old friends / new friends in Berlin

[Carsten Schermuly]

July Erickson from Chicago and my daughter Elisabeth on their common balkony. July works since more than thirty years for Campus Crusade For Christ and we have been nearby for fifteen years members of the same community. July and Elisabeth will live with two other Ladies, members of Campus in a common appartment.
We spent in sunday afternoon some hours and yesterday just a few minutes (in a hurry, we had a bit to do) as very good time.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0072c.jpg



Elisabeth and me - taken by July

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0073a.jpg

[Carsten Schermuly]

The Berlin - Lichtenrade community had Lords Supper and not to disturnb I took no photos while service. This is a bit later before Lunch Pastor Wolfgang Schwarzfischer (center, white shirt in first photo) said a few words and prayed before the meal.

I must realize - the most of the community members I did not know. I am not often enaugh in Berlin. So it was good, Elisabeth (black pullover, grey trousers in first photo) does know them and could help me up.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0054a.jpg



http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0053a.jpg

[Carsten Schermuly]

Names I learned new have been Joel Findley and Christina, the Lady with the plates. We sat on the same table and had alot of fun, we had more laughed than eaten.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0059c.jpg

[Carsten Schermuly]

The gentleman at right from South America was very kind. We talked for about five minutes to another, but have been interrupted - so I do not know his name. All I know, he will be tighten involved in the Lichtenrade Jakobus Community, maybe he is already a member. It is so lovely to watch how people from other countries are integrated - as a daily normality with the background of the international church.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0058c.jpg


Pastor Schwarzfischer (at left) retourned as a W & W Team member from Madagascar. His skin was sunburned red like copper. His wife Gisa (behind him) had an african cloth in dark blue with a powerfull yellow as Batik - looked great. Wolfgang had done a good choice by that colours.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0052c.jpg

[Carsten Schermuly]

I have difficulties to identify the children, they do grow up too fasten. I wait to what parents they will go to know from what family. The gentleman with uplifted hands in background is Wolfgang Schulz, he and his family are a pillar, the Jakobus community does rest on from beginning. His profession is an electrician and he does all related jobs in the church building - and he does alot on Nehemiah Yard.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/pics_for_NazNet/06fjun05/dscf0051a.jpg


I met on sunday a young Lady, her parents Bettina & Thomas Rosenhalm have been members of the First Church of Berlin (to that time in Berlin - Schmargendorf, later Grunewald) when I came to Berlin in 1977. A few years later her grandparents became children of the Lord (parents of Bettina) because the living testimony of Bettina & Thomas.

[Carsten Schermuly]

I met on sunday a young Lady, her parents Bettina & Thomas Rosenhalm have been members of the First Church of Berlin (to that time in Berlin - Schmargendorf, later Grunewald) when I came to Berlin in 1977. A few years later her grandparents became children of the Lord (parents of Bettina) because the living testimony of Bettina & Thomas.What I like to say is
the bible teaches, children are blessings by the Lord.
We will see that again in this story - and in my story too - I am very blessed through my daughter as a theologician and counselor. She does not use many words, it is the way she will meet her parents.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Carsten, thanks for sharing these lovely photos of the Berlin church. Were they having the luncheon in honor of Pentecost Sunday or is this something they normally do? Your Lily is lovely and I know you and Ruth are so proud of and happy for her. She appears to have a very level head and will go far in life.

Again, thanks for sharing and reminding us of those who did 'pioneer' work in establishing the COTN in Germany and surrounding areas.

Blessings to your entire family,

[Carsten Schermuly]

Dear Edith,

thank you! Indeed, the wesleyan theology of holiness is always the better choice - and in common with the democratic church law & order (the manual), a very powerfull instrument.

It is grace. Pure grace.
Christians are allowed to step near altar, are invited to step near altar as guests of the Jews. Paul wrote "planted in the jews garden".

My heart is filled by thanks.
I am allowed to touch holy things, I am allowed to see holiness, I am allowed to take part on holy motions.
This shall never been hidden by stories and jokes, temporarily in foreground. Golgotha is the place of grace and healing - we will find unity on this place Golgotha under the loving hands of the Good Shepheard - as individuals we were lost.

[Carsten Schermuly]

Were they having the luncheon in honor of Pentecost Sunday or is this something they normally do?Sorry, I failed to answer.
A community does not need lonely to be "vertical" teached, a community needs also "horizontal" dialogues - to share joy and burden. So since many years the Berliners have spent their sundays in common. It is basing on the good idea by Tim & Mary - Esther Kauffmann. Since a church has also a garden and a back yard it is the ideal place to let that "family life" be reality.

This common lunch was done after a time interval. They do not spend every sunday afternoon in common, but they do it regularily after a time plan "every two or three weeks" or so - I do not know that. But - in case, Easter or Pentecoste or (our german) Thanksgiving (on first sunday in October), Christmas and New Years Eve etc are planned "without common sunday afternoon", they make changings the their time plan.
So this would be done to honour Pentecoste (not seen on a time plan).

Often wedding parties are done in the church and the churches garden - a very, very good solution - seen on the (unsaved) wedding guests - to learn more about each other and to point to Jesus Christ. Wedding parties on other places than a church do not open so good chances for "personally evangelisation".

[Carsten Schermuly]

A common lunch does also meet the sense of the Lords Supper. To have a common meal means also to have dialogues, to fix friendship relations etc.

[Hans Deventer]

A common lunch does also meet the sense of the Lords Supper. To have a common meal means also to have dialogues, to fix friendship relations etc.

Yes indeed!

[Carsten Schermuly]

We identify ourself first (by our profession, by our titles,) by our language or by our nationality - and secondairy as members of the same family - seen on the international church, seen on the unsplitted body of Jesus Christ worldwide.

Schermuly, a Hugenotte family
Since 1845 in Kansas, USA - on what side in the war 1864 had they fought? What their grandfather (came via New York and stood there for a while before he moved to Kansas) spent more time in New York - on what side he was then in 1864?

William Schermuly (1857-1929)
http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/schermuly/
Great Britain, founded a rocket factory to save sailors on havarists - later his company built (quote) "Grapnel rockets used to climb sheer cliffs by troops on D-Day in 1944"

http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/schermuly/gra.jpg


Wilhelm Schermuly (1907 - 1979)
Germany, my father - was officer in Hitlers Army.
What, he was born on the other side of the fence?

It will cost us sometimes a bit phantasy to overcome men made borders. The Lord does see all noses of world population as his beloved children (unsaved and saved).
We are challenged to love another. This common sundays do help - seen on the international church not soo much, more seen on the local church - but they do help.