Quickel Evangelical Lutheran church celebrates 250 years

Special service honors 14 longtime members of Quickel Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Norma Gates has been a member of Quickel Evangelical Lutheran Church for 89 years, since birth. Her mother didn't believe in infant baptism and had Gates baptized 74 years ago. YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL (Paul Kuehnel)

York, PA -

Born into the church and baptized, confirmed and married there. It all happened at Quickel Evangelical Lutheran Church.

"My kids got baptized here," said Ethel Wolfgang, 85, of York city. "We were raised in the church. This is home."

Wolfgang and 13 other members of the congregation were recognized during special Sunday services for being baptized in the church for 75 or more years. The service kicked off the church's 250th anniversary celebrations.

Family is key at the Conewago Township church. It is the reason most of the 75-year members continue to bring their own families, with four or more generations filling the pews. Most of their families lived nearby and family attendance started with their grandparents.

"They always said don't talk about people at Quickel, someone will be related," joked Joyce Myers, 83, of York city, Wolfgang's sister.

Church members have seen many changes from the inside out, including the addition of air conditioning, and the shift to services with more liturgy.

The church used to be combined with a Reformist church, but the union was dissolved in the 1950s. Members fondly remembered the men's quartet singing during past services, the picnics and the music played before the annual Memorial Day service.

Sunday school used to be held in the balcony, with three classes, one in each section. The teachers' words drifted over the pews below.

"You listened to whoever spoke the loudest," Myers said.

Harvest Home took place annually, when farmers would bring in produce that was donated to the Lutheran home. The women would can peaches that were donated to the home as well, but stopped when state regulations changed.

"A few years ago they started making the blankets," added Wolfgang, a "few years" being closer to 20. The quilts are donated to Lutheran World Relief and crocheted baby afghans to Access-York.

Communion used to be given quarterly, only every three months, and is now every Sunday.

"I think everyone in the church was here on Communion day," said Norma Gates, 89, of York city.

Gates has belonged to the church since birth, but her mother did not believe in infant baptism. Gates was not baptized until she was 15, leaving her one year shy of 75 years baptized in the church.

"It's just been my family all my life," Gates said. "If I don't come to church, I feel like I'm missing something."

Gates and those recognized Sunday also lived through an important change in the church council. Gates was the first woman to join. Now the council is evenly split in members between men and women.

"My father was on the council and I told him, nominate me. He wouldn't even nominate me. But I was on later," Myers said.

The congregation has always been small, but it continues to grow with new members joining regularly, according to Rev. Barbara Barry.

"We look backward at our past as we look forward into the future," said Barry. "We are small, but mighty."

Source: http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_21772471/church-kicks-off-250th-celebration?source=rss

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