Virtual Cemetery Walk to be held May 20, 2023

On Saturday afternoon, May 20, 2023 beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, “A Journey Upstream” will be presented at Himmel’s Church. It will be a walk back in time and a virtual cemetery walk which will include the meeting of interesting personalities from Himmel’s 250 year history.

The event will begin with a series of hymns each pre-ceded by a brief description of its origin and an accompanying description of world and cultural events intertwined with Himmel’s history. With each hymn, time moves back 25 to 50 years until 1773 and the founding of Himmel’s Church. This sets the stage for the stories of the following nine persons who will be portrayed or share their stories. These persons include the following:

Anna Maria Bordner Schneider (1756-1827) Matriarch and Pioneer settler.

Johann Nickolas Schneider (1749-1821) Revolutionary War soldier, Pioneer Settler and one of Himmel’s Founding Fathers

Benneville Holschuh (1815-1853) Hotelkeeper, Postmaster, Storekeeper in Greenbrier, remembered by his wife, Western Pioneer and member of the Brosius Mill Family, Anna Maria Brosius Holschuh Lawrence

Dr. Frederick Trion (1762-1840) German Immigrant and Saddlebag Doctor from Rebuck

Louisa Christina Kauffman Beachel, Survivor of Typhoid Fever and Western Pioneer remembering her brothers and sisters of the Kauffman family returns from Waverly, Nebraska.

Andrew Geist (1753-1849) Continental Soldier, Farmer, and Friend of Native Americans

Rev. Johann Georg Christian Augustus Bergner (1806-1860) German Immigrant, Teacher, Lutheran Minister of Line Mountain and Mahanoy Parishes

Jacob D. Hoffman (1804-1886) Farmer, Twice married; Wives remembered by almost identical monuments at Himmel’s and St. Peter’s, Red Cross.

Peter Montelius (1781-1859) Teacher, Organist, Chorister, Printer at Himmel’s Church, Surveyor, Justice of the Peace

Plan to attend this event on Saturday afternoon March 20, 2023 at Himmel’s Church to meet some of the people who attended Himmel’s Church in the early years. Light refreshments will be served following the “walk.”

(Tentative) Himmel’s (Heaven’s) Church Sestercentennial Calendar of Events 2023

WINTER

January 1  Greeting the 2023 Sestercentennial Year Celebration  (Communion first Sunday of each mo.)

February 5 Rev. Carrie Call, UCC Conference Minister will preside and speak

February 21   Fastnacht Day / February 22   Ash Wednesday

SPRING

March 5 Rev. Craig Miller, Bishop of Upper Susquehanna Synod will preside and speak

April 2 Palm Sunday / April 6, Maundy Thursday / April 7, Good Friday

April 9 Easter Sunday

May 20 Cemetery Walk with portrayals of some Himmel’s folks and Eagle Scout Project by Evan Swinehart recognizing Veterans buried at Himmel’s

May 21 Patricia Earnest Suter of rdearnestassociates/Earnest Archives and Library will speak on her book about Peter Montelius, printer at Himmel’s, teacher, organist, chorister, surveyor, justice of the peace and ancestor of many Himmel’s folks.

​May 25 Ascension Day / May 29 Memorial Day

SUMMER

June 18 (Father’s Day) Lynn Otto, Captain, 1st Battalion Penna. Regiment will speak on how Himmel’s forefathers came via the Tulpehocken Path and Conrad Weiser.

July 2 Special Observance of recorded 1776 communion list

August 6 Himmel’s Country Festival with special historic additions.    August 7?

AUTUMN

September 17 Heritage Sunday (Mike Pfeffly or Dieffenbach Organ speaker?)

September 24 Harvest Home

October 1 Blanket Sunday  WELCA speaker

October 15  Lisa Minardi, Executive Director of Historic Trappe (Muhlenburg Site) and Center for Penna. German Studies will speak on the History and Art of the Schwaben Creek Valley and Himmel’s Church. (Covered dish)

October Food Fair  / October 29 Reformation Sunday

WINTER

November 5  Veterans Recognition

November 12 Praise and Thanksgiving Service with meal following

December 3 Advent begins

December 24  250th Christmas Eve at Himmel’s / December 31 New Year’s Eve 2024