I t's something members of St. Peter's United Methodist Church well remember and fondly recall. It was the sound of the church bell as it echoed through the darkened night, across the frozen and snow-covered fields, announcing that it was time for the Christmas Eve service at the "little white church on the hill," the name given to the church by some of its members.
Like many rural churches, the 141-year-old St. Peter's United Methodist Church struggles with smaller numbers of worshipers every Sunday. Yet the struggling country church continues to have a Sunday school class, and is working to increase the number of worshippers.
Because church membership is relatively small, the church shares a pastor, the Rev. Paul Gregersen, with the East Clarno Church. The two churches also share youth group meeting and Bible school programs.
The congregation, though small, remains loyal to the little church. The approximately 40 members who attend services come from Monroe, Winslow, Orangeville, and Browntown.
The congregation shares a faith in God and a rich history with those who worshipped decades, even a century ago.
The Christmas Eve candlelight service continues each year, and helps recall the past, when life was harder but spirits just as bright.
Farmers and other residents who lived in Clarno township would gather in their buggies, bundled against the December cold, to set out for church to sing Christmas hymns and see children perform the Christmas story, complete with costumes made by ladies of the church.
As the women and children hurried into the church, the men parked the buggies in a shed in back of the church to keep their horses out of the cold.
As years passed, people drove their cars to church on those cold, winter nights. They could see the soft light coming through the stained-glass windows, and they could see the decorated Christmas tree at the front of the church as they shook off the cold.
The tree, now decorated with ornaments made by ladies of the church in the 1980s, stands behind the alter, which has been a part of the church since it was built almost a century and a half ago.
The Christmas Eve services were always special, said Dick Rote, a member of the church for 71 years.
"There's no more beautiful place, especially if there's some snow falling," he said. "When I was a kid, the Christmas program was the biggest event of the year."
The church bell was always used to let people know it was time for church services to begin. The bell also announced the death of one of the church members. Rote said that, following a funeral, the bell tolled once for every year a person lived. A solemn reminder of the person who called the church home, he said.
In addition to a place of worship, the church over the decades has been a gathering place for people in Clarno township.
In the 1860s, before the church was built, camp meetings were held in the area, Rote said. They were sometimes held in the grove of trees across the road from where the church stands on County P.
In 1868, Frederick Staver donated land for the church, and the church is commonly referred to as Staver's Church. With the help of men in the community, the church was built a year later. Just as the community helped build the church, members have continually assisted with improvements. Memorial donations have helped the church purchase new windows and make other necessary changes to keep up the building.
Decedents of the original members still attend services every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. Children still gather at the church every Sunday. Rote said the Sunday school program has always been a vital part of the church's mission.
Many years ago, Helen Rote, Dick's mother, wrote a song that summed up how she felt about the church.
"Neighbors and friends all gather here/ To this dear chapel year after year/ Sharing each joy and sharing each tear/ In the little white church on the hill."
Like many rural churches, the 141-year-old St. Peter's United Methodist Church struggles with smaller numbers of worshipers every Sunday. Yet the struggling country church continues to have a Sunday school class, and is working to increase the number of worshippers.
Because church membership is relatively small, the church shares a pastor, the Rev. Paul Gregersen, with the East Clarno Church. The two churches also share youth group meeting and Bible school programs.
The congregation, though small, remains loyal to the little church. The approximately 40 members who attend services come from Monroe, Winslow, Orangeville, and Browntown.
The congregation shares a faith in God and a rich history with those who worshipped decades, even a century ago.
The Christmas Eve candlelight service continues each year, and helps recall the past, when life was harder but spirits just as bright.
Farmers and other residents who lived in Clarno township would gather in their buggies, bundled against the December cold, to set out for church to sing Christmas hymns and see children perform the Christmas story, complete with costumes made by ladies of the church.
As the women and children hurried into the church, the men parked the buggies in a shed in back of the church to keep their horses out of the cold.
As years passed, people drove their cars to church on those cold, winter nights. They could see the soft light coming through the stained-glass windows, and they could see the decorated Christmas tree at the front of the church as they shook off the cold.
The tree, now decorated with ornaments made by ladies of the church in the 1980s, stands behind the alter, which has been a part of the church since it was built almost a century and a half ago.
The Christmas Eve services were always special, said Dick Rote, a member of the church for 71 years.
"There's no more beautiful place, especially if there's some snow falling," he said. "When I was a kid, the Christmas program was the biggest event of the year."
The church bell was always used to let people know it was time for church services to begin. The bell also announced the death of one of the church members. Rote said that, following a funeral, the bell tolled once for every year a person lived. A solemn reminder of the person who called the church home, he said.
In addition to a place of worship, the church over the decades has been a gathering place for people in Clarno township.
In the 1860s, before the church was built, camp meetings were held in the area, Rote said. They were sometimes held in the grove of trees across the road from where the church stands on County P.
In 1868, Frederick Staver donated land for the church, and the church is commonly referred to as Staver's Church. With the help of men in the community, the church was built a year later. Just as the community helped build the church, members have continually assisted with improvements. Memorial donations have helped the church purchase new windows and make other necessary changes to keep up the building.
Decedents of the original members still attend services every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. Children still gather at the church every Sunday. Rote said the Sunday school program has always been a vital part of the church's mission.
Many years ago, Helen Rote, Dick's mother, wrote a song that summed up how she felt about the church.
"Neighbors and friends all gather here/ To this dear chapel year after year/ Sharing each joy and sharing each tear/ In the little white church on the hill."