On October 31, 2023, theVocal – Double Quartet of theEFG Hamburg Schnelsenunder the direction ofJoachim Duske, Singer in the NDR Vocal Ensembleand his organ andPiano accompanist, the church musician and parish deaconin the EFG Neumünster and AltonaHenning Worreschkgladly accept the invitation of theEFG Hamburg Hamm, a musicalReformation service.
Under the theme "Give us peace"sounded LTexts and texts by Martin Luther and his contemporaries. This topic proves its everlasting topicality, especially in the present time, in dramatic topicality.
Luther ́s next to"A strong fortress is our God"probably the best-known text"Graciously grant us peace"accompanied the attentive worshippers from various Hamburg congregations throughout the evening in settings by composers from different eras, most recently in the modern pop version by Matthias Nagel.
As a musical alternative to the Luther text, a song by Jürgen Henkys was played in the setting by Matthias Kiemle. The desperately longing-sounding text"Give peace, Lord, give peace, the world is taking a bad course"is accompanied by the rocking version of the well-known melody of Luther's"Give us peace"in a drastic way.
Refuge and security with God radiated two settings of the 34th and 90th Psalms. Jesus' love for us, his response and the desire to be completely with him met the listeners in a small spiritual concert by Heinrich Schütz.
The focus of the evening was Luther's best-known chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott".By his contemporaries and also in the time of the two world wars, this song was often referred to as"Battle Song"against the enemies, because God is definitely on their side, the right side. That evening, however, the song was performed in the form of a chorale partita with duet, solos and choir with congregational singing, but in the awareness that God wants and can give us inner and outer peace.
Aspiritual impulse by Michael Becker, (Congregation leader EFG Hamm), theFreedom of faith, as Paul describes it in Galatians 5:1-6gave the audience the opportunity to reflect on their own point of view.
The congregational hymn "I will, as long as I live, praise God forever", sung by all, once again took up the thoughts of the 34th Psalm.
After the service, there was plenty of opportunity to reflect on what we had heard over a glass of wine and small snacks, to cultivate old acquaintances and to make new ones.
We thank theMunicipality of HammWe cordially thank you for the good hospitality and are sure that this Reformation evening will resonate with us for a long time.
