MONROE - The congregation of St. John's United Church of Christ, extends an invitation to all to attend its annual German Christmas Communion Service (Deutscher Weihnachtsgottesdienst) at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the church, 1724 14th St., Monroe. The service is conducted entirely in German and includes familiar carols and music of German origin led by the Monroe Swiss Singers and the Bells of Praise, the handbell choir at St. John's. A complete English translation of the entire service, including the sermon, is provided.
Founded in 1862 by Swiss and German immigrants, services at St. John's were conducted in German until the 1920s, and Christmas Day communion services were continued in German until 1955. The service as it exists today was reinstituted in 1972 by the Rev. Wolfgang Koehler, a German native who served the congregation from 1969-1981.
Leading the service this year will be Karen Luond Fowdy, a teacher of German in the Monroe School District since 1987. Born in Denver and raised in Wyoming, Fowdy spent her early years in the Denver home of her Swiss grandfather, Albert Lüönd, originally from Rothenthurm in Canton Schwyz, and grandmother, Rose Schmidt, the daughter of Bavarian and Swiss immigrants.
Assisting with the service will be Hans Werner Bernet of Monroe, who will serve as liturgist, and the Rev. Gretchen Sylvester, associate pastor of St. John's Church, who will serve communion. Refreshments, including Swiss brätzeli cookies, will follow the service in the church's Fellowship Hall. St. John's Church is handicapped-accessible, with a drive-up elavator entrance on the building's east side. More information is available by calling the church office at (608) 325-2165 or by visitingwww.MonroeSwissSingers.org/germanservice.html
Founded in 1862 by Swiss and German immigrants, services at St. John's were conducted in German until the 1920s, and Christmas Day communion services were continued in German until 1955. The service as it exists today was reinstituted in 1972 by the Rev. Wolfgang Koehler, a German native who served the congregation from 1969-1981.
Leading the service this year will be Karen Luond Fowdy, a teacher of German in the Monroe School District since 1987. Born in Denver and raised in Wyoming, Fowdy spent her early years in the Denver home of her Swiss grandfather, Albert Lüönd, originally from Rothenthurm in Canton Schwyz, and grandmother, Rose Schmidt, the daughter of Bavarian and Swiss immigrants.
Assisting with the service will be Hans Werner Bernet of Monroe, who will serve as liturgist, and the Rev. Gretchen Sylvester, associate pastor of St. John's Church, who will serve communion. Refreshments, including Swiss brätzeli cookies, will follow the service in the church's Fellowship Hall. St. John's Church is handicapped-accessible, with a drive-up elavator entrance on the building's east side. More information is available by calling the church office at (608) 325-2165 or by visitingwww.MonroeSwissSingers.org/germanservice.html
