October 31, 2025

This day was quite magnificent. Our delegation from Houston and a couple from Minnesota found worship to be full and engaging. some of these photos are from St. Thomas’ Facebook page and some I took myself.

Pastors Robert Moore, David Roschke and myself can be seen below the pulpit. The rest of our group is toward the front of the middle nave.
I snapped this picture before we went out for the procession. Pastor Janning Hoening is pictured center in tippets, speaking with Pastor Robert Moore. David and I were honored to be invited to process.
Allison Hoening, center, is pictured here with Pastor David Roschke. Allison, Janning’s spouse, works for The Lutheran World Federation in Geneva.
I snapped the shot of a centering the procession, to Pachelbel’s “A Mighty Fortress.”

The St. Thomas Boy’s Choir (an 800-year-old institution) led congregational singing and also sang portions of Bach’s B Minor Mass. Congregational singing was strong and joyful.

I know your church is cool, but do you sing 13 stanzas of a hymn? We actually only sang 10. 🙂

Pastor Hoenen was installed by the Superintendent and members of the Church Council.

Janning’s son offers a blessing.

Following worship, we were graciously invited to attend a private reception welcoming Pastor Hoenen.

L-R pastor David Roschke, yours truly, Naomi Nelson, Pastor Robert Louis, Pastor Jon Mapa, Pastor Carol Mapa.

After lunch we returned for the first concert of a 22 hour Bach marathon. The terrifying genius of Bach was on display, arranged by seasons of the church year. Johann Sebastian Bach was organist and cantor at St. Thomas for 25 years.

Leipzig’s Thomas-Organist Johannes Lang played all of box undisputed works in 22 hours. It is beyond my comprehension how someone can have such a mastery of the entire corpus in one, long sitting.