's Church.

Registration at the parish office is required: Telephone 08856/92140 (no test or vaccination certificate required).

Protestant church services on December 24th in the stable at Gut Hub: 3 p.m. Nativity scene, 6 p.m. Christmas vesper, around 10 p.m. Christmas mass.

The “3G” rule applies in the barn, ie vaccinated, recovered or tested.

There are 90 seats per service.

Registration is required via "www.penzberg-evangelisch.de"