Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Historic St. Peter’s Homecoming Coming Soon

As the summer begins to fade and our thoughts turn toward autumn, we also begin to look forward to the annual St. Peter’s Homecoming Celebration. This event marks a tradition which began over one hundred years ago.

When St. Peter closed its doors to weekly worship it was decided then to hold a “Homecoming Service” each year. Most of the congregation that remained moved their membership to nearby Lutheran churches like Trinity, at Versailles, Friedens Lutheran at Bloomer, St. Paul’s at Willowdell, or St. John, near Greenville.

Why is St. Peter Evangelical Church unique? It has celebrated more “Homecoming Services” than years of regular worship, closing in 1905; this marks the 111th Homecoming service!

The little, country church, founded by immigrants from Kammerforst, Langensalza, Providence Larheim, Kingdom of Prussia, (Germany) whom settled in what was known then as “Dutch Roost” offered regular German Lutheran worship services in this log structure from 1850 till 1905. When they closed the doors in 1905, all was left in place. It looks today much as it did when they worshiped here.

On Sunday September 17th the historic church will host the annual worship and hymn sing, reminiscent of the old German Lutheran style of the late 19th and early 20th century. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. The Rev. Brian S. McGee of St. John Lutheran Church of Greenville will lead the abbreviated worship service. Karen Lawrence will play the original pump organ and many hymns of a by gone era will be sung.

This year St. Peters continues to participate in the Ohio Historical Society’s “Open Door Initiative”; a celebration of Ohio’s hidden gems that are rarely viewed or open to the public.

Remember your contributions are the only financial support this historic church receives and are vital to keeping her doors open, once a year and maintaining the property for years to come. St Peter’s is a 501c.3 and would welcome your support. A contribution may be made by check to St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church c/o J. R. Kelch at 105 Greenhaven Drive Greenville, Ohio 45331.

Come and be a part of the continuing story of St. Peters!

St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church is located one mile south of Versailles just east off of State Route 185 south of Versailles, on the St. Peter’s Road.

Come and enjoy an early autumn afternoon in the country where our earliest settlers walked and prayed.

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