We at the Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum have some busy days ahead of us. It begins today with 3 different school groups from United in Christ Lutheran School in Frohna and Altenburg Public School coming to our museum to view our Christmas exhibit. I always like to be hanging around the museum on such days when the children are present. So, today I am going to share an old post instead of doing my regular family history type of story.
I discovered that the very first post that we published on the date of December 17th was this one from 2016. It, too, was not an ordinary type of story you usually read on this blog. It is one in which the topic is how Christmas trees made their way into churches in America. Christmas trees had been a tradition that started lots of years earlier, but that tradition was one that mostly took place in homes. It was not customary to place a Christmas tree in a church.
Then, along came Rev. Henry Schwann, a Lutheran pastor serving Zion Lutheran Church in Cleveland. And when he introduced a Christmas tree in a church sanctuary, it was not universally accepted. In fact, it was quite controversial.
There are several links included in the attached story. The one written by Rev. Martin Noland includes a fascinating old black and white video that tells the story of the first Christmas tree at Zion, Cleveland. I think you would enjoy it. I know I did.
My, how things have changed. Here is a photo taken inside Trinity Lutheran Church during a recent Christmas Country Church Tour. Trinity has become well-knows for its Poinsettia Tree.
Recently, a local TV station did a story about this year’s Christmas Country Church Tour. Two great friends of our museum, Trish Etzfeld and Mary Jane Buchheit, were interviewed in this video. The fact that this church tour is celebrating its 20th anniversary was highlighted. This year is also the year that our museum is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Perhaps you would like to attend the Christmas Country Church Tour. Most churches open their doors at 1 pm on the days of the tour, but our museum will be open as usual at 10 am, like we do each day. It is a great place to start the tour early.