Danish Church Days 2010 the biggest ever!

Viborg plays host to 3,800 participants

 

The triannual Danish Church Days for all denominations were held in Viborg over 4 days in May with a record participation of 3,800 visitors. Under the headline ”Heaven and Earth in Motion” the programme comprised 140 different items including worship, workshops, lectures, discussions and performances.

The opening service, originally planned for the Cathedral, was transferred to the Viborg FC stadium, where on a chilly afternoon a congregation of 3,000 Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists et al gathered to celebrate their Christian fellowship in song, word and dance, culminating with a peace handshake to all.

Bishop Gunnar and the Jutland Law
Among the successes was the open-air production of a new drama, With Law A Country Must Be Built, by local author Henning Pedersen. It tells the story of Bishop Gunnar of Viborg who lived from 1152-1251 and who was instrumental in formulating the major legislation called Jutland Law in 1241. Despite the inclement weather the audience were thrilled by the drama, not least when little ‘David’ confronted a mounted ‘Goliath’ and survived.

Bible stories are bestsellers
The hugely popular children’s entertainer Sigurd Barrett filled the Cathedral with his Bible stories and songs at the end of a 6-week tour of Denmark. In book form they are the Number One Children’s Bestseller, and Sigurd Barrett was back on his home territory for the concert. “I love this church more than any other. I was baptised here, married here and buried my parents from this church, so I have many emotions in play, especially after 47 performances!”

Biker service and U2 service
Among the other innovations was a Biker Service attended by both Christian mc-fans and the general public, as well as a sold-out concert-cum-service with the U2 copy-band, Die Herren.

Networking
Throughout the Church Days there was a Church Market where 60 church organisations ‘set out their wares’ and invited visitors to ‘taste and see’. People stopped for coffee and a chat and the booth-holders themselves went ‘walkabout’ to compare their own ‘shop’ with their neighbours’.
“There’s a lot of networking at Church Days,” said the chairman of the Church Foundation, Finn  Erik Larsen. “Not least the general secretaries get together, but we are all interested in meeting the general public to discuss church politics.”

By: Edward Broadbridge

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