community festival on the North Baden Bergstrasse: a place of encounter and change

<p> <strong> community festival on the North Baden Bergstrasse: a place of encounter and change </strong> </p>

In the idyllic benz park in Ladenburg, an important community festival was celebrated on June 15, 2024, which not only represents a happy together, but also symbolizes a decisive step in the development of the future parish of Nordbadische Bergstrasse. The cool summer day started with the challenges of the rain, but the committed volunteers could not be discouraged. With a tent structure and cheerful hymns, the room was prepared for the visitors after a short time, and there was quickly a warm community that spread familiarity and joy.

At the center of this festival was the foundation agreement that is still being created, a document that is intended to define the structure and alignment of the new parish. Many worshipers are less happy about the formalities, but rather about the opportunity to get to know the faces behind the future parishes, which are to be united under a new roof from 2026. The pastoral care units from Hemsbach, Weinheim-Hirschberg, Ladenburg-Heddesheim, Schriesheim-Dossenheim and Steinachtal are particularly mentioned.

Common commitment to the future

An important step in development was the large number of working groups that formed to work on central topics such as community, worship, charity and public relations. These groups make a significant contribution to finding a common denominator for the different communities by making the inventory of the existing offers and opportunities. Wolf-Dieter Wöffler, project coordinator for church development, emphasizes that the exchange between the different communities is decisive in order to design a future-proof parish.

The foundation agreement itself is a living document that is continuously updated and therefore not only gives an insight into the planned structure of the parish, but also focuses on the goals and values that are important for the new community. A strong focus is on the diocesan strategy for 2030, which serves as a guide for the reforms. The associated challenges and changes are clear to the members, but the questions about the further service formats and the preservation of the usual community remain.

Another important aspect of church development is the influence of contemporary ecumenism. Regina Kailich, the head of the AG Community, reports that many people want to work willingly and actively in these changes. Their commitment shows that the will for participation is very pronounced and that you want to actively contribute to development instead of waiting passively.

evangeliar: symbol of unit

A particularly symbolic element of the festival is the common gospel, which acts as a central point of unit promotion. The artist Veronika Drop, who designed the Gospel, wanted to not only reflect the traditions of the church with her design, but also represent the lively community of believers. It will find space through the churches and in different communities before it finally takes its final place in the patronage church in Weinheim. This not only creates an tangible anchor, but also promotes cohesion among the believers.

When the celebrations in the benz park slowly come to an end, visitors are characterized by the feeling of community and the common belief. Sebastian Feuerstein, the project coordinator and pastor, is pleased with the lively participation and commitment of those present: "It is impressive how many people come together from different parishes to celebrate God together. This is the core of our efforts and I hope that this spirit of cooperation will continue to lead us while we shape the church together."