MILBERGER — United Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger will celebrate the Easter season with an afternoon worship service conducted in German at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 12.
The service will use the order of worship that the Volga German forebears of the present members brought with them from the Volga River area of Russia. This service will include Holy Communion using the common cup as was the practice back when United Emmanuel was founded.
An unusual feature of this service is that part of the sermon will be preached using the Milberger dialect of German. It was always the practice that High German was used by the pastors who served United Emmanual because they could not speak the local dialect of German known as “Daitsch.”
The Rev. Delvin Strecker, pastor of Elim Lutheran Church in Marquette, whose grandparents and parents were members of United Emmanual, and who grew up speaking the Milberger dialect, will preach and preside at the worship service.
Terry Batt of Thornton, Colorado, will serve as the guest organist. Batt’s parents and grandparents were members of the former Trinity Lutheran Church at Bender Hill in Russell County, and also grew up speaking Volga German and playing the music not only of the local Volga German churches, but also their folk music.
Since many of the area residents don’t have an opportunity to sing the old familiar hymns, there will be a short hymn sing following the worship service. Following the hymn sing, there will be a time for fellowship and coffee.
Milberger is located 16 miles southwest of Russell. All are invited to celebrate the German heritage.