The annual children’s Christmas Service attracted over 400 people from the Anglo-German community including soldiers and family from 20th Armoured Brigade.
British and German school children sang carols and listened to sermons in both languages before receiving their Christingle in a long procession of lit up faces that dates the celebration back to 1747, in what was then known as Moravia.
Open to all families and especially suited to children, the families were treated to music by The Band of the Kings Division who supported the event.
Each piece of the Christingle represents various themes such as creation, seasons, fruits and resurrection where in days gone by the Pastor encouraged the children to take the Christingle home and place in their windows ‘to show passers by the light of Christ’.
Dr Dücker stressed the importance of the annual service and how special this event was, especially with the military band and carols by the school choirs.
20th Armd Bde’s Padre, Reverend Steve Whiting said: “This year falls nicely in the brigade’s cycle as soldiers are able to spend time with their families.” He also talked about the importance of maintaining Anglo-German relations and that the service showed: “How far we have come as both nationalities were sat side by side in a church that was previously damaged during the war and has since been reconstructed. Whatever language people speak the message of the church is universal.”
Petra Fries (an English teacher in a local German secondary school) said: “It is wonderful to see both nationalities together and I would like to take the idea back to the classroom and encourage my pupils to make Christingles. I would like to see more military interaction with the community.”
Children from Bishop Park school Sennelager at the St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Paderborn for a Christingle Service involving both British and German Communities.
Children from the Luther school Paderborn at the St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Paderborn for a Christingle Service involving both British and German Communities.
Pfarrer Dr. Eckhard Düker from St. Peter and St. Paul Church Paderborn.
20th Armoured Brigade’s progress can be followed online at: http://www.twitter.com/theironfist.
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