With blankets or mulled wine in the service

by time news

Mith their savings targets in the energy crisis, the churches in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate are largely understood by the faithful. In many places of worship, the heating is already turned down for the upcoming Advent season or even only set to frost protection, in some places services are moved to parish halls or held outside. Warm clothing is therefore particularly recommended for churchgoers in the coming weeks. The believers usually react with understanding, according to the Catholic dioceses and the Protestant churches.

A spokesman for the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN) explained that the churches wanted to continue to be heated in order to meet the need of many people for comfort and community after the two years of the pandemic. The 15-degree rule, which has been in force for decades, but has not always been taken so precisely in the past, will be pointed out again.

“Winter Church” in the parish hall

At the same time, the congregations were recommended to move to the “Winter Church” in the community hall. “But communities are also creating more blankets or considering handing out mulled wine at the service, I heard from a few,” said the spokesman. Digital celebrations could also be held or church services moved completely outdoors. In addition to the southern part of Hesse, the EKHN area also extends to parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and some communities in North Rhine-Westphalia.

From the diocese of Limburg, which also includes parts of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, it was said that in this late autumn and winter in almost all parishes the church heating should be completely absent or only heated to a basic heat of 4 to 8 degrees, by about prevent damage to organs. “Some parishes are moving their weekday services to community centers or smaller chapels,” a spokesman said. The temperature in community centers will also be lowered. There are some special regulations over the Christmas holidays.

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