STORIES FROM TRINITY LUTHERAN
For Christmas decorating at the old church we of course always had a live tree. The chancel of he church also had 3 arches. These were decorated with live spruce and balsam boughs. The center arch had lights intertwined. The sides of the church had giant wreaths made with hula hoops decorated with boughs. The men grumbled when they had to carry up the tall wooden ladder to use for the decorating. During the end of the Christmas season Pastor and the choir were rained upon by falling needles. We also started a Christmas Pageant. Sunday School teachers and students were the first members of the cast. These people were Dave Mowrey as narrator, Linda Maurer as Garriel, Dolores Majetich as first baby Jesus. The students were the angels and Shepard’s. The poor little angels in their white robes froze in the area behind the altar on frigid December nights as they waited to be the heavenly chorus. The choir also sang during the pageant. The ladies of the congregation worked long and hard to make all of the costumes and the props. Channel 10 from Duluth even came one year and did a feature story about our pageant. Other members also became involved such as Jerry Wallner, Eldon Kirsch, Larry Hubbard, Wally LaKosky, Bruce Johnson, and Jim Kottke.
Thanks to Tim & Barb Kuzma for this remembrance!
The key to the church – was in the front porch at the house west of the church. Individuals did not have a key of their own.
Choir always say in front on the side behind the organ.
Pastor Schmiege was a stickler for memorizing Bible passage for Confirmation class..
Sunday School Classes were held in the basement of the church by pulling the brown curtains to make several rooms. Later they were held in the parsonage or sometimes upstairs and in the basement.
When a family with a small child went to Communion, Lyle Stoefen, who was an usher, would hold the baby for you. He loved to do that.
Bulletins were run off by hand. Took a lot of arm power.
Ladies Guild met in homes, and then once a month all together at the church.
Thanks to Judy Niemi for these.
Other fun events that were held both in the old and new church were Men and Boys nights where various speakers came such as a representative from the DNR. The Ladies and girls enjoyed a speaker giving a talk on Laura Ingalls Wilder, a local singing group called the Looney Tunes, a bridal fashion show, and a fashion show with men modeling women’s clothing. Dave Mowrey was the moderator and the models were Ron Scherie, Eldon Kirsch, Greg Padgett who had a full beard, Tim Kuzma, and Pastor Brill. The ladies laughed so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks.
Thanks to Barb and Tim Kuzma