Sunday August 3, 2008

 

 

Our Last Day in Schwarzenau

 

To me, the highest of today’s highlights was our tour group’s morning devotions at the Eder River.  Singing “Shall We Gather at the River?” was more meaningful than ever before!

 

 

The morning worship was quite meaningful and challenging.  This is the lineup of people who spoke, prayed, or read scripture.

 

 

There were an estimated 800-850 in attendance.

 

 

We enjoyed a lunch of stew and a hard roll, and a short break before going back for the afternoon service.

 

 

The afternoon consisted of introductions and greetings from dignitaries, of which the most impressive was Bernhart, Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein.  There were many other government, local, and church dignitaries who spoke.

 

 

Then the church delegations from foreign countries were introduced one-by-one.  This one is from Africa. 

We enjoyed the afternoon, but I think each speaker went over their three-minute allotment, and the main speaker’s message went overtime – turning two hours into three – meaning our bus had to leave before the closing program at the river.  We were disappointed to miss that, but needed to be in Rudesheim by 8:00 p.m. for dinner.

 

 

Soon we were back on the Autobahn and within two hours were seeing signs to Frankfurt. 

 

 

Our first sighting of the Rhine River…

 

 

…and lots of vineyards.

 

 

Our motel in Rudesheim.

 

 

We met our eight o’clock dinner appointment right on time – an outside garden a few blocks from the motel.  It doesn’t get any more delightful than that!

 

If I can get on the Internet tomorrow night, I’ll tell you about our chair lift ride over the Rhine River Valley – which is on schedule for the morning.

 

It’s midnight here, so I better get to bed!