Anniversary Trip to Germany

"What a wonderful trip!” “It was wonderful to visit our Lutheran roots—especially with such a great group of friends! We will cherish the memories!” “So many memories attached to fun, laughs, and pride in our common heritage as Lutherans. Being with fellow worshippers for over a week was a special joy.” From September 1 to 10, 37 Zion members and friends traveled to Germany where our founding members and first pastors came from 300 years ago, not to mention where Martin Luther began the Reformation 500 years ago. Our very first stop was in Worms to see the largest monument to the Reformation in the town where Luther refused to recant his beliefs. We then spent 2 nights in Heidelberg, the center of the Rhineland Palatinate which Zion’s first members left to journey to America. We traveled on to Eisenach where Luther went to school as a young boy and later returned to Wartburg Castle to translate the New Testament into German. While there we also saw the birthplace of J.S. Bach. The next 2 nights we stayed in beautiful medieval Erfurt where Luther became a monk in the Augustinian monastery and was ordained a priest in the cathedral. We learned about the Romantics Goethe and Schiller and more German history when we visited the lovely town of Weimar. Then it was on to 24/7 Luther in Lutherstadt Wittenberg. We visited the church where Luther preached, was married, and where his children were baptized, his home, and the home of Philip Melancthon. Our visit was capped with a vespers service at the Castle church where Luther is buried. Pastor Summer read the lesson and Ron Rupp and David Wintemute served as ushers. Our trip ended in Berlin where we were confronted with signs of the previously divided Germany—Checkpoint Charlie, remnants of the Berlin Wall, and a museum about the escape attempts from East Germany. We were moved and literally confused at the Judisches Museum, and despite the rain, marveled at the architecture of the Bundestag Dome. A visit to the ornate Berlin Cathedral and the magnificent art of the Pergamon Museum rounded out our stay in Berlin. Throughout the 10 days, we enjoyed great German food and drink, had daily prayer and devotions on our bus, handed out our Zion calling cards (Ted Jermansen wins the prize for most cards given out), and learned much about German history, both political and religious (thank you, John, our wonderful tour guide).