Gemeinsam statt einsam

For the fourth time, a "Week Against Loneliness" is taking place in Germany, with the university city of Marburg participating for the first time with a program of events. The Protestant and Catholic Church are two of the cooperation partners contributing offerings and bringing in their expertise in pastoral care.

“Church congregations have always been places where people meet one another and come into contact,” says Pastor Bettina Mohr from the Protestant Trinitatis Congregation in Wehrda. She had the idea to participate with a special service under the motto that constitutes the entire "Week Against Loneliness": “together instead of alone.” Because services also provide spaces for encounters, togetherness, and contact, according to Mohr.

In the space of the Elisabeth Church, not only will encounters take place, but various groups and initiatives will also introduce their respective offerings. This includes, among others, the Mothers' Center Marburg. “Often, loneliness is also a problem for single mothers,” explains Bettina Mohr. Sina Gattinger will present the mourning walks of the Johanniter, and Margarete Deist will introduce the chat café along with further offerings from the association "Aging Well in Wehrda."

However, loneliness is not only an issue for older people; quite the opposite – numerous surveys and studies show that young people are particularly affected. Therefore, the Protestant Youth Marburg (ejm) is also participating. Markus Klonk from the ejm will be present with staff from the youth center “compass” and the “Queer&friends” café at the summer festival for single and separated parents in front of the Erwin Piscator House on Saturday, offering mocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails.

Right at the beginning of the Bible, in the creation story, it says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” This is also a task for the modern church, according to Pastor Bettina Mohr. And at the end, visitors can take small cards with them, inviting another person to a shared activity – perhaps a small nudge to overcome loneliness and connect with others. The service at the Elisabeth Church begins on Sunday, June 21 at 10 a.m.

Together with her colleague Aline Seidel from Dreihausen, Bettina Mohr will also be present in the afternoon at the large picnic in Northampton Park, which the city is organizing with many local actors. There, the game meeting of the Trinitatis Congregation Wehrda will be presented, and Pastor Aline Seidel has organized a “chat bench” where people can engage in conversation with the pastors and one another. The ejm is also once again participating here and is bringing

the “Contact Point” – their small mobile youth center with which they are on the move in Marburg. Also against loneliness.