Also this year, the Protestant and Catholic churches in Saarland invite you once again on Pentecost Sunday to rediscover church spaces – during the Saarland-wide, ecumenical Night of Churches Saar. At 43 venues across Saarland, programs will be held that evening, ranging from traditional to modern, with music and dance, art and enjoyment, culture and special spiritual offerings.
Attached you will find a press release with event locations (by districts) and brief programs, with a request for consideration.
If you are interested in a contribution in image and/or sound, we will gladly connect you with suitable parishes. Please contact me or my colleague Ute Kirch from the Diocese of Trier regarding this.
Best regards
Rieke Eulenstein
Public Relations
Evangelical Church District An der Saar
Goethestraße 29+31, 66538 Neunkirchen(Saar)
Tel. 0681/ 5 30 81
Mobile: 0152 530 577 26
Mail: rieke.eulenstein@evks.de
www.evangelisch-im-saarland.de
Nationwide Night of Churches in Saarland on Pentecost Sunday: 43 open churches
Churchlympics, Christfluencers and Crime Scene Church
Saarland. Music and art, dance and culture, and some surprises at an unusual hour can also be experienced by interested visitors this year on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, in the church setting. Since 2013, the Saarland-wide and ecumenical Night of Churches Saar has been taking place. On this evening, churches once again become special places of encounter.
With 43 venues between Mettlach and Bexbach as well as between Rappweiler in the Hochwald and Kleinblittersdorf on the Upper Saar, slightly more churches and community centers are involved than last year. The programs start in the early evening and in some places last until around midnight.
The content covers a wide range: In the Völklingen Reconciliation Church, Kira Geiss presents her new book "You are precious and beautiful." The 24-year-old former Miss Germany now inspires young people as a Christian influencer to not make their self-worth dependent on achievements, appearance, or the opinion of others.
On the occasion of its 800th anniversary, the Catholic parish of St. Francis of Assisi Obere Saar in the church of St. Agatha in Kleinblittersdorf dedicates an evening to its famous namesake. In addition to a theater performance and an "Assisi Bar," an interactive art project is planned, where art objects will be created that will find a permanent home in the church.
A little way up the Saar, in Güdingen, the local Protestant Church becomes a "crime scene" – in the crime church. Here, biblical stories are read and interpreted as early crime tales, followed by crime readings by Klaus Brabänder and Marion Demme-Zech, and a crime classic on the cinema screen.
Games and fun are offered, for example, at the "Churchlympics – church games for all generations" in the Dillingen Saardom (Holy Sacrament). Young and old can compete against each other in skill games, athletic challenges, puzzles, and more. Those who want to try meditative dancing can do so on Pentecost evening at the Protestant Church in Mettlach.
The exhibition "Nomads of the Modern Age" is hosted in the Protestant City Church of Homburg. Created by guests of the Wärmestube Saarbrücken, the multimedia exhibition provides insights into the reality of life for homeless and poor people. In addition to discussion rounds on the exhibition and music, there is also the opportunity to get in touch with the artist.
Church cabaret is on the program at St. Marien Church in Schmelz-Außen. Cabaret artist Ulrike Böhmer (Erna Schabiewsky) brings her program "Starting Over" with her.
More serious topics also find their place during the Night of Churches. A Latin American evening is being held at the Evangelical Church on Lorenzberg in Schafbrücke. After a political evening prayer, there will be plenty of music from various Latin American countries, interspersed with information and interviews about the political and social situation in Latin America. The New Apostolic Church in Saarbrücken-St. Johann, in cooperation with the Ukraine Friends Saar e.V., is hosting a Ukrainian-German friendship evening.
At the Bliestaldom (St. Remigius) in St. Wendel-Bliesen, the Night of Churches is dedicated to the organ, which has just been renovated. The responsible organ builder will share interesting facts about the instrument, and of course, guests can also experience the organ in action. In the Protestant Church Werschweiler, the ensemble Glissando takes you on a musical journey through Europe. Regional artists such as Nido Deda and Helmut Eisel will perform, among others, at the Christ Church in St. Ingbert.
Those interested can find a fresh perspective on spiritual questions in the St. Jakob Church in Alt-Saarbrücken (motto: "Between appointments and tiredness, God is waiting") or in the St. Josef Church in Saarlouis-Fraulautern ("Do you hear me? – When God calls...").
For the first time, the Church of St. Mauritius in Fremersdorf (Rehlingen-Siersburg) is participating in the Night of Churches Saar. The well-known "Faith, Love, Hope" comes alive here in texts and music.
“Embark on a journey of discovery on Pentecost night and get to know the churches from a different perspective,” invite the Protestant Church District and the Catholic Pastoral Areas in Saarland to the Night of Churches Saar.
The detailed programs can be viewed online at www.nacht-der-kirchen-saar.de. There is also a program booklet available as a PDF download.
Background:
On Pentecost Sunday, during the Night of Churches Saar, Christian communities in Saarland open their doors at unusual hours for special experiences. Many churches and ecclesiastical spaces become places of encounter, conversation, silence, celebration, art, and culture during this night. Up to 10,000 visitors take advantage of the offer annually.
The "Night of Churches" format has existed in individual cities since 2007. Since 2013, the event has taken place throughout the Saarland region. In addition to Catholic and Protestant congregations, some communities from the Working Group of Christian Churches in Saarbrücken and the surrounding area also participate.
The Night of Churches Saar is supported The Night of Churches is supported by Pax-Bank, Saartoto, the government of Saarland, the GLAUBEN.LEBEN Foundation, the Savings Banks Association, as well as individual donors.
Night of the Churches 2026 – Programs in Brief
MERZIG-WADERN DISTRICT
St. Petrus in Chains, Merzig-Hilbringen, Rehstraße,
Pentecost – New Beginning. 7:30-10 PM Interactive course with stations about Pentecost. Includes text prompts, atmospheric lighting, background music, as well as opportunities for encounters and silent prayer, 10 PM joint closing.
Protestant Church Mettlach, Parkstraße 2,
God's creation and the path to our hearts. 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM Meditative free dancing on the theme, followed by a cozy get-together.
Protestant Church Wadern, Kräwig Street,
Growing together. From 7:30 PM ecumenical spiritual-creative program.
Youth Church MIA, Weiskirchen-Rappweiler, Merziger Street,
Program to follow
NEUNKIRCHEN DISTRICT
Christuskirche, Neunkirchen, Am Unteren Markt,
enthusiastic. 6 pm musical service with cantor Nino Deda and organist Uwe Ziermann as well as the group “Sound of Harmony” performing modern songs, followed by a reception with additional musical contributions, including original compositions by Nino Deda, Uwe Ziermann on the organ, and works by Ola Gjeilo with Andreas Ganster on the piano.
St. Marien, Neunkirchen, Marienplatz 1,
Night of ChurchMUSIC. 6 p.m. ORGAN.6 – Organ concert for 4 hands and 4 feet,
Works among others by Mozart, Merkel, Saint-Saëns with Markus Schaubel (Saarlouis) and Tobias Rihm (Merchweiler), 7:30 pm Choral Evening Praise - Pentecostal choral music among others by Miller, Wallrath, Rutter, Tambling, with the FrauenSchola St. Marien Neunkirchen and Jan Brögger (conductor & organ), liturgy: Rev. Bernd Seibel.
St. Josef, Neunkirchen-Furpach, Karcherstraße 49,
Night of ChurchMUSIC. 8 PM „(Un)Musical” - Music is (not) a solution. Film music and more, with Szilvia Toth (piano & organ) as well as the leadership team of St. Josef-St. Johannes.
St. Queen of the Rosary, Merchweiler, Kirchenstraße 26,
Night of ChurchMUSIC. 7 PM "Sounding Church" - Presentation of all instruments and bells with contemplative texts, with Franz Schloder (organ & grand piano).
DIAKONIE Church (Protestant Church Heiligenwald), Schiffweiler-Heiligenwald, Itzenplitzstraße 26,
Together. Experience. Enjoy. 6 p.m. Devotion with Pastor Michael Caspers-Hilka and Deaconess Christiane Poersch, 6:30 p.m. The guiding principle of the Diakonie comes alive, with a drawing for the team contest about the guiding principle, 7:30 p.m. Choir Canoro 2,000, from 8 p.m. Silent discussions, "loud" photography, colorful crafting; sales booths: GEPA and "diakonie handgemacht," 9:15 p.m. Evening blessing and conclusion.
SAARLOUIS DISTRICT
Holy Sacrament (Saardom), Dillingen, corner of Saarstraße/Dr.-Prior-Straße,
Churchlympics - church games for all generations. 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM Quiz experience exploration church of the Catholic Youth Dillingen with multimedia stations that challenge knowledge, skill, and speed. Drinks and snacks.
Evangelical Church Lebach, Trierer Straße 37,
Church Review. Doors open at 7:30 PM. 8 PM revue "Life One Way or Another – Core Questions for Everyone Who Once Again Doesn’t Know What to Do." A colorful program with serious and lighthearted texts, sketches, and of course music.
St. Mauritius, Rehlingen-Fremersdorf, Herrenstraße,
Faith, Love, Hope. 7:30 pm "Faith" – Music and texts for Pentecost, with Julia Schwarz on the Klais organ, 8:00 pm "Hope" – Songs to listen to and sing along with, performed by the community choir Fremersdorf-Eimersdorf-Biringen, 8:30 pm "Love" – Thoughts and music to conclude. Agape with bread and wine under the gallery.
Protestant Church Saarlouis, Kaiser-Friedrich-Ring 46,
Night of Church Music. 7 PM Organ Recital with Devotion: From Baroque to Early Modern with Cathedral Organist Josef Still (Trier), 8 PM Silent Film with Live Accompaniment: Buster Keaton’s “Sherlock Junior” (1924) with Joachim Fontaine, approx. 9:45 PM Church Band “Sunday’s Child” with Pastor Jörg Beckers presents music from soul, spirituals, traditionals, ballads, and more.
St. Josef, Saarlouis-Fraulautern, Kreuzbergstraße 87b,
"Do you hear me? – When God calls…". 6 PM solemn mass, 7:45 PM introduction and welcome, 8 PM choir "Chorios" (dir. Sandra Becker), 8:30 PM reflection on the theme, 8:45 PM organ music with regional cantor Markus Schaubel, 9:45 PM Taizé prayer.
St. Marien, Schmelz-Outside, Marienstraße 26,
Church cabaret. 7 PM Starting again at the BEGINNING. Church cabaret with Ulrike Böhmer (Erna Schabiewsky), 9 PM Time for exchange and socializing with food and drinks, 11 PM Light ceremony with JuGoDi.
Protestant Church Schaffhausen, Wadgassen-Schaffhausen, Schulstraße 44,
Church Food Festival. 7:30 PM Devotion, 8:00 PM International Church Food Festival, accompanied by music of peace and diversity, 10:00 PM Evening Blessing.
DISTRICT OF ST. WENDEL
St. Ignatius, Nohfelden-Türkismühle, Trierer Street 17,
Together one is less alone. 7 PM kick-off with the duo "Einfach Jaa," 7:30 PM presentation: "Together one is less alone," 8 PM duo "Einfach Jaa," approx. 8:15 PM BREAK: Meeting with cool drinks and culinary delights, 9 PM duo "Einfach Jaa," 9:15 PM dance: "Touching Enthusiasm," 9:45 PM closing, followed by an opportunity for a relaxed get-together.
St. Remigius, St. Wendel-Bliesen, Remigiusstraße,
New organ sounds in the Bliestal Cathedral. 6:30 PM lecture on the restoration and revoicing of the organ with sound examples by organ builder Philipp Akroud, 7:30 PM evening music with compositions from various eras featuring Michael Klein (organ), Georg Bild (trumpet), and the recorder ensemble “Windstärke 5 plus” (dir. Margit Trost), 8:30 PM Vin d'honneur: opportunity for questions to the organ builder, organ tour, and open discussion.
Protestant Church Werschweiler, St. Wendel-Werschweiler, Frohnhofer Straße 14 A,
Treasure trove of music. 6 PM Vocal Ensemble GLISSANDO with soloists Emma Rausch (violin) and Lisa Linxweiler (vocals) – a musical journey through Europe. Following that, refreshments and socializing.
St. Peter, Tholey-Theley, Primstal Street,
7 PM Opening, followed by program, 9 PM Festive closing mass.
REGIONAL ASSOCIATION SAARBRÜCKEN
St. Joseph, Heusweiler-Holz, Heusweilerstraße 9,
7:30 PM Musical evening prayer with music and texts, prayers and songs for the Pentecost festival, with the Catholic church choir Holz, the parish choir Cäcilia, Monika Anstett (vocals and recorder) and Clemens Anstett (piano and organ). Afterwards, drinks and socializing.
St. Agatha, Kleinblittersdorf, Friedhofstraße,
800 years of St. Francis of Assisi. 6 PM Opening with (Word) worship service, 6:45 PM Theater performance (Young Stage Auersmacher) on themes from the life of St. Francis, 7 PM participatory art project. Artworks (paintings, installations) will be created that permanently refer to the work of St. Francis in the church, 7:30 PM songs about St. Francis of Assisi (men’s choir), 7:45 PM opening of the "Assisi Bar", 8 PM one music project (music project with refugees).
Assumption of Mary, Quierschied, Marienstraße 22,
5 pm Adoration with text and music, 6 pm Pentecost solemn mass, co-organized by the St. Josef music group. Wayside shrine, followed by social gathering and drinks, 7:30-8:15 pm music with Udo Grewenig, followed by social gathering and drinks, 8:45 pm peace prayer with exposition, 9:30 pm night prayer and closing.
Protestant Church Fischbach, Quierschied-Fischbach, Talstraße 7,
Evening music for Pentecost. 
7 PM organ prelude by Štefan Iľaš, opening by Pastor Poersch, 7:15 PM ecumenical women's choir Fischbach (dir. Ralf Michael Becker), 7:45 PM soloists, 8 PM Štefan Iľaš (organ) and Simon Schweitzer (violin), 8:15 PM presentation of the work of the Parents' Initiative for Children with Cancer in Saarland e.V. and the Saar-Pfalz Children's Cancer Foundation, 8:20 PM break with snacks and drinks in the parish hall, 8:40 PM communal hymn, 8:50 PM ecumenical women's choir Fischbach, 9:05 PM soloists, 9:20 PM worship song with Pastor Poersch, 9:40 PM presentation of the work of the Parents' Initiative as above, 9:45 PM Štefan Iľaš (organ) and Simon Schweitzer (violin), 10 PM evening song and blessing to close. Snacks and drinks in the parish hall.
Peace Church, Alt-Saarbrücken, Löwengasse/corner of Wilhelm-Heinrich-Straße,
Richly gifted. 6 PM prayer event: labeling tissue paper ribbons, 7 PM Ignatian Bible meditation for the healing of the 10 lepers, 8 PM blessing to go,
9:30 PM Taizé prayer service.
Ev.-Lutheran Immanuel Church, Alt-Saarbrücken, Heuduckstraße / Corner of Gärtnerstraße,
"For you are my rock and my fortress." (Ps 31:4a). 7 PM Open for discovering a strong fortress, 8 PM Spiritual concert with organ, piano, and singing, accompanied by uplifting readings, 9 PM Snacks and drinks with conversations for mutual encouragement, 9:30-10:45 PM Come on and sing – uplifting sing-along of requested songs from our youth songbooks.
Ludwig Church, Old Saarbrücken, Am Ludwigsplatz,
Grand organ works with church music director Ulrich Seibert on the Beckerath organ. 7:30 PM Nikolaus Bruhns and Dieterich Buxtehude, 8:30 PM Max Reger and Sigfrid Karg Elert, 9:30 PM Gaston Litaize, Jean Langlais, and Olivier Messiaen, 10:30 PM Ecumenical Taizé service. 7:00-10:00 PM open Café Catherine in the crypt.
St. Jakob, Alt-Saarbrücken, Keplerstraße/corner of Stengelstraße,
Between appointments and fatigue, God waits. 7 pm Musical Pentecost Vespers, 8-10 pm Stations and interactive activities on the theme, texts and music with Štefan Iľaš (organ) and Mathias Alter (violin), 11 pm Compline. Refreshments in the parish hall.
Schinkelkirche, Saarbrücken-Bischmisheim, Kirchstraße,
Light & Music. 8 pm concert with the scholarship holders of the Dr. Monika Meisch Foundation, 9 pm gospel choir of the Schinkel Church Bischmisheim (dir. Andreas Baldauf), 10 pm night reflections with lay preacher Alf Müller, followed by "Lichtblicke" - a pause for contemplation with light illumination and meditation music.
Protestant Community Center Brebach, Saarbrücken-Brebach, Jakobstraße 16,
Music Church. 6:30 pm Saarland Senior Plucked Orchestra, 7 pm Chorioses, 7:40 pm Gos People, 8:30 pm Break, 9 pm Bagpiper Markus Biewer, 9:30 pm Mixed Choir of the Cultural Association Fechingen, 10:30 pm Music Club Saarbrücken-Brebach.
Herz Jesu, Saarbrücken-Burbach, Odilienbergstraße 1,
Art & Culture. 8-10 p.m. Presentation of glass artworks with artist Markus Hohlstein, 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. singing from other countries and cultures with Diana Balanescu, followed by drinks and snacks.
Evangelical Church Gersweiler, Saarbrücken-Gersweiler, Hauptstraße 100,
Bread and blessings. 5 PM potluck service with music, blessing, and fellowship, followed by a shared dinner with a bring-your-own buffet.
Protestant Church Güdingen, Saarbrücken-Güdingen, Saargemünder Straße 134,
Crime Church. From 6 pm open church, 7 pm When the church becomes a crime scene: Bible and crime - Biblical stories, read and interpreted as early crime narratives, followed by readings by Klaus Brabänder and Marion Demme-Zech (with video performance), 8:30 pm film screening of a crime classic.
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus, Saarbrücken-Rodenhof, Jägersfreuder Street 40,
Musical evening. 7 pm "God gave us breath so that we live" - Music and texts with the Saarbrücken Trombone Choir and the Saarbrücken Lungenklänge Choir. Plus: time for conversations and encounters.
St. Albert, Saarbrücken-Rodenhof, St. Albert Street/corner of Heinrich-Köhl Street,
8-9 PM Taizé evening prayer for singing along with the choir "Zwischentöne", 9-10 PM reception and socializing.
Evangelical Church at Lorenzberg, Saarbrücken-Schafbrücke, Am Lorenzberg 10,
Latin American Evening. 8 PM Political Night Prayer, 9 PM Latin American melodies with Uli Schreiber on the piano, 9:30 PM–12 AM "Blue Latin" with songs from Latin America, in between information and interviews about the situation in Latin America. Flammkuchen.
Collegiate Church, Saarbrücken-St. Arnual, St. Arnual Market,
Silent film live accompanied. 8 PM Jörg Abbing improvises on the piano to silent films, Kevin Alamba on percussion instruments.
Johanneskirche, Saarbrücken-St. Johann, Cecilienstraße 2,
The Colours of Life. 8 PM „Motion“. Dance performance with Claudia Meystre (choreography), Anna Wiebke-Färber, Véronique Huffer, Lola Wolff and Aaron Fischer (all dance), 9 PM „The Colours of Life“ – songs including works by Elton John, Sting and Amy Winehouse, accompanied by fitting lyrical and biblical texts, with Christiane Motter, Benedikt Wenser and Jonathan Lutz (recitation and singing) as well as Achim Schneider (piano).
New Apostolic Church, Saarbrücken-St. Johann, Scheidter Straße 22,
Ukrainian-German Friendship Evening with the UkraineFreundeSaar e.V. Saarbrücken. 7:30 PM Pentecost light installation, 8 PM devotion "I was a stranger among you, and you welcomed me," 9 PM A Ukrainian family shares their experiences since the war and their time in Germany so far with film and photo material. Afterwards, conversation over bread and wine.
Reconciliation Church, Völklingen, Poststraße 48,
8 PM Musical introduction: Edvard Grieg: Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite, 8:05 PM Welcome (Pastor Klaus Köhler), 8:10 PM Ecumenical Choir: John Rutter, 8:15 PM Reading by Kira Geiss (former Miss Germany, Christian influencer): "You are precious and beautiful", 9:15 PM Break with refreshments and book sale, 9:45 PM Ecumenical Choir, organ, trumpet and flute, with Jonas Mayer, Rainer Oster and Birgit Dernbecher, 10:30 PM Liturgical conclusion with blessing (Pastor Bernd Schikofsky), 10:40 PM Ecumenical Choir, 10:45 PM–12 AM Gathering.
SAARPFALZ DISTRICT
St. Martin, Bexbach, Bischof-Weber-Straße 3,
Hope + Light = x. 8-10 PM Creative activities, impulses and contemplations on the topic, conclusion and buffet at the Pentecost fire.
Protestant City Church Homburg, Kirchenstraße 11,
Exhibition "Nomads of the Modern Age" - creative artworks by people on the margins of society. 7 PM musical introduction with organ (Stefan Ulrich) and saxophone (Thomas Girard), 7:10 PM welcome and introduction to the topic, 7:25 PM music (organ and saxophone), 7:35 PM dialogue about the exhibition with the artist Annette Orlinski, 8 PM music (organ and saxophone), 8:10 PM time to meet the artists, 9 PM duo IT TAKES TWO, 9:45 PM duo ANNIKA & LEVIN, from 10:30 PM Pentecost fire next to the city church.
Christuskirche, St. Ingbert, Wolfshohlstraße 38,
Mixed Music. 6 PM Hugo’s Corner, 7:30 PM Evangelical Choir St. Ingbert, 9:30 PM Helmut Eisel in duo with Nino Deda.
Short-term changes can be found on the website www.nacht-der-kirchen-saar.de
