A Bonhoeffer Celebration 31st March - 2nd April 2006

2006 sees the centenary of the birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the 20th century’s most influential theologians.  St Andrew’s & St George’s will be marking the event on the weekend of 31 March - 2 April 2006.

Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau and studied in Tubingen, Berlin and New York.  He returned to Germany in 1931 and was a strong opponent of Nazism, and was instrumental in setting up the Confessing Church which engaged in various forms of resistance, including the hiding of Jews.  

Religionless Christianity

Bonhoeffer was imprisoned and eventually hanged in 1945 after his connection to a plot to kill Hitler was uncovered.  Bonhoeffer’s works emphasise the centrality of Christ, and his letters from prison referred to a “religionless Christianity” – a remark that has intrigued theologians in the decades since. 

Words...

Our celebration begins on Friday 31 March at 7:30pm, with an evening of words and music.  The guest speaker will be Rev Dr Alan Falconer, Minister at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.

... and music

Bonhoeffer was a music lover and a talented musician.  Together with musicians from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, the Choir of St Andrew’s & St George’s will present Bach’s cantata  “Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir” (BWV73), Purcell’s anthem “O Sing unto the Lord” and “Christ Be Near” by James Douglas.  The evening will conclude with a reception, kindly hosted by Herr Ingo Radcke, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, patron for the celebration.

The celebration will continue on Sunday 2 April, when the 11am Service will focus on Bonhoeffer’s legacy.

Interested? please let us know

Places for the Friday evening event are limited.  If you wish to attend, please contact Chris Brown at the church office  by February 17.