Service celebrates Lutherans in wine

Some big names in Barossa Valley winemaking have worshipped together at a special Lutherans in Wine service at Tanunda SA.

The winemakers and grapegrowers gathered with other worshippers at Tanunda Lutheran Home’s Gramp Chapel last month for the event.

The service, which also celebrated Ascension Day and Mother’s Day, featured readings by retired winemakers Rod Chapman and David Obst, the blessing of bottles of wine, and a drama by local historian Don Ross and Ilene Thiel.

Pastor John Thiel spoke about Jesus sending his followers ‘to the ends of the earth’ before he ascended into heaven – adding that Barossa Valley Lutherans had come ‘to the ends of the earth’ with the precious good news about salvation through Jesus. He also said that Australian Lutherans since had taken the good news further, with dedicated missionary work throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea and beyond.

With Australian wine being sent worldwide and tourists coming to the Barossa Valley from all parts of the globe, Pastor Thiel supported the idea of a brochure being made available to visitors, which detailed the links between the early Lutheran settlers and winemaking. Before the service a Four Corners film, The Barossa Valley 1962, was shown to set the scene by reporting on the close links between Lutherans and winemaking in the world-renowned region.