The annual German-American Christmas service on Sunday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church will feature elements from both countries.
The sermon by Pastor Larry Barksdale of St. Matthew will be in English while desserts following will be traditional German treats including German cookies and gingerbread.
The interdenominational service, falling on the third Sunday in Advent, is the 33rd. It’s sponsored by Klub Heimatland, a local club of Germans that formed two years prior to the first worship service. The club meets 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at St. Matthew.
Though the club contained all women from the beginning, men can join as well, said Ingeborg Wills, who joined six months after the initial gathering in 1974.
“When we started out, we had about 12 people but now we’re at 38 or 40 members. We used to have a lot more, but quite a few passed away or moved away,” said Wills, who has been club president several times since joining.
In addition to sponsoring the annual service, Klub Heimatland (“Homeland Club”) supports various charities: the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home; the Ronald McDonald House; Hope Harbour (which operates the Columbus battered women’s shelter); and Camp Joy, affiliated with the Valley Rescue Mission, in Hamilton, Ga. In addition, the club maintains the graves at Fort Benning of 43 German soldiers who died as prisoners of war. And, members celebrate Oktoberfest together.
The club also has a presence on the city’s Commission on International Relations & Cultural Liaison Encounters.
Membership in the club is open to anyone who speaks German.
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