The Revd Christa Hunzinger from the Diocese’s partner church – the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nordkirche, has written a message to those in the Diocese of Ely, following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
In it, Revd Christa writes: “With deep sadness I have heard about the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. All her long life she served her country and also her church with great courage and compassion. In these days of mourning and of transition to a new King our thoughts and prayers are with you.
We in Germany are especially thankful for the Queen’s strong commitment for peace and reconciliation. Very soon after the Second World War she has helped to heal the wounds of the war. As our President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said tonight: “Großbritannien hat Deutschland die Hand zur Versöhnung gereicht – und die Hand der Versöhnung war auch die Hand der Königin” – The United Kingdom has extended the hand of reconciliation to Germany – and the hand of reconciliation was also the hand of the Queen.
In our choir rehearsal this evening we sang the German Requiem of Johannes Brahms. “Here on earth have we no continuing place, howbeit, we seek one to come.” The German Requiem ends with a word from the Book of Revelation: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Sayeth the spirit, that they rest from their labors, and that their work follow after them.” (Revelation 14,13).
May your Queen rest in peace and rest from her manyfold labors. And may your country and your church be comforted and blessed.
God bless you and keep you and your country and your church in the palm of God’s hand”.