Goodrich- Under a big tent during the summer of 1917, Ruth Smith recalls a congregational ice cream social in the churchyard of Christ Lutheran Church.
‘I was about 3-years-old at the time of the gathering at church,? said Smith, 93, a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church, 5245 Hadley Road. ‘We held the party to raise money for World War I bonds. And we were all Germans who were not real popular at the time.?
Smith will help celebrate the 120th anniversary of the existing structure of the Christ Lutheran Church, built by church members in 1887 on donated land north of Fox Lake Road in Hadley Township. The congregation actually started meeting at homes in the community in 1858 under the leadership of visiting pastor Rev. F. Eppling, said current Pastor Kelly Todd.
‘I was baptized, confirmed and married in that church,? said Smith. ‘I remember going to a funeral with a horse and buggy, it was our Pastor Junka’s wife. She was buried on Cemetery Hill at Fox Lake and Hadley roads. ‘We parked horses out back of the church too’and the roads were really bad coming to church.
‘They rearranged the inside of the church’they moved the altar completely around. My uncle, Craig Range, built that many years ago.?
The public is invited to the gathering starting with a service at 9 a.m., Aug. 26. A potluck will follow at 1 p.m.