No. 118, November, 2009
Journal
Polka Church Service
by Delores Miller
Wisconsin was settled by Germans, and along with their ship they brought their Lutheran Religion. Lutherans like to have fun. They enjoy dancing to the polkas and waltz. Small orchestras and bands play at dances around the countryside. We enjoy going each Tuesday for a jam session, musicians come and play their instruments. Once a month a good band plays at a local hall, seven dollars admission, which includes a big lunch. While we are getting old and not too spry any more, we do twirl around the floor slowly to the waltz. Other times we visit with our friends and listen to the music.
Something that has become popular is a polka church service. For us Lutherans and even the Catholics have a polka mass.
We went to a church polka service at Manawa. Mel Albright had his six piece band, a piano, accordian, coronet, saxaphone, trombone, base and drums. Old familiar Lutheran hymns we sang to a polka beat - Let There Be Piece On Earth, What a Friend We have in Jesus, Beyond the Sunset, Standing On The Promises, Nearer My God To Thee, Count Your Many Blessings, I Need Thee Every Hour, I was There To Hear Your Borning Cry and finished with How Great Though Art. For an oncore they played Patriotic Songs honoring the Veterans.
Then the Ladies of the church had a brunch. 150 stayed for that. many kinds of quiche, (scrambled eggs, cream and vegetables), hot ham buns, salads, desserts, a hot fruit compote, German Potato Salad, Cinnamon Buns, Flop cake, filled with whipped cream and on and on. We did not come home hungry.
Then it was time to watch football games, our Green Bay Packers got beat by their old quarterback Brett Favre who is now playing for the Minnesota Vikings. Brett was quoted as saying 'He Came, He Threw the Football, He conquered Green Bay.
copyright, 2009 by Russell and Delores Miller