Baptism festival on the white dune: faithful steps outdoors!

Baptism festival on the white dune: faithful steps outdoors!

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, a baptismal festival takes place on the Steinhuder Meer on the “White Dunge” in Neustadt-Mardorf, which is aimed at everyone interested who want to be baptized. The event begins at 11 a.m. and is organized by four committed communities: Bordenau/Poggenhagen, Liebfrauen, Johannes and Mardorf/Schnere. Pastor Sarah Pantke emphasizes the central importance of baptism as a first step into a new life with God.

The baptism festival is held during an open -air service, which can be done in an inviting atmosphere either in the water or symbolically on the shore. The municipalities have jointly designed a service that includes music, prayers, blessings and the opportunity to exchange ideas. The event should encourage people to get involved in baptism, even if they have hesitated so far.

invitation to baptism

are particularly invited to children, young people and adults who want to choose baptism. Interested parties should register in advance by email or by phone with one of the communities involved. The contact information is as follows:

• Liebfrauen: kg.liebfrauen.neustadt@evlka.de , Tel. (05032) 94879
• Johannes: kg.johannes.neustadt@evlka.de , Tel. (05032) 3968
• Bordenau/Poggenhagen: kg.bordenau-poggenhagen@evlka.de , Tel. (05032) 65979
• marorf/Schnere: kg.mardorf-schneeren@evlka.de , Tel. (05036) 566

In addition, other baptisms are planned in Wunstorf and Steinhude, including an open-air service on August 31. These events are in the context of the "Year of Baptism" called out by the Evangelical Church, which should particularly strengthen awareness of the importance of baptism.

nationwide celebrations

The Evangelical Church carried out numerous baptisms nationwide in 2023, among other things in different locations such as waters and even on a television tower. On St. John's Day, baptisms were celebrated in over 1,000 parishes, with prominent participants such as Annette Kurschus, the chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), which took part in a baptismal service in Liebenwalde.

In large cities such as Berlin as well as in Brandenburg and Stuttgart, special baptisms took place, including a premiere at the Stuttgart television tower. These nationwide events have the motto “Many reasons, a blessing. Your baptism” and inspired many families to have their children baptized.

Baptism plays an important role in the Evangelical Community, because to become a Christian church member, it is essential. Nevertheless, the tendency is declining: in 2019 there were only 8.8 percent of the baptisms of adult baptisms, while around 90 percent of the baptisms for children were eliminated. The challenges in relation to the falling numbers of the children's baptism and the associated effects on the church community are an important topic that will continue to be discussed in the future.