Reflection on the beginning of Christianity - but life goes on after birth!

Nativity scene exhibition in Gifhorn makes hearts beat faster.

+++ For all Thiel fans: Church service on 3rd Advent with Michael Thiel in St Nicolai Church in Gifhorn +++

On 3 December, the nativity scene exhibition was opened with a church service in St. Nicolai's Church in Gifhorn. Pastor Matthias Wittkämper and the church council are delighted not only to renovate their church, but also to invite people to be moved by the exhibition. "Of all the festivals of the church, Christmas is the one that people understand the most. Everyone here knows Christmas. It is a projection screen for human life and shows with the child: 'It goes on'! And even the toughest people suddenly soften. The nativity scene exhibition is so special because it refers to the beginning of Christianity and still touches hearts today."

"The children especially love the Ethiopian nativity scene with the colourful robes of the characters. Some adults become pensive when they see the South African nativity scene. There lies a child carved out of dark wood. Jesus wasn't a German ...", Wittkämper summarises some initial reactions.

Wittkämper was moved by the sermon of Pastor Indra Grasekamp from ELM: "Using the example of the nativity scene from Siberia, she asked whether it could not also be a 'test' or a challenge to feel one's own spiritual pulse against the background of today's world: 'Where is our well of hope, what do we drink from? The Siberian cot is an example of hope where we may no longer see a way out. A single word carved into a shrapnel. Even in the face of war, the cot gave hope to the prisoner of war who carved it and inspired him to pass on this hope."

The exhibition is open until 7 January, which is Christmas Day for many people in other parts of the world. Many volunteers are involved, offering guided tours, answering questions and inviting people to come to the cot, let their hearts be moved and go back to everyday life with renewed hope.