wfn.org | Churches invited to participate in Christian Pavilion at EXPO 2000,

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Hanover

GENEVA, March 10, 1998 (lwi) - The worldwide Lutheran and ecumenical
community has been invited to participate, present ideas and contribute to
plans for the Christian Pavilion at the world fair EXPO 2000 in Hanover,
Germany, to be held June 1-Oct. 31. Director of the Protestant (Evangelical
Church in Germany) office for EXPO 2000, Dr. Gerhard Wegner, extended the
invitation to the Lutheran Communion through Lutheran World Federation
general secretary, Ishmael Noko, in Geneva at the end of last month.

The purpose of the Christian Pavilion, organized by the German Protestant
and Roman Catholic churches is to communicate the Christian faith within
the fair's multicultural and secular environment, demonstrating that the
Christian church "belongs to the world's marketplace". It should show
clearly that the point of reference of the universal celebration of the
year 2000 is the event of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The theme of EXPO 2000, to which some 40 million visitors are expected,
will be "People - Nature - Technology". The Christian Pavilion expects 1.5
- 2 million visitors. The two-part pavilion, made of glass and steel, will
be placed in the fair's entrance area. The first section will house a
permanent exhibition on "Jesus Christ". There will be a big room, called
the "Christ room" containing just a cross, and smaller rooms to reflect on
the seven parts of his life. This section of the pavilion will remain
silent with a short prayer service at half-hour intervals.

The second section of the pavilion will be a colorful attractive
"marketplace" of a different design. This will provide churches with an
opportunity to participate. Their contribution could be music, art, talk
show, lecture or any other idea by way of which churches can communicate
their faith in an attractive way. The organizers plan to provide a ten-hour
program during five months.

After the fair, the pavilion will be transferred to Thuringia in eastern
Germany where it will be used in the reconstruction of the former
Cistercian monastery in Volkenroda.
Churches or Christian groups wishing to contribute to the Christian
Pavilion are invited to present their ideas to the: Protestant Office of
EXPO 2000, Dr. Gerhard Wegner, Goethestrasse 29, D-30169 Hanover.

*       *       *
Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/