A service in the football stadium with top-class musical accompaniment: the parish office of Baldham’s Petrikirche has come up with something very special for Christmas Eve this year. But there is more to it than that: The church must dare to try new ways to keep the sheep close. That’s why the stadium service is just the beginning, because: “We have to think about how and where we can meet people again,” says Protestant pastor Stephan Opitz. A conversation about why the church has to dare to break new ground and why a football stadium is exactly the right starting point for this.
SZ: Mr. Opitz, this year you’re letting it rip at Christmas: A Christmas party in the stadium with top-class musical accompaniment. Why?
Stephan Opitz: (laughs) Where do I start? It all started two years ago. During the Corona Pandemic. We asked ourselves how a Christmas service could be celebrated under the Corona measures. At that time we had to cancel the visit to the stadium due to the situation. A lot has happened in the past two years and a lot has changed.
What for example?
As a church, we realize that we cannot simply wait for people to come to us. That’s why we’re thinking about new ways of approaching them. Pastoral care is important and a blessing for encounters. But we have to search for new forms of how and where we can meet people again. And one thing is clear (laughs): more people are currently going to the stadium than to church. So let’s go there.
Football and church – what do these two things have in common?
Both live from the magic of the community, but you can never plan the spirit of the same. But when it is given to us, it is beautiful – a holy moment, so to speak!
How many people signed up for the Christmas service?
Around 1000 people have already registered. This includes many community members. However, the registration list also shows that many people have registered who have distanced themselves from the church. That makes me very happy!
What will the people in the stadium expect?
There will be a sermon, prayers and beautiful music. I have held many services with Mulo Francel and Chris Gall and we have a great friendship.
And then the children run into the stadium for the nativity play?
No, the nativity play will take place in the Neukeferloh community center. As a counterbalance to the very lively service in the stadium, there will also be quieter services on the 25th and 26th. The Christmas mass in the evening, then a service for children and families. It’s a rich program.
There’s a lot going on for the community. So you ask yourself: What else should come next year?
For the coming year, too, we are planning further in such a way that we are considering how we can approach people. So we are currently thinking, together with several parishes, of celebrating a baptismal festival outside of the church. At the Riemer See. So that as a church we go where the people are. Jesus didn’t wait in the synagogue for people to come to him, he went out. In that sense, we approach people.
The service will be held on December 24th at the Vaterstetten stadium. Admission starts at 4 p.m., the service begins at 5 p.m. Registration: www.petrigemeinde.de or by telephone in the parish office of the Petrikirche on (08106) 99626.