News from the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Marx on the Volga Nr. 4 November 2013 “May the roads cause us to meet and the wind blow on your back…may God hold you fast in the palm of his hand until we meet again.” During the days of our sojourn in Marx, this song was our companion and it was sung in the congregation’s church as well as by the youth choir and in the village congregations in Lipovka/Schaefer and Osinovka/Reinhard. May this wish soon be realized again! We, the tour group from the Church of the Star in Potsdam and our sister congregation in Schoonhoven in the Netherlands, travelled to Marx on the Volga for the 20th anniversary of the reorganization of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation. The trip to Russia was of one week’s duration. We are able, therefore, to report on new happenings because of personal experience because this trip took place last September: The actual reason for the trip was the 20th anniversary of the congregation after the change in politics. We flew via Moscow to Saratov on the Volga and were picked up late in the evening by Pastor Volodya Rodikov and taken to our quarters in the German-Russian House in Marx which was 60 kilometers from Saratov. On the first day we were fortunate to have been also able to participate in the city festival. The weather was perfect. It took place between the German House and the Evangelical Lutheran church. We were naturally curious about the famous church built by the Volga Germans. From afar it gave the impression of a majestic vista and close up it is a beautiful building that is, however, very much in need of renovation and restoration. There were many words of greeting from Germany presented during the anniversary worship service on Sunday, there was the presentation of gifts and a fabulous choir sang. We had lots of time to experience the atmosphere and the unbelievably good acoustics. The sermon was given by the representative of the bishop, Superintendent Vladimir Provorow; Pastor Schliephacke from Potsdam greeted the congregation by giving a short sermon as well. After that everyone fellowshipped with each other and, as is the custom in Russia, had tea with cake. There were many opportunities to converse with each other and to examine the possibilities for aid in light of the way things are done and what is needed in the congregation. As a memorial to the earlier period in the history of the congregation two more plaques were placed on the wall; one for Eleonore Herdt who gathered the congregation together again after the political change and one that showed a map of German Lutheran congregations in the County of Marx. The church building has been affected very much by deterioration and one cannot miss seeing the damage to the façade on the exterior and there are numerous visible spots where there has been water damage in the interior of the church building because of holes in the roof. Repairs to this beautiful church are absolutely imperative. The church is the largest and most beautiful church from Volga German times and at one time had room for 1,400 believers. Two balconies are held up by pillars that today still show the old decorations painted with paint the color of gold. The congregation in Marx, the partner congregations in Potsdam and in Holland and the mission societies in Germany are asking for donations so that the building can be restored and renovated. The government has also informed us that funds for this purpose will be available and the figure may perhaps be millions (of rubles). The congregation in Marx has submitted an application. In order to get to know the (entire) congregation it is clear that one must also visit the congregations (preaching stations) in the villages. Firstly we visited Lipovka/Schaefer. There is a worship service there each Saturday at 3:00 p.m. After the service we got to know Russian hospitality and sat together around a table filled to overflowing. On Monday morning a worship service was celebrated in Osinovka/Reinhard and “crowned” with anniversary torts afterward. The work in the village congregations is growing and is blessed. Time and time again there are baptisms and there is growth by means of new people moving to the region i.e. from Kazakhstan. After our return to Germany children were also baptized in Marx. Natalya wrote: “On October 27, 2013 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in the city of Marx had the joy of celebrating the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Two children were baptized during this service. In the presence of many members of the congregation, guests and in the presence of the godparents the head of the congregation, Pastor V. Rodikov, administered baptism.” Holy Baptism was received by Anastasia, age five months, and Edward, age three. “Baptism is a most important sacrament and signifies reception into the Christian Church. Jesus said in Mark 10:14 “Permit the children to come to me; do not hinder them for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” We wish the families God’s blessing and the Lord’s aid in raising them in the Christian faith.” And so the days in Marx quickly passed by. Pastor Volodya brought us to Saratov with his church bus where we saw a few things that we will not forget and where we took part in a Bible study in Dean Scheiermann’s church house. We took the night train to Volgograd and were the guests of the congregation in Sarepta while there. Almost all the buildings that are part of the old Moravian settlement from the 18th century are still preserved and several have been restored. The church is also in very good condition now and space in the church house may be used for seminars. In various places you can see that Volgograd’s history was forged by the war and by Germans. It is a city of over a million. For that reason we also toured the new memorial monument and the military cemetery at Rossoschka where German, Russian and others soldiers found their last resting place. It is very moving to read the many names listed there and it is comforting that at the common memorial cemetery reconciliation between nations can be furthered. In addition it was an absolute necessity to view the Hill of Mamayev with its monumental statue “Mother Homeland”. At 85 meters/255 feet it is the highest statue in the world. At the Volga-Don Canal we learned about the inhumane work that people who were condemned to work camps and prisoners-of-war, also many Germans among them, had to perform after the war. Concrete happenings resulting from the trip: The suggestion to set up a web site for the congregation was accepted with thanks and it was immediately set up by Svetlana. The site has already been praised by many and she regularly updates the web site. You can make your own evaluation by going to: www.//lutherkirche-marks.ru In order to have a better overview of expenses and income in the congregation we set up a budget and discussed it with Pastor Rodikov. He viewed it as being helpful and wants to work with it in mind. In view of the workload we recommended that he delegate various jobs to members of the church council and to set up an annual table of responsibilities. The application for the restoration of the church was finally submitted to the administration and it will pass on the information. Special prayer concerns: - Renewed health for Pastor Rodikov, the church secretary and the caretaker - God’s blessing for work among children in the villages, the development of youth work in Marx - God’s blessing and help for the church council in carrying out its duties - The acceptance of the application for government aid for the restoration of the church building - God’s aid in looking for an architect and good ideas for plans for the restoration of the church Trinity Evangelical Church in Marx is a partner congregation of the Church of the Star in Potsdam. Publisher: Helga Gubatz; Tel.: 01149 30 805 11 96; E-mail: h.gubatz@t-online.de Contact: The Potsdam Evangelical Church of the Star, Mission Society for Marx on the Volga, Im Schaeferfeld 1, 14480 Potsdam, Germany, Ursula Friedrich: Tel.: 01149 331 62 34 29, E-mail: lafrie@web.de For the Support of the partner congregation in Marx donations may be transferred to the following account: Kirchliches Verwaltungsamt Potsdam, K-Nr: 779 202; BLZ: 210 602 37; Kreditinstitut: EDG Kiel, For general donations: 2110.02.2210.1; For specific donations: 2110.02.2210.2 (There are various photos included in this newsletter of: the anniversary worship service, the plaque in memory of Eleonore Herdt, April 17, 1934 - November 3, 1999 who gave an immeasurable gift of time for the restoration of the Lutheran congregation in Marx and for the preservation of Russian German cultural heritage, the various people bringing greetings to the congregation, the choir concert, and the village congregations in Osinovka/Reinhard and Lipovka/Schaefer.)