Rain spoils outdoor Pentecost concert in Loffenau's Pfarrgarten
Laughing at the Ober-Murg's capricious whimsy, Pastor Florian Lampadius finds himself dancing with the rain as he prepares to debut his newly transformed garden on Pentecost Sunday. Due to the relentless downpour, his plans for an open-air outdoor concert are swiftly diverted. The show must go on, and so, an hour before the event, it's off to the Holy Cross Church it is.
The Hall's all is set for a soggy serenade
The sky weeps in rhythmic intervals. As the hour ticks closer to showtime, the concert is redirected to the Holy Cross Church. The resilient Pastor Lampadius, ever unfazed, stands outside the wet rectory, guiding his guests to the dry sanctuary.
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The modified garden, gleaming with its newly-mown labyrinth, tranquil pond, stage, and seating remains wet and abandoned for now. The postponed is not the cancellation, though. The open-air festivity will rise again at a later date.
In just six weeks, the secluded garden blossoms into a local haven
What was once a personal haven has grown into a small oasis for the Loffenau community in just six weeks. The idea bloomed with the success of the "Church in the Park" series in Bad Herrenalb, where communal gatherings were warmly embraced. The ecumenical charm is poised for a comeback. Pastor Lampadius, funding the revitalization out of his own pocket, shares his vision with a curious passerby before the concert.
In the meantime, the North-South Brass Ensemble tunes their wind instruments before the church, filling up the benches as if in mockery of the rain. An unusual alliance indeed, yet the sun graces us with its presence, escaping the clouds only momentarily.
"Grass gets mowed and the next rain comes," a grinning Pastor Lampadius jokes, referring to the garden's inaugural performance that was moved indoors. "Thus, the garden party is now taking place here," he welcomes his guests inside the church. "Ecumenism means 'under one roof,' and we couldn't have picked a better location or ensemble than this."
A brass embrace of polkas, Bohemian waltzes, and lively tunes
The North-South Brass Ensemble, a group of seven impeccably dressed musicians hailing from across Germany, concoct a musical mixture composed of old polkas, Bohemian waltzes, and contemporary pop songs. To some, it may seem an unusual choice for a church concert, yet it harmoniously embraces the spirit of celebration.
The concert commences with the "Garden Polka" and the "Spring Waltz," coaxing the sun out for a brief, beautiful moment. During "You raise me up," Pastor Lampadius gracefully joins the party on the French horn. The rain will follow, but the garden party will definitely return - this time, under clear blue skies.
As Pastor Lampadius directs his guests into the sanctuary, he's hopeful that the Holy Cross Church will transform into a temporary venue for other entertainment, such as a soggy serenade by the North-South Brass Ensemble. While the garden party initially shifted due to the uncooperative weather, the allure of the transformed garden remains, promising a lively return with a brass embrace of polkas, Bohemian waltzes, and more enjoyable tunes.
