MONROE — For the last 45 years, Monroe’s St. John’s United Church of Christ, 1724 14th St., whose very beginnings are rooted in the traditions of Swiss and German immigrants, has offered the Deutscher Weihnachtsgottesdienst, or German Christmas Communion Service. 

This year is no exception, with the special service, conducted entirely in German, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

The service has been an outreach and function of St. John’s since its inception in 1972 by Rev. Wolfgang Koehler, a German native who served as senior pastor from 1969 to 1981. His wife, Betty, directed the Monroe Swiss Singers from 1971 to 1976, and the choir has provided musical leadership for the service since. Deborah Krauss Smith, director of the Monroe Swiss Singers since 1985, also serves as organist for the service.

Following Rev. Koehler’s retirement, a few German-speaking ministers led the service, most notably Rev. Dr. Fred Trost, former longtime President of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ, and Rev. Erwin Pegel, a native of Bad Salzuflen, Germany, who last served at Zwingli UCC in Monticello. 

Even in his retirement, Rev. Pegel and his wife, Dora, led St. John’s German Service through 2004, until his health began to fail.

The future of the service became jeopardized as it became increasingly difficult to find ordained ministers who spoke German fluently enough to conduct an entire service in German, especially a sermon. 

In 2009, the Monroe Swiss Singers offered to lead the service using the format of “Nine Lessons and Carols,” with native speakers from the choir reading the nine scripture selections and Karen Lüӧnd Fowdy, longtime German teacher at Monroe High School, leading the other parts of the service. The format was very successful and well received, and most importantly, St. John’s was able to continue offering the special Christmas service.

Attendees come from not only the area, but from Rock and Dane Counties and northern Illinois as well. It is one of very few such Christmas services in Wisconsin. 

An English translation of the entire service is provided. There is a fellowship time following the service.