Tis the Season!

What a wonderful time this Christmas in Berlin was! Full of celebrations of all kinds but mostly of relationships, old and new. I really enjoyed our combined Christmas Eve service with another local church where i got to share the Christmas story with the children. Afterwards I went to the home of our partner church's pastor, where I shared their Christmas eve dinner and family time. We opened gifts, sang carols and hymns, read Christmas stories to one another and then finished after midnight with baked apples and prayer. I loved being with this family who have come to mean so much to me. Especially with Friedemann, now 26, freshly graduated from seminary and getting married on the 4th and 12th of January. That's right! here you get married at the state office, then for believer's there is a church wedding, too. I will be there to celebrate both. Friedemann and I met when he was sixteen and he has been one of my dearest friends and co-workers in Luke's church. Christmas morning was breakfast with the Stoddards, then a family day together. The second day of Christmas I spent with the Matlacks, (our team leader) and his sister's family. Tammie pulled out pictures of the first Christmas I spent in Berlin, and it was with them as well. Two days later I celebrated Hanne's 44th birthday at the cafe in the church we planted in Friedrichshain where it all began, again until 2 AM. Then came Silvester (New Year's Eve). The Stoddards and Ben, a colleague, came to dinner, then later a new friend from the church plant. Two year old Emma loved the snacks best and took a handful home for later. At 11 PM we walked to Elizabeth's apartment under the roof top, six floors up. We climbed a ladder to the flat roof and watched fireworks explode around us in the air until well after midnight. Here fireworks are legal and there are incredible displays. From the rooftop we had a 360º view of Berlin. I lasted up there for about an hour but was glad to get warm again inside. We shot off the last of the fireworks at 2:30 AM and I walked the mile or so home in the cold smokey air. Firework debris lay everywhere and I thought of the street cleaners who would clear it all away over the next few hours. I woke New Year's Day to a beautiful fall of fat snowflakes and magical landscape of white lace and comforters lain over the previous night's debris. I went for a walk in the local "citizen's park" where dozens of families were creating snowmen, pushing baby carriages, pulling sleds and enjoying the day. I took some pictures and then went home singing praises to the Lord. What a joy it is to have the friends I have found here and to see how God has so enriched my life through them in the last ten years. I wish I could be a twin and be in both places, Berlin and home. I would love to have both my worlds and families next door to each other; to hug you all and share the hours. I send you these pictures, with lots of love and prayers of thanksgiving and blessing for you in the new year.

Vision for the church

HOW MUCH VISION DO YOU NEED TO PLANT A CHURCH?

We are loking for space for our growing "baby" church. We need a good location with walk-by traffic. We need as a minimum: space for worship for 45, two classrooms for children, an entrance area, a small useable kitchen, and toilets. It must have a place to park baby wagons and bicycles. It needs to have a courtyard or access to a park for the children to play. It needs to be accessible by public transportation and private autos without being drowned out by street noise. It must be a ground floor and have neighbors who will tolerate our noise. It needs to have windows that let in light and air (there's no air-conditioning). It must be affordable. 

We think we have found something. We are meeting with the realtor on Friday. Here are a few interior pictures. Incredible? Inspiring? Previously a restaurant on a very busy corner, it has been closed for four years, but has possibilities. We are excited. 

What do you think? Can you see it? Do you have vision for us? Do you see Sunday worship services? A kid's club? English classes? Bible studies? Film evenings? Women's breakfasts? Alpha courses? If this is it or not it, we need your prayers for clear vision, favor with the realtors and neighbors, a good contract, and a united spirit!