Easter in Dorfen: church service, prayer and singing as a sign of peace

Created: 04/15/2022, 09:00

By: Michaele Heske

"The Light of Hope" in the burial cave (from left): Designer of the Easter crib Angelika Pavlik with pastor Annette Schumacher.

© HESKE

Finally celebrating Easter together again, but after Corona, the Ukraine war is now depressing the mood in the churches - and ensuring all the more cohesion.

Dorfen – Hosanna!

After two years of pandemic-related restrictions, believers in Dorfen can finally celebrate Easter together in the churches this year.

Church representatives in Dorfen agree that Easter, together with church services and prayers, is an important symbol of peace, particularly during the war in Ukraine.

"The resurrection is a sign of hope, of salvation - a celebration of joy," says Wolfgang Lanzinger, chairman of the parish council of the Catholic parish of Maria Dorfen.

At the same time, however, the need for closeness and consolation is growing in view of the Ukraine war: "The Easter services are actually a single prayer for peace," says Lanzinger.

Pastor commemorates Jewish Easter during Ukraine war

Lanzinger knows that Pessach, the Jewish festival of the exodus from Egypt, is also celebrated at the same time and refers to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, who is a self-confessed Jew: "The commemoration of the Exodus also gives hope for liberation - that fits perfectly with the current oppression and oppression ."

Lanzinger is also certain: "Prayer helps".

Thousands of people are currently setting a sign of peace.

Also in Dorfen, where both Christian communities have been calling for ecumenical prayer for peace since the beginning of the war.

Annette Schumacher, pastor in the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation, adds: "I actually believe that prayers have an influence - God hears and answers our requests." It doesn't matter whether it's the warmth of the encounter, an uplifting song, familiar stories or new words.

Easter crib in Dorfen for the first time

"For me, these holidays are the symbol that things will go on," says Susanne von Nagell, employed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, interpreting the most important festival in Christianity.

The woman from Dorfen prepares the children's services in the Church of Reconciliation.

The resurrection of Christ shows her that life is stronger than death, "a consolation, especially against the background of these warlike times."

For the first time, an Easter crib is set up in the Dorfen Church of Reconciliation.

"I researched on the Internet that there is something like this in a number of communities," says community member Angelika Pavlik.

The Easter crib is a rather unknown custom that originally comes from Tyrol.

"Our Easter nativity scene will be very simple, only two scenes, but there are tea lights in front of the burial cave, so we can make hope visible."

This is where the Dorfen church services take place around Easter:

On Maundy Thursday, communion will take place at 7.30 p.m. in the Church of Reconciliation, and the following day at 10.30 a.m. Pastor Schumacher will hold the service.

The resurrection is then celebrated with an Easter fire in the morning at 6 a.m. on Easter Sunday.

Then the Easter service at 10:15 a.m.

Passion time starts with a Eucharistic celebration on Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m. in the parish church of Maria Dorfen.

On Good Friday, the Way of the Cross takes place through the city at 9 a.m., followed by the Good Friday liturgy at 3 p.m. in the Catholic parish church with the St. John Passion by church musician Ernst Bartmann.

On Holy Saturday at 9 p.m. the resurrection is celebrated in the Easter Vigil.

At 5 a.m. on Easter Sunday, the faithful can greet the day with cantor singing.

At the festive Easter service at 10 a.m., the church choir sings the "Missa brevis in C" by Johann Ernst Eberlin and on Easter Monday, April 18, the Dorfen brass ensemble will perform the service at 10 a.m.

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