- Celebrating a dream: Chorale helps German community dedicate chapel
The Valpo Chorale performs during the May 22 celebration dedicating the town of Mark Zwuschen's new chapel On a sun-drenched spring afternoon, students in the Valparaiso University Chorale joined the townspeople of Mark Zwuschen in celebrating the fulfillment of a decades-old dream, their voices carrying the lyrics of “Now Thank We All Our God” in English and German across fields of barley and rapeseed.
After the town’s founding in 1945, its people asked to build a chapel where they could worship together as a community. That dream was stamped out by the communist government that ruled East Germany, however, which feared any institutions challenging its authority.
The town’s long-delayed dreams were finally realized on May 22, when the Chorale helped community members celebrate the construction of Mark Zwuschen’s much anticipated chapel—the first new church to be built in the former East Germany since the start of the Cold War.
Helping the community celebrate its new chapel by sharing his musical gifts was a profoundly moving experience, said Chorale member Kipp Cortez, a senior church music and organ studies major from La Grange Park, Ill.
“It’s so inspiring to see the people here come together and build something with their own hands, a place where they can gather to celebrate or find comfort as a community,” Cortez said. “It’s a great feeling to stand alongside the people of Mark Zwuschen as they dedicate this chapel.”
After singing a table prayer, Chorale members joined residents of the town for a homemade lunch of schnitzel, potatoes and cauliflower covered by gravy. During the roof-topping ceremony and worship service that followed, the Chorale performed “Praise to the Lord,” “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal” and “I am the Rose of Sharon” while joining with the townspeople to sing “Now Thank We All Our God.” Chorale members then enjoyed the German tradition of Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) with the people of Mark Zwuschen before singing “Shenandoah” as the ensemble departed.
Pastor Thomas Meinhof said the red, cement block chapel, though barely more than 20 feet in diameter, fills a spiritual void in the community.
“You are our angels, bringing the gift of music to our celebration today,” Pastor Meinhof said of the Chorale. “The people here have wanted to build a church for many years, but it was not permitted. There was an emptiness that people felt because they had no place to come together. Now we are bringing this to life.”
The Chorale’s May 17-31 tour was its third trip to Germany since 2004. While the choir again sang at historic churches such as Thomaskirche in Leipzig (where Bach worked for nearly 30 years), this year’s tour also included unique opportunities to interact with the people of Germany. In addition to celebrating the dedication of the Mark Zwuschen chapel, the Chorale sang during confirmation services at two churches and performed a benefit concert for a new international music education initiative.
Ryan Miller, who is heading to medical school after graduating with his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry immediately prior to the Chorale tour, said singing at these events was the highlight of the trip.
“This was a great way to sum up everything that’s happened during my Valpo experience,” Miller said. “Sometimes we lose track of that appreciation for the simplest things, like having a church where you can gather as a community. So to share our music with those people and to share conversations with them was just incredible.”