St. John’s Lutheran Church in Emmaus recently celebrated “Weihnachtszeit,” a Christmas worship service in which the hymns, lessons and liturgy are presented in German.

Attended this year by over 150 participants, the service attracts native German speakers, people of Pennsylvania German origin and those interested in a variation of the traditional worship service from throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Begun in 2016, the service has become an annual tradition. This year, Mike Garrison performed the liturgy and Ann Pickin, Allison Saegar Panik, Helga Curry and Sandy Ruch read the lessons. The Reverend Jeffrey S. Carstens presented the sermon in English.

Following the service, attendees were invited to socialize and sample a variety of German cookies. Usually from old family recipes, the cookies are made and donated by members of the St. John’s congregation.

Parish hall decorations maintain the German theme. Three-dimensional paper stars hang in the windows; scherenschnitte (intricate, lacy, paper cutouts) are displayed throughout the room and a Weihnachtspyramide (a tiered, wooden centerpiece) is prominently displayed.

Participants often find themselves sharing family stories and experiences.

Matthew Staack, whose family emigrated from Germany when he was a child, described entering the United States through Ellis Island.

Although born in this country, Helma Rosenthal’s first language is German. When she was a small child her parents knew little English so that she believes she “ … picked it [English] up from kids …” in her neighborhood.

Kathrin Smith left Bavaria in 1979. She retains strong ties to her sister who resides in Germany and shared recent pictures of her sister and brother-in-law out for a walk in a landscape blanketed by five feet of snow. Other folks discussed Christmas traditions based on their Western European roots.

The service, food and décor all contribute to the authenticity of the event. However, no matter one’s ancestry or traditions, St. John’s yearly Weihnachtszeit should not be missed.

For more information, visit St. John’s website www.stjohnsemmaus.org, visit the church’s Facebook page, St. John’s Lutheran Church Emmaus or call the church office at 610-965-9885.