International Women’s Day of Prayer

International Women’s Day of Prayer in Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

March 8, 2025 | Inter-European Division | Ruth B.-S.

The Greifswald congregation experienced a special service on March 8, 2025. It was a “real Sabbath,” remarked one visitor, as all stores were closed due to the public International Women’s Day holiday in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, and the streets also were unusually quiet in the morning—and in the most glorious spring weather.

This made the Adventist church all the more lively. In the morning, there was a service with praise and prayers, thoughts on the International Women’s Day of Prayer and International Women’s Day, a variety of good music, and a sermon by Angelika Zettelmann on the topic of “Emotions in the Bible.” The theme of the sermon, “Feelings in the Bible” ran practically and musically throughout the entire day. The church hall was well filled in the morning with more than 60 people in attendance.

After a fellowship lunch, there was a program for the 34 women who stayed for the afternoon. After cheerful songs, including a newly learned one on the annual motto for 2025, the sermon was discussed in a group session, using concrete everyday examples. The women enjoyed this joint exchange of ideas on feelings.

Later, a young dance teacher gave a 30-minute workshop on loosening up the muscles and keeping the joints fit, as well as on coordination exercises for body and mind, all to music that got faster and faster. This also is related to our feelings. And the women had a lot of fun moving.

After an official conclusion with thanks to God for the blessed daym and the distribution of self-designed cards by Alexandra Bahrmann from the Greifswald congregation as a small greeting, the richly laid cake buffet opened. This was the last item on the program.