Why are you celebrating Christmas in the stadium, Father?

Created: 12/23/2022, 2:38 p.m

Out of the church, into the stadium: Pastor Stephan Opitz, Baldham.

© Stefan Rossmann

Pastor Stephan Opitz from Baldham celebrates the service on Christmas Eve.

However, not in the Petrikirche, but in the sports stadium in Vaterstetten.

Three questions to the evangelical clergyman.

Baldham - The evangelical rectory of Baldham's Petrikirche has come up with something very special for Christmas Eve.

The Christmas service will not take place in the parish church as usual, but in the Vaterstetten sports center - in the sports stadium in front of 1200 people.

This novelty is a great joy for Pastor Stephan Opitz.

A Christmas service in the stadium is a curious idea.

How did you come up with that, Mr. Opitz?

We came up with this two years ago.

In Corona times we wanted to meet the specified measures.

The idea of ​​holding the service in the stadium in Vaterstetten was immediately well received by the people.

Over 1000 people signed up for it in a very short time.

With this unusual way of celebrating Christmas, the church now has the opportunity again to approach people directly.

Namely, where they are often and feel comfortable.

Does the church have to reorient itself today in order to bring people and religion closer together again?

Yes.

The question we ask ourselves is: How can we reach people today?

The church must find new ways to do this.

Ways to encourage people to reconnect with the Church.

Because the church offers a lot.

Above all, support, confidence, comfort and security.

And what connects sport and church, of all things?

(laughs) Well, I think something that we as a church generally offer people: a community.

A community that supports is also important in sport.

Because a sporting event without community would be a very sad event.

And so is the Church.

Both the service and the sport live from the spirit of community.

And that's a gift.

Anna Liebelt asked the questions