Catholic parish holds service in a river, focusing not on Christ but water. Follows "Church meets Sheeran" event

Water instead of church pews: Wandflue Pastoral Area holds service in the Aare River

The Wandflue Pastoral Area is responding to the summer heat with an unusual offering: a church service held in and alongside the Aare River. "Why do we only talk about water inside the church, rather than where you can smell, hear, and feel it?" asks parish pastoral worker Thomas Wehrli, who came up with the idea.

Not concerned with Christ, all about him and water

Switzerland has been sweltering under the summer heat for weeks. Now, the Wandflue Pastoral Area aims to provide some cooling relief—in a unique way. Under the motto "Immerse Yourself – A Cool Service in the Aare," the group is inviting people to a service held in the water for the first time.

The flyer captures the essence of the celebration: "brief and intense," "focus on water," and "foundation of life." The idea arose spontaneously. While out riding his motorcycle on a hot summer day, parish pastoral worker Thomas Wehrli wondered why water is discussed during church services but not in the places "where you can smell, hear, and feel it," he told kath.ch.

The vital importance of water

The theme of water has long occupied Wehrli’s thoughts. "Water is a foundation of life, a source of energy, a transport route, and a force of nature all at once—it is essential for life, yet it can also threaten life," he explains. "Crucial events in the Bible also repeatedly involve water." God leads His people through the sea to freedom; Jesus is baptized in the Jordan and promises the Samaritan woman living water. "In baptism, water becomes a sign of a new beginning gifted by God."

The special service will take place in the Aare river bay near the Staad Chapel.

The special service will take place on July 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Aare river bay near the Staad Chapel. The celebration takes place in and by the water. Thomas Wehrli himself will stand in the Aare River during the service. Participants can choose whether to enter the water as well or follow the service from the bank.

"The bay offers a sheltered and safe setting," says Wehrli. To keep his notes from getting wet in the water, he will laminate them and place them on a floating platform.

Simple format

The service deliberately adopts a simple format. Biblical texts alternate with poetry and brief reflections, while music creates space for contemplation and pausing. The service is accompanied by an electric piano played from the riverbank.

Thomas Wehrli, Parish Pastoral Worker in the Wandflue Pastoral Area

With this unusual format, the pastoral area aims to offer people an accessible spiritual experience. "I know from many conversations that people are searching for spirituality—but not necessarily within traditional forms of worship," says Wehrli. The church should and must explore new paths. "It needs to find forms that resonate with people in their everyday lives—not as a replacement for traditional liturgy, which is also important to me, but as a supplement," Wehrli explains.

The service is aimed at people who enjoy being near the water, reflecting on life, or seeking gratitude, hope, and confidence. With their feet in the water or while standing on the bank, they can experience how closely questions of life and faith are sometimes intertwined.

If the experiment meets with a positive response, Wehrli can envision other unconventional locations for services. "I would love to hold a service about 'heaven'—literally up in the sky, inside an airplane. However, I would need a sponsor willing to make their aircraft available for that," he says with a smile.

The service will take place only if the weather is good and the water level of the Aare is safe. 

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