Trinity Lutheran returns to German roots for special service

Trinity Lutheran Church members honored some of the customs practiced by their ancestors at a special traditional service Sunday.

"We're doing what they used to do back in the 1800s," said Jeanine Hager, who coordinated the traditional aspects of the special service. "We wanted to celebrate our German heritage."

Trinity Lutheran is marking its 150th anniversary, and the women and men of the congregation were separated during the service, with women sitting on one side of the aisle and men on the other, just like the German immigrants who founded the church in 1854.

Nearly all the women in the congregation covered their heads in hats, bonnets or lacy handkerchiefs. Some men wore traditional items, such as black trousers and white dress shirts with suspenders.

"It's all part of the protocol" for the anniversary, said music coordinator Charlie Vaughan, who was dressed in black trousers and suspenders. "We tried to dress in that fashion. The men were encouraged to wear no coats and no ties."

Those elements came together to make a service that was special to many in the congregation, said the Rev. Douglas Breite, pastor of Trinity Lutheran.

"They were very enthusiastic about it," Breite said. "I was thrilled at how many people really enjoyed the service. I think people miss the tradition."

There were other traditional elements in the service besides dress. Ushers used a klingel beutel -- a pouch attached to the end of a long pole -- to collect the offering from the congregation.

The men's ensemble sang "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," with one verse sung in German by Vaughan.

"That music was totally special just for the German service," said Vaughan. "I had to work like crazy to get that verse down. The last time I had a course in German was 1956."

While his special part in the service was tough, Vaughan said, the women were the ones who showed real discipline. "They all had to make and wear those head coverings and keep them on the whole time," he said.

'A walk back in time'

One of those women was Joann Fee of Cape Girardeau, who wore a white hat and shawl and a long, black dress in a 19th-century style.

"I think it's important to do this," Fee said. "It's nice to see people putting more spirit into it. It felt great, not as stiff as usual. It was like a walk back in time."

After the service, members of the congregation and their guests were invited to Trinity Lutheran School for a traditional German dinner in the school gymnasium. The dinner featured such items as wiener schnitzel made from veal, bratwurst, German potato salad, German coffeecakes and sauerkraut.

The gym was decorated with traditional aprons and nightgowns hung up as if they were drying, and each table had some antique item on it like organ grinders, churns and dolls. At a side table, old-style crafts were on sale, such as picture frames, mirrors and bell-shaped ornaments with painted patterns called German bells.

Before the meal began, former Trinity Lutheran School principal Robert Hartmann recited a prayer in German and English. Then it was time to eat, and a band played German festival music during the meal.

"It was a lot of effort to put together," said Hager, the coordinator, "but it was a lot of fun, too. We just wanted to have a fun day."

Hager said that the important thing, though, was the message of the service.

"We're really just rejoicing in the good news of Jesus, just like our ancestors did," she said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 226