Hinde Street Methodist Church and Kreuzkirche, Leipzig, shared worship on Sunday 16th August.
Rev Peter Cornick sent a greeting to Leipzig together with members of the Hinde Street congregation, and began Worship by introducing the ‘carol’ Hark the Herald Angels Sing!! Whilst Charles Wesley wrote the words, Felix Mendelssohn, a Leipzig composer who died in that city, wrote the famous tune. We can always sing of the incarnation Peter said – even on the hottest day of the year! He continued to explain the partnership of some forty years.
With the two congregations not being physically together, Rev Katrin Roscher sent a video of herself offering ‘Godly Play’. The theme of ‘gifts’ was explored and the mosaic of colours she created asked what kind of gifts we bring, or are yet to discover, and how each gift is precious to God. She also sent a greeting to Hinde Street.
Christophe Borysiewicz developed the theme further sending a video to Leipzig of his sermon – in German! – and preaching – in English! – at Hinde Street. Expounding 1 Corinthains 12: 3b-13 – the variety of gifts but the same Spirit – Christophe observed that whilst some gifts are ‘dramatic’ with ‘tongues of flame and the babble of dozens of different languages’ others, just as significant are less so. He drew on John 20: 19-23 where the resurrected Jesus breathes on the disciples the very Spirit of ‘reassurance and peace’. Gifts, said Christophe, ‘to help us in our mission to serve others.’ We are he concluded, ‘all equally beloved Children of God’.
Peter explained that a chance meeting at a conference in the mid 1980s between the Rev Dr Stuart Jordan, then a Hinde Street minister and the Pastor of Kreuzkirche, Leipzig, developed a student visit from London to Leipzig. Leipzig was still part of the DDR then, and it was some years before the Wall came down in 1989. The visit, and subsequent ones in the early years, aimed to break down barriers and build trust between British and German Methodists. This might well be seen as a ‘gift’ of the Spirit of peace. In the years since, members of both congregations have continued the friendship with regular exchanges and acts of worship.
-Rev Peter Cornick
Greetings from Leipzig:
Dear brothers and sisters of the Hinde Street congregation in London,
We send you warm greetings from Leipzig!
We have very fond memories of our meetings during our visit last year, and of the warmth and enthusiasm we experienced.
Together, we marvelled at the long history of our partnership, particularly during our trip to Cambridge.
We are delighted to be planning another gathering in Leipzig for 2028 and warmly invite you to join us!
We ask God to bestow His abundant blessings upon each of you, your work in the parish and your neighbourhood. May God’s love strengthen you and flow through you to those who need it. God bless you!
-Rev Katrin Roscher
Shared Worship:
You can look back on our shared Worship on Hinde Street’s YouTube channel where we have uploaded the greetings between our churches and a video about Bedabungen, or Gifts. You can also view the video embedded on our website here.
You can also download and read Christophe’s sermon here.