 The Rev. Richard Reinwald will conduct the service according to the
old Evangelical Book of Worship and will choose among the oldest
hymns in the hymnal. The congregation will follow its original
practice of seating segregated by sex: men on the right and women,
girls and boys under the age of confirmation on the left. Men of the
church council will sit in front and perpendicular to the
congregation as models of piety.
In 1860, when the church was
founded by German immigrants, the pastor preached in German. By 1915
he had to be bilingual, conducting separate services in German and
English. The Feb. 21 sermon will be in English, but the Lord's
Prayer, a scriptural passage and a vocal solo will be offered in
German. Angela Coombs, who studied German for three years at
Illinois College, will read from Scripture; David Wilmert, who holds
a bachelor's in German from Illinois Wesleyan University and a
master's in international management from Monterey Institute of
International Studies, will read the Lord's Prayer; and Michael
Schneider, a senior in voice at IWU, will sing the solo.
The sanctuary will be decorated according to photos of the
congregation's earlier church, built on the corner of Fifth and
Union in 1884. Plants, not flowers, will provide decoration. Above
the altar two banners will proclaim the same words inscribed there
in the earlier church: the German for "Glory to God in the highest"
and "God with us." Instead of printed bulletins, boards at the front
of the church will list hymn numbers.
Ushers will use the old long-handled metal baskets to collect the
offering.
The choir will sit in the balcony at the back of the sanctuary,
because, according to an early denominational paper, "it is contrary
to the modest and virtuous position of a woman publicly to exhibit
herself as a singer."
For those unaccustomed to the early practices or unsure of their
meaning, Lois Leonard, a member of the 150th anniversary committee,
will give an introduction just prior to the service. Other committee
members are Lynn Spellman, chair; Marita Schneider; the Rev. Wallace
Reifsteck; the Rev. Richard Reinwald; Jim Wilmert; and Bob Wilmert.
In 1866 Saint Johannes Kirche hired Professor Christian de Oesten
from Lincoln College to serve as precantor. His role was to lead the
congregation in singing and to rein in the overenthusiastic singers.
In many early churches the pastor served as precantor, and the Rev.
Richard Reinwald will perform this role for the old-time service.
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Following the service a potluck dinner with fried chicken will be
served. Anyone with questions can call the church office at
732-6957. The church is located at 204 Seventh St. in Lincoln.
___
Other events in the anniversary series:
March 21 -- Service led by St. John UCC Youth Group
April 18 -- Musicfest, including a work for choir and bells
commissioned in memory of church member Helen Post
May 16 -- Niebuhr Day, with a speech by Elisabeth Sifton,
daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr and author of a book on the Serenity
Prayer
June 20 -- Historical pageant and confirmation reunion. The
pageant "The Vine That Winds So True" was written by member Ruth
Bidner, now deceased.
July 18 -- Quilt show and speech by Mary Hathaway on the
Underground Railroad and its connection to United Church of Christ
history
Aug. 15 -- Children of the Congregation -- honoring members of
the congregation who have gone on to serve the UCC as ministers
(two), missionary nurse (one) or licensed lay leader (one)
Sept. 19 -- 150th birthday party with the president of Illinois
Conference of the United Church of Christ as special guest
[Text from file received from Lynn
Spellman]
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