Dear members and friends of Zion,
It always takes me some time to go through all the different Christmas letterheads on offer and pick the one I like to send out to you. When I finally had chosen this one for this year, someone said: “Christmas comes gently? Do you really think so?” For sure this is one hectic season, especially here at church, but probably in your homes and lives, too. All too often we find ourselves saying: is it really this close to Christmas? I still have to do this and that, buy that present, send that card, go to that Christmas party etc. etc. We’ve all been there, done that.
And yet Christmas does come gently to the waiting world. The church calendar provides a special time of “waiting”, four weeks and four Sundays of Advent. They give us room to listen, to pray, to anticipate, room for acknowledging our need for salvation and redemption. The songs of Advent are among the most sensual ones that the church has to offer. They speak of yearning, and pray: Come! And all the whistles and bells and lights and smells and goodies of the season cannot give you what a prayerful heart can expect to receive.
Some of you know that as a teenager I sang in the choir of the Marienkirche, St. Mary’s church in Lübeck. It is a huge brick gothic edifice with cathedral dimensions, and each Heiligabend/Christmas Eve it would be filled to capacity. Of course we sang the hymns and carols, listened to readings and a sermon, and prayed. But the most memorable moment for me always came when the Pastor invited us to a moment of silent prayer – and silent it was, even in the midst of that huge crowd.
That’s when I truly would feel that quiet, gently coming of the One, who offers the gift of peace – for each one of us, and for all his children in this world, that needs peace so much.
“For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in the midst of her swift course, Thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne.’’
“Als tiefes Schweigen das All umfing und die Nacht bis zur Mitte gelangt war, da sprang dein allmächtiges Wort vom Himmel, vom königlichen Thron herab.” (Wisdom 18:14+15)
It is my hope and prayer that in the midst of these days to come, however hectic they may be and what ever they may bring to you, that you and I may find space to watch and wait and listen and pray. Your church, the Zionskirche/Zion Church will do its part, offering you hymns and anthems, some silence, too, and above all the gospel, the good news, that Christmas, Christ’s birth does comes gently indeed to the waiting world, the waiting heart, and offers the gift of Peace, which passes all our understanding.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
Words: Philippe Brooks 1835-93, verse 3 of O Little Town of Bethlehem, SBH 27
Ihnen allen von Herzen eine besinnliche Adventszeit und ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest!
 -  Have a blessed time of Advent and Christmas!
Your Pastor Dr Holger Roggelin
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• A heartfelt DANKESCHÖN/THANK YOU to all our volunteer helpers who made an incredible fall event season possible! At Sour Beef, we served c. 1400 meals, compared to 1070 in 2008; and at Christkindlmarkt, we welcomed 1457 visitors this year (4 more than in 2008) and had the best Sunday attendance ever in its 12 year history.

Pastor Dr. Holger Roggelin