Snow Church
30/12/11 05:31
Mitterfirmiansreut is not one of the better known destinations in the world, though I imagine that it would be a wonderful place to visit. Located in Germany in the border triangle of Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria, the Bavarian community is home to many different outdoor sports. Skiing is very popular because of the dependability of the snow and the variety of terrain. There are ski-away rentals with cross country and downhill trails right at the door. Ice skating, tobogganing and winter hiking are also popular attractions in the area.
In the summer, there are lots of well-marked hiking trails in the Bavarian National Forest. The area is known as a place to go to recover from illness and promote general health.
This winter there is something special to see. The church at Mitterfirmiansreut is more than 65 feet long and has a dramatic tower at the chancel end of the building. It is also built entirely of snow and ice. The structure was bathed in blue light as it opened Wednesday evening with a blessing from Dean Kajetan Steinbeisser.
The first snow church at Mitterfirmiansereut was constructed in 1911. The people built it as a provocation - they were trying to get church officials to support the construction and staffing of a church for their community, instead of expecting villagers to worship in the neighboring village of Mauth. During the winter of 1911 the snow was so deep that travel between the two communities was nearly impossible. Believers gathered together and built a snow church because they had no church of their own.
Maybe you have to spend several winters in an isolated mountain location to understand their actions.
A century later, the snow church attracts visitors from around the world and provides an boost to the local activity. Visitors rent rooms, purchase meals in area restaurants and often take in some of the hiking, skiing and health resort options of the area.
The photos that are on the Internet of the church are beautiful and they got me to thinking that there might be some advantages to a snow church. You would never have to worry about remodeling as you get to build a new church each year. There are no problems with the boiler, as heating the building would cause structural problems. Worshippers learn to bundle up against the cold. There are no worries about bathrooms. People use facilities elsewhere before or after coming to the church. And I am guessing that the lack of heat and facilities discourages long sermons and long meetings.
On the other hand there has to be a continual process of planning and construction, with the need for a new church every year.
Churches can get bogged down by their buildings. Church buildings are wonderful places. I have worked in churches for all of my life. The churches that are most familiar to me are filled with memories of special events and significant times of worship. The buildings are consecrated by prayers, but more so by the people who come to the church for baptisms, weddings, funerals and other times of worship to mark the most important moments of their lives.
But buildings are not the mission of the church - the institutions we build are attempts to participate in the on-going work of peace and justice to which we are called by the Gospel. Disciples don’t need buildings in order to be faithful. The buildings are an institutional expression of the gathered church. And buildings, being expensive, can divert attention away from the mission and ministry of the church. I know. I have spend more than a small amount of my life raising funds for remodeling and maintaining church buildings.
In the coming years, our church buildings will need to become much more efficient. We will need to remodel and re-fit our buildings with features that decrease the amount of energy we use. This process has already begun in our church with the addition of insulation and changing the type of light bulbs we use. In the year to come there will be replacement of exit lighting and installation of a new hot water system. Those projects are small, however, in comparison with additional projects that will be needed in years to come. If we do not invest now, the costs of electricity and natural gas will consume all of the funds of our church. It doesn’t take much of an expert to see the ways in which increased energy costs decrease the amount of money for mission and ministry in many congregations.
I’m not advocating getting rid of our buildings, though I know that there can be faithful churches who do not have buildings. And I don’t really want to be the pastor of a snow church that melts every spring.
But I know that every congregation will be challenged by changes that are coming in our world and that we will need to learn to think differently about our buildings and our priorities as we seek to be faithful in the years to come.
In the summer, there are lots of well-marked hiking trails in the Bavarian National Forest. The area is known as a place to go to recover from illness and promote general health.
Photo by Lukas Barth/Associated Press
This winter there is something special to see. The church at Mitterfirmiansreut is more than 65 feet long and has a dramatic tower at the chancel end of the building. It is also built entirely of snow and ice. The structure was bathed in blue light as it opened Wednesday evening with a blessing from Dean Kajetan Steinbeisser.
The first snow church at Mitterfirmiansereut was constructed in 1911. The people built it as a provocation - they were trying to get church officials to support the construction and staffing of a church for their community, instead of expecting villagers to worship in the neighboring village of Mauth. During the winter of 1911 the snow was so deep that travel between the two communities was nearly impossible. Believers gathered together and built a snow church because they had no church of their own.
Maybe you have to spend several winters in an isolated mountain location to understand their actions.
A century later, the snow church attracts visitors from around the world and provides an boost to the local activity. Visitors rent rooms, purchase meals in area restaurants and often take in some of the hiking, skiing and health resort options of the area.
The photos that are on the Internet of the church are beautiful and they got me to thinking that there might be some advantages to a snow church. You would never have to worry about remodeling as you get to build a new church each year. There are no problems with the boiler, as heating the building would cause structural problems. Worshippers learn to bundle up against the cold. There are no worries about bathrooms. People use facilities elsewhere before or after coming to the church. And I am guessing that the lack of heat and facilities discourages long sermons and long meetings.
On the other hand there has to be a continual process of planning and construction, with the need for a new church every year.
Churches can get bogged down by their buildings. Church buildings are wonderful places. I have worked in churches for all of my life. The churches that are most familiar to me are filled with memories of special events and significant times of worship. The buildings are consecrated by prayers, but more so by the people who come to the church for baptisms, weddings, funerals and other times of worship to mark the most important moments of their lives.
But buildings are not the mission of the church - the institutions we build are attempts to participate in the on-going work of peace and justice to which we are called by the Gospel. Disciples don’t need buildings in order to be faithful. The buildings are an institutional expression of the gathered church. And buildings, being expensive, can divert attention away from the mission and ministry of the church. I know. I have spend more than a small amount of my life raising funds for remodeling and maintaining church buildings.
In the coming years, our church buildings will need to become much more efficient. We will need to remodel and re-fit our buildings with features that decrease the amount of energy we use. This process has already begun in our church with the addition of insulation and changing the type of light bulbs we use. In the year to come there will be replacement of exit lighting and installation of a new hot water system. Those projects are small, however, in comparison with additional projects that will be needed in years to come. If we do not invest now, the costs of electricity and natural gas will consume all of the funds of our church. It doesn’t take much of an expert to see the ways in which increased energy costs decrease the amount of money for mission and ministry in many congregations.
I’m not advocating getting rid of our buildings, though I know that there can be faithful churches who do not have buildings. And I don’t really want to be the pastor of a snow church that melts every spring.
But I know that every congregation will be challenged by changes that are coming in our world and that we will need to learn to think differently about our buildings and our priorities as we seek to be faithful in the years to come.