“Theatrical Sarepta”

Volgograd
The “Theatrical Sarepta” festival, which the Lutheran congregation helped organize and in which the congregation took part, was held on January 21-22. The ceremonial opening took place in the kirche and started with a celebratory concert of children's drama groups; locally-trained actors from Marx, Kamyshin and Volgograd presented their own original plays. For example the “Hoffnung” folk theater (led by Svetlana Gelber) put on a skit about Catherine the Great and the residents of the Sarepta Moravian Brotherhood colony which was founded near Tsaritsyno (now Volgograd) in the 18th century.

At the end of the festival a family drama group from the congregation, led by Nelly Tretyakova, put on a play that she had written - “A History of One Poem.” In this play the story revolves around an anonymous poem found in the congregation's porch; the actors showed how an intergenerational family (a grandmother, daughter, granddaughter and two grandsons) reacted to this text and the theme of forgiveness that is at its center. The grandmother helps the younger generation come to a true understanding of forgiveness. Special treats of the day included music by Nelly's grandchildren on the guitar and piano and her homemade traditional German “krebles.”

Celebratory Days in Sarepta

Volgograd

From September 18-20 the Lutheran congregation in Volgograd celebrated a triple anniversary - 250 years from the moment of the founding of the only colony of the Moravian Brotherhood in Russia - "Sarepta;" 25 years from the moment of the rebirth of the Lutheran congregation in Volgograd and 10 years since the organ was installed in the church. The congregation as well as the local community organization the "Center of German Culture" and the "Old Sarepta" historical museum took part in the celebrations.

There were many guests from near and far at the celebration. Honored guests who gave their greetings included: ELC Archbishop Dietrich Brauer, Pastor Dietrich Hallmann and his wife Dorotea, who served in the congregation from 2000 to 2006, Karla Langerfeld - a pastor descended from a line of Moravian pastors in the 7th generation, partners of the German cultural center from city of Fuld (Germany), a representative of the International Union of German Culture, a representative of the German embassy in Moscow, the Minister of Culture in the Volgograd Oblast and the Vice-Chair of the Government of the Volgograd Oblast. 

Other congregations in the Lower Volga Deanery also took part - Kamyshin, Elista and the village of Lebyazhiy.

The event was opened by the laying of a time capsule with wishes of peace and good will to those who will open it 50 years from now. Two descendants of the Sarepta colony lead this memorable event.

On September 19th the Pastor of the congregation Oleg Schtulberg was married in the church with his wife Tatyana; the wedding was officiated by Pastor Dietrich Hallmann. 

On a sunny Sunday morning members of the congregation and guests gathered for worship, where Archbishop Dietrich Brauer preached. He also took part in the celebratory events related to the anniversary of Sarepta.

Finally in these days there was a meeting of the deanery with partners from the Berlin Mission.

Tatyana Schtulberg