Zionsberg Deaconess Community

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The Zionsberg Deaconess Community is also known as the “Scherfeder Deaconess Community”. The Protestant community is a registered association and is based in Scherfede , a district of the East Westphalian city ​​of Warburg .

history

Work in Scherfede began in 1950 when the deaconess Dore Schellenberg (1904–1993) was sent from the Sarepta parent company in Bethel to the diaspora community in Scherfede. She was both pastor and long-time prioress of the community. With their support, the community built an old people's home , a nursing school to help young girls find a career, and a children's home. The educational institution was built on an elevation near Scherfede, which was named "Zionsberg". The name "Mount Zion" refers to Mount Zion , a hill in Jerusalem . Organizational and content-related reasons ensured that the community broke away from the parent company Sarepta.

In 1958 this led to the foundation of the “Diaspora Deaconess Mother House Zionsberg”; the first matron was deaconess Dore Schellenberg (1904-1993). The nuns decided to join the religious community and take a religious vow according to the evangelical councils .

In 1971 it was restructured into the “Zionsberg” deaconess community, which was entered in the register of associations in 1972. All the sisters have lived on Mount Zion since June 1973, and a novitiate was built next to the motherhouse . The postulate lasts for a year, followed by clothing , followed by a seven-year period as a novice . After this, the blessing is performed , during which the eternal vow is made. In the course of 1973 work began in the Einkehrhaus, which arose from the former nursing school. The first retreat could take place at Christmas 1973. The buildings were transferred to the association around 1978, and a chapel with a closed wing was built in 1981–1982 .

Today eight sisters live on Mount Zion, the community has no employees and can fall back on voluntary helpers. Three of the sisters are employed outside the home: one sister teaches in the school kindergarten and the community elementary school in Warburg , another deaconess does social work in the Altenkreis Warburg and the third sister is the director of the community kindergarten in Wrexen, Hesse . The offerings of the community include retreats during Holy Week and Easter , Bible days over Pentecost , days of penance , days of encounter, celebrations at the 1st Advent and Christmas, ecumenical contact maintenance, church services and finally contact maintenance with the Anglican religious orders and the deaconesses in the United States States .

Spiritual life and duties

The daily routine is shaped by the hour prayers . The focus is on looking after the guests and working in the guest house . After the first hour of prayer at 6 a.m., the nuns meet every three hours for prayer. At 9 o'clock, the guests prayer time and at 15 o'clock a silent adoration . Otherwise the Benedictine rule “ Ora et labora ” applies .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Deaconess House Sarepta - Sisters for Bethel [1]
  2. ↑ Hartmut Ludwig and Eberhard Röhm . Baptized Evangelical - persecuted as "Jews" . Calver Verlag Stuttgart 2014 pp. 302–303

Web links

Coordinates: 51 ° 32 '0.6 "  N , 9 ° 2' 9.6"  E