Leeds Christians in Peace Partnership
Partnership for Peace Returns to Roundhay
A partnership for peace built with two German churches after the Second World War and at the height of the Cold War continues this week with a week of visits to St Andrew’s United Reformed Church in Shaftesbury Avenue in Roundhay in Leeds.
“Our friends from The Lutherkirche in Frankenthal, in the former West Germany, and the Martinskirche in Bernburg, in the former East Germany, are visiting,” explains Rev David Pickering, minister of St Andrew’s. “Over the decades deep friendships have developed as we witness to God’s love through fellowship and shared worship.”
Rev Martin Henninger of the Lutherkirche in Frankenthal led the special partnership communion service on 6 September with David Pickering. Martin Henninger says, “It is a joy to be in Leeds once more. The partnership of the three churches gives strength to each of us in serving the Lord. We are looking forward to exploring Yorkshire and Northumberland.”
“We shall be following in the footsteps of St Aidan, St Cuthbert and the other Northern Saints,” explains Sheila Duncan, visit organiser. “We’ll be staying in Northumberland and visiting Holy Island to see where the Lindisfarne Gospels were produced. A fun activity day at the church will be finished off by a family barbecue. Then the tour of the Northern Saints will finish with a family day out to Whitby to see about the life of St Hilda.”
“It’s very good for us to see how Christian people live in other countries and widen our horizons. Through the partnership, we learn more about Christian living, meet old and new friends, and find ways to serve God better,” concludes Rev Karl-Heinz Schmidt of the Martinskirche in Bernburg, who will lead the special partnership service at St Andrew’s next Sunday, 13 September.
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