Soccer Celebration Highlights!

I tell you, joy was in the air while the German soccer team fought to get to the top.

Germany played some great soccer in this years World Cup 2010. It was sad that they lost to Spain, but at least they came in 2nd place. This is a just a special tribute to all the German fans of their beloved soccer team.

Peace,
Janai Robinson

Mainz!!!

Mainz had a very home feeling atmosphere. I had a personal tourist guide by my great friends (Jonathan and Linda!!) from the area, plus a scheduled viewing of when Korea vs. Uruguay & USA vs. Ghana.

I got to see the "Dome" which is a huge historical Catholic church, plus seeing the famous Jewish artist, Marc Chagall, on contract did a stained glass project for a church, but passed away before he could see his finished work.

The Gutenberg Museum was very informative. I did not take many pictures because they were not allowed. But I did get one picture of a huge printing press that was located in entrance hallway. What I learned is that nobody knows what Gutenberg looked like, the sculptures and drawing are just representational.

For those who do not know, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press at a time where Martin Luther nailed the 95 These on the doors of church. There is also valid research that in the Asian countries, Korean and Japanese were really the original inventors.

Peace Out!
Janai Robinson

Fun take-outs!

I got to participate with a group of theological students in a preaching-slam, which happened to be their first undertaking.  Went through a all-day workshop on Friday and Saturday till the 8pm that night when it was time for performing. There was a great turn out. The goal of the slam was to take a story in the Bible, a verse and tell it in poetic, prose, metaphorically way; but making it relevant to the unchurched person. I chose Song of Solomon and used a repeated refrain in my dialogue poem between the man/God and woman. Text upon request!

Here is a clip of the preaching-slam by one of the students from the school. Her name is Sara.

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Eisenach Visit!

This town felt warm and welcoming as I got off the train, taking a quick walkabout the town before checking into my hotel. Eisenach is not as flat as Wittenberg, but not as hilly as Marburg, so the in between does exist!=) The main attractions in Eisenach are: The Wartburg Castle, Johann Sebastian Bach and the Luther House, which is much smaller in comparison to the one in Wittenberg but it did have tons of written, visual and audio understandings of the time period, Luther’s theology and supporters’ of the Reformation.

St. Nikolai Kirche

My first visit was actually not my sights for visiting, it was a historical church (evangelical church) that is now more modern in liturgy and worship. The church is called St. Nikolai. It was built in Thüringen during the Romantic period in 1180. This church was the half waypoint of the Benedictines Cloister, one of the oldest and meaningful cloisters’ out of the 7 well-known in Eisenach.

St. Nikolai has well sized pipe organ and mix of old and modern artwork still visible. The particular artwork that gets’ the prominence is the Altar piece. It was created in 16 hundreds, the author is unknown, in a small town carpentry shop outside of Eisenach. The theme of the art piece is centered on the burial of Christ (which is centered in the middle). On the left side is Bishop Nikolaus (erected around 350 ad.) and the right side shows Jacob the apostle.

While visiting there, I got to know the sexton of the church. She gave me the brief history of the church and the recent visitation of Pastor Schneider, from the EKD, who came and spoke and had to unfortunately let-go a pastor because of financial circumstances. This topic seemed to really affect the sexton. The sexton feels that cuts because of financial circumstances should start from the top and not the bottom; to not stop the ministry that interacts with the people directly because they are more important than someone maintaining status up top. The problem in the east side of Germany is that there is no money there for the church to exist or do ministry because it is and was such a more secular area than on the west side when the wall was erected. A student told me that there many young pastors ready for ministry but not enough money for them to live and serve the church as it should.

Die Wartburg

As you can see from my pictures below how high, long and tiring the walk was up the hill to the Wartburg Castle; but once I got up there, boy, I was happy and definitely took my time browsing the place. I met an older couple on the way and we encouraged one another; and because of that victory the husband took my camera from me and made sure I had a picture with myself in it.

I got to see where Jünker Jorg/Martin Luther worked and the splash of ink on the wall they claim is from him. There was a lot of history about St. Elisabeth who had some dwellings there that took up most of what the tour guide shared.

 

The Bach Haus

I briefly visited just because this man was beyond his time just like Luther, but with music. Sat in on a presentation of various pianos/harpsichord of Bach’s day. Bach’s many children and wives which he loved. The tragedy of his first wife was when he went away for work, he came back and his wife, unknown for what reason, died.

The Bach’s house also had a level where you can hear the many musicals of his day, not just by him, but by other famous composers as well. There was also modern day orchestra, opera, ensemble music, or the new Bachs’ of today available to hear and purchase. There was a statement that Bach’s music tended to reflect some of Luther’s sermons because he loved them so much.

Painting update!

I have the outward panel almost done (some finishing touches), now working on the inside panel!

Next stop…Guttenberg Museum in Mainz!

Hallo Wittenberg!

May 31^st – June 2^nd

Hallo Wittenberg!

Very, very exciting trip!

First let’s start at the Schloß Kirche. 

Here is the main view from the back of the church looking forward. There sculptures on the left and right. There are very High chandeliers, ceilings and colorful stained glass windows way in the background and hidden ones on the sides in this photo.

Here are two memorial paintings of Martin Luther and Philipp Melancthon whom are buried here in this church. As you can see they look a little older, getting up in years I think. These paintings you will find on the right hand side of the church wall before the church pews start to end.

Here are the burial sites of both Reformers. The body can be found below deep in the ground under these representational sites.

 

These are statues representing from the left: St. Peter, Jesus and St. Paul.

I just liked how this pulpit in comparison to the one at Wartburg seminary wraps around and has a covering above. I wonder what symbolic meaning that has instead of thinking, I hope that will never get loose!=) The preaching seminary in Wittenberg says they use that podium when students practice preaching. All I can say is… INTIMIDATING!

The 95 Theses are still in Latin 

but are printed out of bronze 

because the original 

one was made out of wood

 and got badly burned somehow.

Okay we have Sites, now we need Sounds!

I am not sure if there are any Organ lovers out there but here is your moment!

I believe this is in the ranking of one of the largest organs’ in the world. Also a little short history note…in the past organs originated in circuses from Rome and at first it was forbidden to own or have an organ in the church. Like guitars and keyboards are not fully accepted yet today in certain organized religions. I also have a short clip for those doubters about that!=)

Here the loud Organ Roar! (soon)

Proof of past Organ Treatment! (soon)

One of Martin Luther's rooms (soon)

This is the end of the Schloß Kirche.

Lucas Cranach the Elder slide show com’in right up!

Here are pictures from Cranach’s Hof! One of Cranach’s Printing shops is located here with a stature of himself no less! For those who are into printing presses, graphic design, metals etc this is your moment.

Printing Shop!

Food for Thought!

Okay the Presses!

Now the Stadtkirche!

Cranach the Elder and the Junger’s Altar Piece is inside!

Overall my trip was great! There are whole lot more picture and other sites not mentioned such as Luther Haus. However it was a great experience and it intrigued me that there two person who looked Buddhist, they had a bright orange cloth as clothing wrapped around them, who were enjoying the city and the Luther Decade is going on. I thought that was very symbolic and exciting that Wittenberg streets are filled with Ecumenical and Interfaith possibilities and realities. 

Painting still in progress, stay tuned. The next  post will be about Eisenach, you guessed Wartburg Castle! (And a little bit of Bach too!)

Pentecost Weekend

Well there will be less text this time and more pictures and videos!

Spaghetti Ice Cream..the Bomb!   

These are REAL pies! (apple and blueberry)

She is making my Crepe!

German version of trampoline jumping!

I also got to make communion bread with "The Church of the Brethren." TAKE FIVE!

Here is me working away! And the results are on the bottom! I do not think I have had communion bread like this before.

Cool Video....right....now! (Sorry for my sideways video taping!)

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Pressing On!

May 20, 2010

I met some US students from Pennsylvania that are connected to Bethany Seminary, The Church of the Brethren. This church has some roots in Marburg and Professor Ken Rogers is leading a group of 7 students to learn about their roots, how church and life is in Germany, and finally Martin Luther. I was asked to give a little speech/talk about my cross-cultural experience or first impressions having been here 20 days already. There were speakers with various lengths of stay in Marburg that shared their experience too. There was a general consensus that Germans are very passionate and direct when specifically asked about issues that concern them. In terms of churches meeting together to discuss issues, one of the Marburg resident speakers said that state churches do not need to meet as much but with Freie Kirchen have to meet often because it is so scattered. I thought that was very interesting. One of the Pastors at the Lutherische Pfarrerkirche St. Marien commented on his visit in the US, was how he felt the unequal pay among pastors in regards to stating, "A pastor has a Porsch while another pastor cannot even afford one." Therefore he likes that pastors in Germany, no matter your status gets the same pay. Food for thought.

Also this Sunday at church, because of Pentecost (Pfingsten),  two sermons will be given, one in english and the other in German. It is a celebration of more than one languages being present in church that day. I cannot wait to see how they do this!

I am receiving so much information that is so rewarding and good for my project. There is a student from Korea, who has been at the university 8 years has just finished his thesis, which has been accepted. And guess what the topic was What is Martin Luther saying today? It seems to be the theme in the Church and in the minds of many theologians. Also this Korean student believes that Germans only have a Western view of Christianity, and have very poor knowledge about Middle or Far Eastern part of the country, where he believes Christianity had its start. At the same time I remember a Professor in class at Wartburg Theological Seminary talking about how Westerners try to assimilate Middle East rituals or covenant language which does not apply to us. That God's promise to the Jewish people is specifically theirs. Therefore, the Gentiles, non-Jewish people, who have been grafted in are under new Covenant under this grace through faith that Jesus Christ's death brings us. God keeping promises on both sides are a good thing.

Adding on to the discussion of What is Martin Luther saying today? theme is trying to respond to how the Church should work together with Culture. There seems to be a culture-conflict, a moving away from church identity and embracing vocational identity, which I believe the Two Kingdoms Doctrine along with Law/Gospel should be valuable truths from Martin Luther that could bridge that gap of understanding. Therefore making it so significant to use art, biology, music, science and so on, as ways of proclaiming truth about about the world which God has created. For me, my response to this evaluation of society will be through art.

Also the hesitancy of the culture embracing the Church is because of the Church's past history. There has been so much sexual and manipulation under God's name through the Church that some strongly feel it to be heretical and inactive towards society. Their actions seem to be more political rather than spiritual. Again I strongly believe that when society/this generation understands that evil exists in both kingdoms, and that our only source of comfort and perfect love is God through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection will there be a balance of understanding, so that virtue and moral living does not have to be destroyed every time another fallible person lets' us down.

There has also been a lot of reference to the Enlightenment period or that we are still in this period, I may wish to dive in a little deeper as to why it is being emphasized. It is not only used in the Church or as a theologian, but in propaganda and advertising, too.

Again, something to ponder and take note from my journey in Marburg. I will be booking some trips in Germany soon, so stay tuned!=)

Peace, Shalom, Erene and Friede be with you all!
Janai Robinson





Anyway here is some progress on my art:

I have had some great responses already and the painting is not done yet. A friend in my dorm felt touched by the movement of the art piece when I just had it in sketch form. It is going to be fascinating what comes out at the end!!