South Westphalia/Wormbach. The Spiritual Summer 2017 has begun with the presentation of the light sculpture Sternenhaus by the Beckum artist Ulrich Möckel, music and an inter-religious meditation.
In beautiful summer weather, Elmar Reuter, chairman of the Sauerland Heimatbund, was able to present the "Network Wege zum Leben. In South Westphalia", Pastor Erik Richter for the parish of St. Peter and Paul and Christian Schürmann for the village community of Wormbach welcomed over 150 guests from all over South Westphalia on the meadow at Biermann's barn. Two choirs, the Chorgemeinschaft Wormbach and the Pop Choir NJoy from Westfeld, put the visitors in the right musical mood for the evening.
Starry sky as an impulse on the subject of light
The Star House, which Ulrich Möckel built next to the parish church with the active support of the Wormbach village community under the direction of church board member Reinhard Hermes, is a pyramid-shaped sculpture and can be entered at any time. Inside, an almost poetic experience is revealed: light falls through many small openings and evokes the image of a starry sky. Day and night are only one step away from each other. Michael Kloppenburg (deanery Hochsauerland-Mitte) invited the guests to go inside and make their own experiences with the "grounded night sky".
Moving common meditation
The highlight of the event was a cross-cultural and cross-religious meditation. Dean Georg Schröder (Deanery of Hochsauerland-Mitte), Superintendent Stefan Berk (Ev. Kirchkreis Wittgenstein), Dr. Achmed Arslan (Turkish-Muslim Community Meschede), Utpalacitta (Buddhist Community Triratna e.V. Arnsberg) and the artist Ulrich Möckel shared thoughts and texts with the guests, which dealt with the topics of the Star House in their respective tradition or perspective. Allon Sander (Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation Siegerland) could not be present himself because of the Jewish holiday Shavuot (week festival, on which the handing over of the Ten Commandments is celebrated), but sent his greetings.
"The message of this evening is that it is possible for religions and cultures to live together in
mutual respect and appreciation for each other and that we are on the right path with the
Spiritual Summer," said Elisabeth Grube, representative of the Evangelical Church
District of Wittgenstein in the network Wege zum Leben.
Strong network with many actors
The evening came to an end with music, good conversations and inspiring encounters.
Food and drink was provided by the village community of Wormbach, which will use the proceeds to support the reconstruction after the earthquake in Nepal, as in previous years
.
Co-initiator Hubertus Schmidt (Schmallenberger Sauerland): "Now we are looking forward to more than 300
events that show how much contemporary, lively and authentic spirituality
our region has to offer! An offer from which our guests and thus also
tourism will benefit. Thanks to all those who make this programme possible!" Mady Fehrmann, Head of the Department of
Culture of the Arnsberg District Government, and Ursula Beckmann, Deputy
District Administrator of the Hochsauerlandkreis, also emphasised in their greetings that
the Spiritual Summer has developed into an extraordinary
cultural programme supported by a broad base, and thanked all those who took part.
The series of events is financially supported by the Ministry for Family, Children, Youth,
Culture and Sport of North Rhine-Westphalia (Sauerland cultural region), six Catholic
deaneries and two Protestant church districts in South Westphalia, the Protestant Adult Education Centre
Westphalia-Lippe, the Archbishopric of Paderborn, the District of Olpe, the Stadtsparkasse Schmallenberg,
the savings banks in the Hochsauerlandkreis, the town of Arnsberg, the FALKE company and many others.
INFO
Spiritual summer from 1 June to 3 September 2017 throughout South Westphalia. More than 300
events in over 90 locations. The programme booklets are available at tourist information offices,
banks and citizens' offices or from the
network "Wege zum Leben. In South Westphalia."
c/o Schmallenberger Sauerland
Poststr. 7, 57392 Schmallenberg
02972-9740-17, w
ww.wege-zum-leben.com info@wege-zum-leben.com
