It must have been Christmas 1953.
I was 5 years old.
My family went to Immanuel Lutheran Church
At 42nd and Tracy
In Kansas City, Missouri.
Immanuel was the “mother-church” of Lutheran churches in Kansas City.
The Reverend T.A. Weinhold was the pastor.
I remember him to be serious and elegant.
A gentleman and passionate pastor.
I have a vivid memory of that Christmas.
The church was packed . . . and packed might be an understatement.
The Senior Walther League had decorated the massive church.
(Massive might be a relative term; remember I was five)
The church was beautiful . . .
Lights
Trees
Candles
Tinsel . . . lots of shimmering tinsel.
The Christmas Gospel was read
And the pageant began: Mary. Joseph. Shepherds. Angels.
And the choirs
All in robes, like angels
And it was one choir that was called, I think, the “Junior Choir”
High school and college-aged young adults
A large group
Sang a Christmas hymn I had never heard before,
“Oh Holy Night”
And I still remember it.
` How it sounded.
Like angels.
“Fall on your knees and hear the angel voices.”
I remember being enchanted with this “new” hymn
(Although now I know it was written 101 years before I was born.)
“Fall on your knees . . .”
On Christmas eve, 1953
Christmas eve was AWE-some for this five-year-old because of that hymn.
It was like magic to the kid.
In theological terms, it was the unfolding of the mystery of the incarnation
Come alive in the heart and mind of a child.
“Fall on your knees” . . . in joy and awe.
There’s a lot of talk about revitalization of the church.
When we talk about revitalization, maybe we need to see through the heart of a five-year-old.
Remember what Jesus said, Mark 10:14-15?
Rediscover the awesome majesty of God
Recover the mystery
Respond to God’s plan and how it unfolds.
This year, what will your children, be they five, fifteen or twenty-five . . .
What will your children see?
What will they hear?
What will they feel?
What will they taste?
I almost forgot, Christmas at Immanuel meant the candy sack.
Every child got a lunch bag, filled with treats –
An orange
Orange slices
A few chocolate drops
And some peanuts.
God bless you with an AWE-some, JOY-filled Christmas!
Back Row: Jim Lohman, Krista Miller, Renee Lorenz; Front Row: Mark Kiessling, Terry Dittmer, Amy Gray.
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Truly, an awesome Christmas hymn…I had heard it many times before I had truly “heard it“. That impactful time of “hearing” O Holy Night actually came to me with my then-girlfriend/one-day-to-be-my-wife at the Lied Center in Lincoln in which a sign-language interpreter so eloquently and beautifully signed the song along with the choir. Honestly, I had never “heard“ the song in such a powerful manner! Thanks for sharing, Terry!
How cool!!! Thanks for your memories! God bless your Christmas!
TKD
I can still smell the orange in the bag along with the peanuts. We got ribbon hard candy along with the chocolate drops. No observing any fire marshall rules; folding chairs lined the center aisle, even squeezed them into the side aisles of Zion Lutheran Church, Arcadia, IA circa 1961. And I love the revitalization plan.
Thanks for your memories! God bless your Christmas!
TKD
I also love the hymn “O Holy Night” and consider it my favorite Christmas hymn. I have since I was a little boy. I’d like to share an interesting story about this hymn . I don’t remember my exact age but we were starting to practice for our SS Christmas Eve program at Bethany Lutheran church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and I asked my SS teacher if we could sing O Holy Night in the program. Her responce was no, that it was too Catholic. I believe her take on this was that the term Holy is only applied to the Godhead himself and not a night. Interesting!!! I still love the hymn.
Thanks for your memories! God bless your Christmas!
TKD
I just want to thank you for this beautiful Story. As I read it , I could feel the excitement from a 5 year old child, See the magic unfold with each word. Thank you for Sharing it and thank you for the reminder. My husband and I have 4 children in our home this Christmas and It sure made me think about What will your children see, What will they hear? What will they feel? What will they taste? Thank you for that.
Thank you! May God bless your Christmas richly!
TKD
for 8 years I walked into the Christmas Eve service singing O Come All Ya Faithful (1954-1961) and oh yes, I remember those candy bags. My husband and I visit that congregation every Christmas Eve… Wonderful memories for both of us.
Thanks for your memories! God bless your Christmas!
TKD
Thank you for the memories, Terry. I loved growing up at Immanuel. Just today I was talking about the Candle Light Services with all the choirs – from the grade school, girls high school age, and adult. We sang our praises to the Lord, some on key and some not so much, but all beautiful to Him. A blessed Christmas to you.
How very cool to hear from you! Thanks for your memories! God bless your Christmas!
TKD
I was a member of Immanuel and sang in the Choir for about 15-16 years. I returned to Nebraska in 1970. I well remember the beautiful church and the Christmas Concerts we gave. Wonderful memories, I always loved that beautiful church. How wonderful to see a picture of it again.