Saarburg

We took some of the guys to Saarbug today, located close to the French border.  We started with a tour of a castle followed by another fabulous meal.  The restaurant was part of what I called a European food court.  A small river runs through the center and tumbles over small waterfall.  Both sides are lined with restaurants and tables and awnings outside.  It was so cool to watch these guys, some limping, some with an arm in a sling, some with invisible wounds, but everyone of them looked like kids in a candy store.  OK, maybe I did too.

The view of Saarbug from the castle tower.

After some free time we headed over to a stainless steel tobogan run.  The first time down the guys were pretty macho and played along just because it was expected.  The second time down they were giddy.  Check out these battle hardened soldiers pushing past the little kids waiting for the same ride.  No, I'm not kidding.

Today I went to Kirche...

This morning I walked down to the Protestant Church (Kirche) in Landstuhl.  The steeple in the picture below adorns the beautiful building.

 I got there at 10:00, and saw that the service started at 9:30.  Given my Baptist heritage I assumed I missed the hymns and got there in time for the preaching.  Not that it mattered, the whole service was in German anyway.  I went on in and slipped quietly into the back pew.

 This sanctuary could easily seat 200+.  To my left were two young ladies and a group of elderly folks numbering roughly what you see in the picture above.  They sang a hymn, the pastor stood and I assume prayed (again, it's all in German), and then walked out.  It was now 10:05 and church was over.  So...

I walked down a block to the cafe and enjoyed this cup of coffee.  I wish the picture did justice to the setting.  It was a beautiful sunny morning, about 70 degrees.  At 10:20 the bells from both the Protestant and Catholic church started ringing.  Apparently the Ecumenical movement has brought some harmony to the German churches, because the bells were tuned to each other.  The tones resonated through the streets, bouncing off the stone buildings.  I posted a video below, but in person it was much easier on the ears.

I did some reading, thinking, and relaxing.  Not a typical Sunday morning for a preacher, but I'll take it.