On May 14, the Castle and City Church congregations celebrated the Ascension Day service in the castle courtyard.
ONE—this was the title given to the Ascension service held in the castle courtyard. What happens when the One—around whom disciples have gathered until now, and who has been the very center of their lives and faith—ascends into heaven (Acts 1:1–14)? Jesus himself intercedes on behalf of his followers and all those who will join them in the course of time (John 17:20–26). And the deepest desire of his heart in this prayer is that people be one—one heart and one soul, a steadfast community. A unity that comes from the heart and finds its roots and strength in the One who remains the center of the Church: Jesus Christ. The readings, hymns, prayers, and sermon all revolved around these themes.
The weather took a turn for the better as the service progressed, allowing everyone—young and old, guests and congregation members alike—to celebrate together in joyful spirits. Pastor Birgit Neumann-Becker served as the liturgist, guiding the congregation through the service. Martin Schröder read the account of the Ascension, while Cynthia Richter read the sermon text, which included the prayer for unity. Pastor Matthias Keilholz invited the congregation to reflect deeply upon this prayer. Community and unity represent a tremendous strength and a precious gift. Cultivating these qualities—rooted in trust in Jesus—is more necessary now than ever, particularly in a world that appears increasingly fractured. In this way, Christians can serve as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the transformative power of God’s love.
Following the joint opening, the children were invited to attend a special program designed just for them, led by Pastor Fabian Mederacke. The music was provided by the band—under the direction of Cantor Christoph Hagemann—which accompanied the congregational hymns with great energy and performed two special musical pieces. Marko Kronberg was responsible for the sound engineering. The sextons of the Castle and City Church congregation—Dorothee Knull, Cynthia Richter, Wolf-Dieter Schnerpel, and Ingo Weise—had worked diligently to ensure that everyone was comfortably seated and that the altar and cross were set up and adorned.
Thus, in many respects, the worship service served as a symbol of community and offered encouragement to live out and actively shape the unity for which Jesus himself prayed. — Pastor Matthias Keilholz
