WINTER 2014 VOLUME 32 NO. 2

CHRISTMAS - CAROLS -

CANDLELIGHT - CHORUS -

CHURCH!!!

These words are all part of

Christmas magic. Experience

them all on Saturday, December

13 at 2:00 PM or 4:30 PM when

folks gather to sing Carols in

Candlelight and to listen to

the voices of the Red Rose

Chorus at historic Old Zion

Church, Reifsnyder Road,

Brickerville, PA.

The Red Rose Quartet and

Chorus will lead the holiday

carols and perform too. Voices in

song always sound spectacular in

Old Zion. At the 2 PM Carol Sing

the Red Rose Quartet blend

their voices with ours. Then at

4:30 PM, the Red Rose Chorus

will take part in the annual Carol

Sing.

The requirements are simple.

The tickets are FREE and can be

requested starting November 17,

2014. The process for requesting

tickets remains the same as in

years past.

Mail a ticket request form

(included in this mailing) and a

return envelope that includes a

stamp and your address to David

Hoffman, 1263 Ash Lane, Lebanon

PA 17042.

Dress warmly as the building is

not heated.

Bring a flashlight to follow your

song sheet and to light your path

to your car.

A free will offering will be taken

during the Carol Sing to support

the preservation of Old Zion.

Prepare to be part of this

beautiful, simple, and delightfully

old fashioned fun event.

This is Christmas at its

best with Carols,

Candlelight, and a Chorus

in a Country Church.

Please see the weather

cancellation policy in this issue.

CHRISTMAS CAROL SING - DECEMBER 13

RED ROSE QUARTET AND CHORUS LEAD THE CAROL SING AT 2 PM AND 4:30 PM RESPECTIVELY ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13.

OLD ZION’S TRUMPETBLOW YE THE TRUMPET IN ZION

C AROL S ING WEATHER C ANCELLATION POLICY

Emanuel Deyer; Master BuilderArticle by David Hoffman, Board Secretary

Research compiled by Ben Kreiner, Manheim Historical Society

Perhaps you have read the inscription on Old Zion’s balcony. It is written in German Fraktur script and lists the name “Emanuel Deyer” and the date “October the 2nd, 1813”. On that Sunday, the dedication service for the new brick church building took place and Emanuel was honored as the master builder.

Emanuel was born in 1760, the son of immigrant parents from central Europe. He learned the cabinetry trade from his father and went into the family business of building cabinets and furniture. In 1783, he and Sophia Gerhard were married by Henry Muhlenberg, the patron and organizer of the Lutheran Church in North America. They had “at least” eight children, some of whom also joined the family business of construction. In 1798, they constructed an impressive Georgian dwelling for Emanuel and Sophia, which stands today at 128 South Main Street in Manheim. In 1813, Emanuel and his son George accepted the contract from Royer’s Church in Brickerville to build a new, modern brick structure overlooking the Brubaker Valley. They used a classic square footprint with a wine glass pulpit and balconies on three sides. The arched windows mirrored the arched ceiling, which gave the church excellent acoustics. The carved, draped doorway and fluted columns inside made the building a true masterpiece. It was the newest architectural style and the crowning glory of a poor country congregation.

Emanuel and his sons continued to build furniture and home interiors until his death in 1836. He is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Manheim.

If wintry weather occurs on Saturday, December 13, or if there is already snow or ice on the ground on December 13, the Carol Sing will be cancelled. Old Zion does not have a paved parking area, nor does it have smooth walkways. Therefore snow and ice could create serious hardships for visitors. For event updates on December 13 please check Old Zion’s website at www.oldzionchurch.com.

Emanuel was born in 1760, the son of immigrant parents from central Europe.

were married by Henry Muhlenberg, the patron and organizer of the Lutheran

arched windows mirrored the arched ceiling, which gave the church excellent

On Sept. 14th the 201st anniversary of the Old Zion brick church was celebrated on a perfect Sunday afternoon. A soft breeze drifted through the old building as the sounds of Lititz Moravian Church’s Trombone Choir resonated throughout the church. Board member, David Hoffman, read the scripture in German and JP Welliver accompanied the congregation’s hymns on the antique pump organ.

The featured speaker, Eric Troutman, President of Pennsylvania’s Sons of the Revolution, spoke about “Pennsylvania Germans Involvement in the Revolutionary War”. According to Mr. Troutman’s information clarifies why the original Old Zion building

served as a hospital during this war and why the cemetery served as the soldiers’ burial ground.

Toward the end of the service Laber/Lauver family members were recognized as being the ancestors of early Old Zion congregants. Other special attendees included 100 year old former board member, Dorothy Cushman, and 8 month old Sophia Martin, daughter of Old Zion board member, Amanda Martin.

As September 14th was the 200th anniversary of when Frances Scott Key penned the “Star Spangled Banner”, the service concluded with the Trombone Choir’s wonderful, rousing rendition of the National Anthem.

Anniversary Service Held September 14

2015 @ OLD ZION

WEDDING SEASON 2ND WKEND IN APR - 2ND WKEND IN OCT

ANNIVERSARY SERVICESEPT 13 AT 4 PM

CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGDECEMBER 12

EASTER DAWN SERVICE APRIL 5

CEMETERY PLOTS

AVAILABLECemetery plots are available within the grounds of Old Zion Church. The cost of a plot is $400. Please contact board member, Wayne Eichfeld to learn more at 203-1527 or email the church at oldzionchurch@gmail.com .

The serenity of the gradually sloping cemetery hill over looking the Brubaker Valley is unchanged and peaceful from a century ago.

Take this opportunity to make future plans appreciated by family and future generations.

CAROLINGBy Ernest Clayton

It was a silent night.

But if you listened carefully

You could hear voices

Beautiful voices,

young and old

Singing words that

filled your heart

with JOY!

NEW PATHWAYS

PLANS FOR 2015 INCLUDE UPDATING THE OLD ZION WEBSITE FOR ONLINE DONATIONS. PLEASE CHECK BACK AT WWW.OLDZIONCHURCH.ORG .

THE WEDDING SEASON

ASHLEY SPOTTS AND DAN FLYNN CLOSED THE 2014 WEDDING SEASON WITH THEIR VOWS IN SEPTEMBER. THE SEASON WILL RE- OPEN FROM THE 2ND WEEKEND IN APRIL THRU THE 2ND WEEKEND IN OCTOBER. LEARN MORE AT WWW.OLDZIONCHURCH.ORG OR OLDZIONCHURCH@GMAIL.COM .

GREEN FUTURE

IF YOUʼD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE OLD ZION NEWSLETTER VIA EMAIL RATHER THAN POSTAL MAIL PLEASE SEND A REQUEST TO OLDZIONCHURCH@GMAIL.COM .