DB Ministry and Travel Service offers the following presentation by Pastor Marlan Johnson regarding
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer was born
in 1906 and hanged and cremated in Flossenburg KZ by the Nazis on 9 April 1945,
less than one month before the end of WW 2 in Europe. The last 12 years of his life coincided with the 12 years of
Hitler’s “Thousand Year Reich”. Paul
Schneider was born in 1897 and killed by medical injections in Buchenwald KZ
on 18 July 1939, six weeks before Germany invaded Poland.
Bonhoeffer was a Berlin Pastor/Theologian whose family and
professional connections gave him inside information and resources to become
part of the Resistance. Schneider
was a Parish Pastor in the Hunsruck, west of Frankfurt, who very early
criticized Nazism from his pulpit. The
Johnsons have made several visits to the Bonhoeffer and Schneider sites in
Germany and Poland. They are also
in contact with people in Germany and Poland who are important to these vital
stories.
The
subject can be dealt with in a variety of ways, e.g., sermons (each 15 minutes),
adult forums including youth beginning with age 12, family nights, seminars,
clergy gatherings, etc. All
presentations use projected slides. Eight
sessions: 1st session:
Introduction to Bonhoeffer and Resources;
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th sessions deal with the Bonhoeffer story in greater
detail than the Introduction in the first session; 7th session:
Introduction to Paul Schneider; and two sermonettes: first, “Take Up
Your Cross and Follow Me” using slides from Buchenwald KZ and, second, the
need for a healthy balance and appreciation of Genesis 1 (the goodness of
Creation) and Genesis 2-3 (sin and its consequences) using slides from
Flossenburg KZ ending in the beauty of southern Bavaria.
One session: Introduction
to Bonhoeffer and Resources. Two
sessions: Introduction to
Bonhoeffer, Resources, Introduction to Paul Schneider and sermonettes. Three, Four, Five, Six or Seven sessions:
the Bonhoeffer material is adjusted accordingly.
The “15 minute Introduction” can be the opening sermon and a good
introduction to the series.
If
the series begins with a Sunday Worship Service(s) the format could
be: Sunday sermon--the 15-minute Introduction or a sermon without slides
on a Bonhoeffer theme by Pastor Johnson, Sunday Adult Forum and sessions during
the week to fit the congregation's schedule.
Fee:
mileage plus free-will offerings given at each presentation.
The Pastor of the congregation or other Leader is requested to make this
announcement at each presentation and to arrange for the offerings.
If travel distance is a factor special arrangements can be made.
You
provide: a
screen, a table for the slide projector, audio cassette player, electrical supply/extension cord and
2 tables for a book display. Books
related to this subject are available at “just over cost”.
Please call, write or e-mail us for further information or with any questions you may have.
DB Ministry & Travel Service, Inc.
12732 Villa Beach Road
Villard, Minnesota 56385 USA
Phone: (320) 554-2422
E-Mail: marlan@dbmintrav.com
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