Christmas Eve is approaching. It is one of the most beautiful nights of the year for Klaas Pieterman (1944) from Niekerk. This year he has been a preacher for fifty years. And he has been involved with the Grunneger Kerstnachtdainst in Oostum for fifty years. Also this time. “It’s very special every year.”
The medieval church of Oostum looks beautiful; on a mound, in the middle of the Groningen countryside. It is one of the most photographed monuments in Groningen. Pieterman likes to come there regularly.
For years. “Already at the time when Reverend Engel Jan Struif held his Grunneger church services there,” says Pieterman. “That was very special at the time. Oostum was a real leader in the 1960s. It was about the only place in the province where sermons were preached in Groningen,” says Pieterman.
Chairs
“When a Christmas Eve service in Groningen was held in the church for the first time in 1965, there was criticism. In ‘t Grunnegs, is that possible?”, says Pieterman, who himself took the pulpit in 1973. “We did the Christmas Eve Dainst alternately. One year Struif, the next year me. It was a success from the start. The church was full. Sometimes chairs are needed.”
“What makes the church so special? The atmosphere. The age. All those generations that came before us. You know there have been hundreds of Christmas celebrations here. Location. So quiet in the country, very intimate. There is no noise of traffic. It is very special every year and in the language of my heart: Gronings,” says Pieterman, who is chairman of De Liudgerstichten. The foundation was founded in 1989 with the aim of translating the Bible into Groningen; and to stimulate interest in Groningen, especially in the religious field such as with Grunneger kerkdainsten.
He has been contributing to Groningen literature in his own way for years, with his own work or as a translator. This was published earlier this year Luk Prinske his translation of Le Petit Prince one of the most famous books in the world.
He will not do the service on December 24 (starting at midnight) alone. Singer and musician Gert Sennema from Grijpskerk sings. The Excelsior Music Corps provides the musical accompaniment. The church will also be full this year. There is limited space. Pieterman stands in the pulpit but does not preach a sermon. “I’m telling a church story. This year about how the shepherd Hadassah came into the nativity scene. The story is already ready. I start it every year in October. Then I still have time to fine-tune it.”
It will be the estimated 4300th church service. Pieterman may have been with the Emirate for years. Almost every Sunday he is in the pulpit somewhere in Groningen. “I will continue as long as I can.”