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ICUU Sommer—Treffen in Klingberg 14-20. August 2006

Invited by the ICUU, about 20 Unitarian/Universalists met in Klingberg, at the beautifully located German Unitarian education centre. It is surrounded by forests and meadows and the distance to the shore of the Baltic Sea is just a few miles. The participants came from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Switzerland and United Kingdom. We expected fun and joy as well as inspiring talks and times of meditation or worship.

We started the day with a session of Chi Gong, lead by Wiebke Muensterberg, one of the participants. Thereafter we enjoyed breakfast!

The morning workshops began with an „opening ceremony“. We then gathered in smaller groups to discuss topics around the general theme: „forgiveness – forgiving others and forgiving yourself“ including „peace keeping”. How each group dealt with the theme was its own choice. In the plenum session later a summary was given, but only briefly discussed due to the shortness of time (two hours altogether). You can imagine, that only some aspects of the theme could be discussed in length, other aspects had to be neglected. The main advantage for all participants was simply the fact that we had to think about it and to listen to others such that we could perhaps reconsider our own views.

But then there was time for relaxation and joy, because we sang a lot and learned many new and very beautiful songs. Some of them could really be called hymns. It is a pity that we, the German Unitarians, do not know many of such songs.

In the afternoons there were no planned sessions. We could go swimming in the nearby lake Poenitz or walk along the beach of the Baltic Sea or in the woods (in Germany there are very good paths!). Some of us visited Luebeck, the beautiful German Hansestadt or the sandcastle buildings at Timmendorfer Strand (a vacation place).

In the evening, we gathered again, and listened to a variety of participant’s contributions. And we also sang again!

After the „closing ceremony“ at around 9 o’clock there was time for every kind of activity, e.g. games or small talk. Wiebke encouraged us to dance. For those who don’t know her: she teaches meditative dances everyone can do. The „QuellenTanz” („Well” Dance) we all liked best. It’s an dance which – in my opinion – can even be included in worship.

In all, the whole week has been a wonderful time, inspiring and relaxing. And, last not least, all the private talk among us contributed much to the success of this gathering. We got to know each other better and we learned to understand the practices in other countries and of other congregations.

Next year, there will be an other of such meetings —

—Marianne Behrndt