This morning we broke into smaller groups, with each group visiting a different social service agency in Wittenberg. My group visited a kindergarten (like a pre-school in the U.S.) where the children greeted us with Easter hymns. This kindergarten is one of four Protestant kindergartens in Wittenberg, and it's associated with a congregation that is relatively new, having been formed sometime before reunification.
The principal talked about the religious education that is offered the children who are mostly 2 to 6 years of age. They hope each year to have at least one child join the congregation through baptism, and the children come to faith through the school. One child was baptized at the Easter Vigil recently and another is to be baptized in June.
We loved the nap room, with bedding for each child, sheep on the walls for counting and a disco ball (purchased by the parents) that helps lull the children to sleep!
The pastor of the supporting congregation, St. Martin's, met with us and described the life of her congregation. It is not remarkably different from many congregations we all know -- Bible studies, special programming for the senior citizens, offering space to groups like AA.
She mentioned that in Wittenberg, only 10 percent of the people are members of congre-gations; she also said that in much of western Germany, that figure is only 5 percent. St. Martin's has 1,500 members, but only 50-60 gather regularly for worship. Here's a view of the simple, but lovely worship space at St. Martin's.
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