Last week, on the 6:th of november 324 years ago, the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus II died on the foggy battlefield of Lützen, Germany. In Uppsala this day is remembered each year by songs of the students (the choir "Allmäna sången"), and so also this year. Gustavus Adolphus fought for what he believed in, and one of the songs sung both in the Trinity church and by the choir by the monument was "A mighty fortress is our God" by Martin Luther
Because it is so good, I publish the first two verses here:
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevaling.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabbaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
The snow is falling down over Sweden, and this weekend has been a great start for Winter. My kids, who being norwegian (due to their mother) have been out skiing as much as the have could.
Maria Larsson, Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health (Swedish government) today visited our county, where she among other things opened a playground for elderly people in Enköping, the first one of its' kind in Sweden. (see TV4 and UNT ). In Uppsala the host was Gustaf von Essen, chairman of the committy for elderly care. Unfortunately I could not participate since I was at home in bed due to a temperature.
