Weinacht in Neuendettelsau

Well, it's been a while...but we've had Christmas, two moves and very lousy internet to contend with! So as we get ready to leave Europe we're trying to bring everyone up to date with our movements over the past week or so.

Last time I posted we were still staying in the Wasserschloss in Unsleben. We thoroughly enjoyed our low key stay in this beautiful village and comfortable cottage. The timing was perfect after several weeks of being tourists at every stop and we appreciated the chance to just chill out for a few days. As we heard reports of 40+ degree temperatures back home, we enjoyed sub-zero temperatures and the frozen ponds and moat wouldn't let us forget just how cold it really was!

These photos were taken by the pond at our back door. The ice was about and inch thick and provided some entertainment for the girls and I.

The moat around the castle was completely iced over. Darcee had a ball skimming all sorts of things across the surface!

The oldest parts of the castle dated from the 12th century and it really was quite a building. The count and countess still live in the castle with their family. His advice to me...."Don't buy a castle! They were designed for servants and are too expensive to run!" I think I'll take his advice, but it was terribly nice to spend time at their place!

A secret garden!

Throughout France and in some places in Germany, these crucifixes are found at almost every intersection. This one was at the end of the lane way that led to our cottage.

With the help our dear friend, Pastor Neville Otto, we had arranged accommodation over Christmas in the very Lutheran village of Neuendettelsau. This is the village in which Pastor Wilhelm Lohe was pastor and from which he sent missionaries around the world. Pastor Thomas Paulsteiner welcomed us to town and he and his lovely wife Renata made our stay one to remember.

Our drive from Unsleben was uneventful and a reminder that we were well and truly used to travelling in Europe and on the autobahns - I even started to feel a bit edgy when I had to slow below 130 km/h! Once in Neuendettelsau we had serious business to attend to - where to find the food for Christmas Eve dinner and how would we get a Christmas tree! Both dilemmas were taken care of with German efficiency and we went to bed with tree in place, shopping in the fridge, and the hope of snow quickly melting!

Our stay in Neuendettelsau was very low key and very timely. It was marked by sleep ins, good company, the occasional walk around the sleepy village, regular worship and new friendships. The lack of photos on the camera of our time there is probably testament to just how well we relaxed during our time there!

On Christmas Eve we made a quick trip to Nuremberg to visit our last Christmas market. It was held up a day by only the second day of rain during our 5 weeks in Europe during winter! Nuremberg is a beautiful city and the old part of town is something to behold, complete with the old city wall and watchtowers. After some "interesting" times trying to find a car park (courtesy of grumpy old me!), we finally got to spend a couple of hours in this beautiful market and town square.

After a quick trip back to Neuendettelsau, we got Christmas Eve dinner in the oven and headed off to worship at 5pm. Although this was the third service of the day, we were told to get there at least half an hour early. Just as well we listened as the church was filled to overflowing and the service was adorned with wonderful music from organ, brass band and choir. They sang mostly Paul Gerhardt hymns/carols and while I can't speak German to save myself, it was a joy to hear them sung in their original language and to witness the congregation's ability to join in with the liturgy and sometimes the hymns without anything printed in front of them.

St Nicolai about 45 minutes before the Christmas Eve service

Christmas Eve dinner comprised the Lukjanov family traditional dishes of rouladen, sauerkraut, kartoffel klosser and so on - things that were very familiar to our new German friends. We hit the sack after a wonderful day together and rose early to celebrate the birth of our Lord at St Nicolai Lutheran Church. As we worshipped in German once again, I was reminded of the faithfulness of our African brothers and sisters who show up week after week to worship, unable to speak or understand what I say back home, but confident of God's promises to forgive, bless and save. We also rejoiced at how comforting it was to be able to follow the liturgy, albeit in German, and even more so, to hear the familiar and well known words of the Kyrie (in Latin). 

After service we shared another first - going to a restaurant for Christmas Day lunch - Laryssa, Darcee and and I enjoyed the traditional German goose which was sensational - and all of us shared the Weinacht dessert plate which was also delicious. 

After driving to another village to pick up 3G coverage and download Georgia's Christmas present (books on Kindle) we returned home to left overs, gluwein and a lousy Christmas movie...it truly was one of the most memorable Chistmases we have shared together - unencumbered by presents and fuss, we had the chance the rejoice in our Lord's birth and enjoy our time together - something for which I will be always thankful.

Boxing Day was spent at Thomas and Renate's for lunch where we enjoyed spatzel - another dish from Laryssa's childhood - and some wonderful hospitality. We left Neuendettelsau the following day after recharging our batteries and thoroughly enjoying the relaxed setting. With only a couple of days left in Europe, we packed up and headed toward Munich which I'll get to shortly....