Oktoberfest beginning this weekend: still not too late to register

The annual Oktoberfest at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kewanee, Illinois is an extra-special one this year because it's our sesquicentennial celebration.  Registrations are up, and we keep getting more every day. We have Dr. Lawrence Rast coming to speak, appropriately, on the topic, “Can Anything Good Come from the Nineteenth Century?”  The schedule of events includes

* Sesquicentennial Choral Vespers at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 7, the Rev. Kenneth Wegener preaching (former pastor at St. Pauls, now retired)

* Bratwurst banquet, and party following, "the best on the block!"

* Monday, October 8, 9:30 a.m., Holy Mass, Feast of Title (St. Paul's 150th), the Rev. Mark Miller preaching (Central Illinois District President)

* Seminar until midafternoon, Dr. Rast holding forth

* Tuesday, October 9, 9:00 a.m. Low mass

* Gottesdienst central seminar until midafternoon, a discussion of the Christology of the Lutheran mass, and the Lutheran canon, or lack thereof, led by Fr. Eckardt

All of this at
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
109 South Elm Street
Kewanee, IL 61443

Here again are the reasons you should come:

* A reverent celebration of the Holy Sacrament with solid preaching.

* The chance to receive Holy Absolution before the Divine Service.

* Dr. Lawrence Rast

* Sheboygan bratwurst cooked by a Sheboygan native for the Sunday banquet.

* Top notch German potato salad too.

* The best evening of drinking and theological discussion in the Missouri Synod.

* That point in the evening when Pastor Eckardt puts on Hotel California and asks, "Now, what does this hymn mean?"

* Solemn Vespers to close your Sunday.

* Good company - a wonderful group of faithful pastors to bounce ideas off of, commiserate, and debate.

As Fr. Curtis puts it: "Oktoberfest in Kewanee is simply what a general pastors’ conference should be but what many, sadly, are not. But actually, it’s even more than that, because laymen are encouraged to come too, and rub theological shoulders with a huge bunch of great pastors.  It will refresh you for your busy fall and winter and send you home with some new theological thought to chew on - it always does!"

REGISTRATION: $25 per person (students $20) $40 per couple — includes Sunday banquet and Monday continental and luncheon; no charge for children with parents.

You may register by email or (phone 309-852-2461) leaving your name[s] and address, and which days you intend to be present (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday).   You may pay your registration when you arrive, or with PayPal or a major credit card by clicking here and following the directions.