Text and image Lucien de Freitas
AMSTERDAM — “The great challenge for the Moravian Church of Amsterdam for the future will be, on the one hand, to remain connected to the past, to maintain the bond with our country of origin – our beloved Suriname. But at the same time we must give our own interpretation to the faith. We must be open to new paths. Give young people the space they need to feel at home.” This is a quote from the sermon preached on Sunday by pastors Clifton Walker of the Koningskerk and Markus Gill of Wi Eegi Kerki, the two EBG churches in Amsterdam.
The sermon was part of a festive communal worship service in a crowded King’s Church, on the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of the Moravian Church of Amsterdam. It was added that continued attention must be paid to the elderly. “If they want things differently, we have to be open to that and willing to break new ground and not be afraid of the new.”
“The EBG is also a place of meeting, where culture, traditions and family ties and social involvement come together”
Ambassador Ricardo Panka
Valuation
The service was not only attended by congregants, but there were also guests and congratulatory messages, such as the one sent by Bishop John Kent of Suriname. Surinamese ambassador to the Netherlands, Ricado Panka, who attended the service, stated in his message that ninety years is more than a number. “It is a history of faith, perseverance, solidarity and service. What started small in 1936 has grown into a vibrant community with two congregations.”
According to the ambassador, the theme of the service, a statement by Moses, ‘If you, Lord, do not go with us, do not let us go any further’ (Exodus 33:15), fits in with the development of the church communities and the modest beginnings of the current two congregations. Panka expressed special appreciation for the important place that the EBG occupies in both the Surinamese and Dutch communities. “The EBG is not only a place of faith and reflection, but is also a place of meeting, where culture, traditions and family ties and social involvement come together.” He concluded with the prayer that the anniversary may be a moment to look back with gratitude, but also to look with confidence to a future full of faith, hope and service.
Founders
The Moravian Church of Amsterdam – part of EBG Netherlands that has existed for 290 years – was not founded by pastors, but by two people, including the Surinamese Helstone, a historical name in the EBG Suriname and the Netherlands, as the sermon showed.
In the context of the sermon text with Moses as the main character, the preachers stated that Moses did a lot, but would not have been able to do it without support. In this context the line was extended to the church today. “It is sometimes said that the EBG is a church of pastors.”
To clarify, the sermon mentioned that the EBG is primarily a church of volunteers, one grudgeoman kerki. “Without volunteers we would be nowhere and we would not have made it to ninety years.” It was urged that “we should not withdraw into our church, but as Christians we should be part of society and make the Christian voice heard: the sound of tolerance and respect, because we are children of God.”
Highlights and concerns
During the celebration on Sunday in the King’s Church, the liturgy was tailored to God’s leading of the people. The service was graced with solo singing by Nancy Zeefuik and the choirs Gloria and Immanuël, organ music and wind instruments.
The Moravian Church of Amsterdam has not only experienced many beautiful moments and highlights – such as the celebration of its ninetieth anniversary. But there have also been setbacks and trials, in which the congregation was sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly involved, such as a church in the Kerkstraat that was set on fire in the early years of the congregation, the sudden death on January 21, 2008 of the beloved and passionate preacher Rudy Polanen, the mass migration of Surinamese to the Netherlands around independence, the December murders and the Bijlmer air disaster.
After the celebration there was a relaxed festive meeting with snacks, drinks and meetings, including discussion about the service.
