Hermannsburg Visitors’ Book
The cover of this cherished book is adorned with a design painted by talented local artist Clarabelle Swift in 2016. Her work has truly captured the essence of our church, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to Clarabelle for this beautiful cover.
At Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hermannsburg we take great pride in our ‘visitors’ book’, which is rapidly nearing its final pages.
Recently, I took the time to peruse the entries within the visitors’ book. It is fascinating to see the diverse names, congregations, towns, and even countries from which our visitors have come. Some had informed us in advance of their visit, while others were spontaneous guests. The comments left by these visitors offer a glimpse into their experiences.
Many who attended our worship services left remarks such as, ‘beautiful singing’, ‘very spiritual feeling’, ‘heavenly music’ and ‘stunning harmonies’. These comments reflect the deep impact our services have on those who join us in worship. Additionally, some visitors simply walked through the open door of our church on any given day. They described their experiences with phrases like ‘peaceful’, ‘a beautiful quiet place’, ‘impressive silence’ and ‘a great place to rest and enjoy the stillness and harmony of this place’. Such feedback highlights the value of keeping our church open for people to connect with the divine in their own way.
One touching entry was from Renate, who wrote, ‘48 years have passed and here I am again!’ Another memorable note came from Pastor Seliger, who remarked, ‘from Hermannsburg, Germany to Hermannsburg, Australia… great experience! Danke!’. We also had the pleasure of hosting the Muelhlnikel family from Lutherstadt, Wittenberg, and a number of overseas pastors, including a bishop and a pastor from the ELCA in America, as well as a priest from the Swedish Lutheran Church.
Our visitors’ book represents a rich tapestry of experiences from 19 different countries, with Germany notably contributing the largest number of entries, totalling 50. Additionally, visitors from all Australian states signed the book, including several groups from Lutheran Colleges.
We are happy that many visitors who travel through our community can join us in worship or just step into the open church and experience Psalm 46:10.
‘Be still and know that I am God…’
