MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 55 – In Book, Page 132

Christmas Services, 2009, at St. John’s, Watertown, Wisconsin, Preparation for Tim and Megan’s Wedding, Chris Mueller’s Request for “Christmas Memories”, Two Articles in Watertown Daily Times, “Don’t Peek” and “Special Gift of Unforgettable Silent Nights”, Irene’s St. Mark’s Teachers

 

CHRISTMAS SERVICES – DECEMBER, 2009, AT ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN

Blessings, blessings, blessings – we have been blessed this Christmas with also attending Christmas services at St. John’s. Kevin Poston, Jenny’s husband, is the music director and third grade teacher there. Jonah and Joshua, the oldest two of their four sons, attend Sunday School, so they sang three Christmas songs on December 13th. Josh’s (first grader) service was on the 20th, and Kevin’s class had their service last night on Christmas Eve. The children and choirs sang the story of Jesus’ birth beautifully, and Kevin played the organ wonderfully. His brother, Michael (who we had never met) came from Atlanta, Georgia, for Christmas, so he and their parents were there. Of course, our son, Tim, his wife, Sue, and some of their children, who were able to come, were also there. Why some of them were not there is because of the big wedding between Sue and Tim’s son, “Timmy”, and Megan Paggi. They will be married, God willing on December 26th. Sue, Tim, and family are headed for Sparta today, Christmas Day, after attending the service with us at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The rehearsal for the wedding is this evening. Sue and Tim are taking all the food for the meal after the rehearsal because no restaurants will be open. Our son, Tim, is preaching for the wedding tomorrow, and Dick, at the request of Megan and Tim, is reading three scripture passages – Dick says, “E-MAIL HAS BECOME MY PULPIT”. Melody and Steve are picking us up tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and taking us to the Radisson Hotel (it is their Christmas gift to us – thank you!) where we will be staying overnight.

It’s hard to believe that our little “Timmy” is old enough to be married. Megan is a beautiful girl. They met when Tim asked for a “sub” teacher at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran School, and they sent Megan, his future wife. We know it is God who sent her to him.

A REQUEST ON CHRISTMAS EVE – BY GRANDSON, CHRIS, DECEMBER 24, 2009

After the service at St. Mark’s, we were invited to Sue and Tim’s lovely home. While there Chris, their son who is Principal Teacher at Christ Evangelical Lutheran School in Eagle River, Wisconsin, asked me to put the two articles into “MOM’S MEMOIRS” which I wrote about my Christmas memories which were published in the Watertown Daily Times. The Times requested articles for its CHRISTMAS MEMORIES section from their readers. So here they are Chris. Thank you very much for asking.

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES CHRISTMAS ARTICLE – DECEMBER, 2009

DON’T PEEK!
 

My father, Henry, Sr., mother, Frances, and sisters, Beatrice, Doloris, and little brother, Henry, Jr., and I lived at 911 North Fourth Street, Watertown, when we were children. We attended St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran School, and learned about Jesus, our Savior, who died on the cross to save us from all of our sins.

The school children “preached the sermon” of the wondrous story of Jesus’ birth in the Children’s Christmas Eve Service. Can you imagine over 200 of us walking from the school to the basement of the church (there wasn’t a big enough Parish Hall at that time) and quietly waiting until the beginning of the Service? What a joy it was for all of us to recite and sing the beautiful hymns, taught to us by our wonderful dedicated teachers, about the BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT OF ALL – JESUS! The very tall, huge, lighted Christmas tree reached almost up to the very top of the arch of the church (please see pictures of by-gone Christmas trees in the narthex of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church). It was decorated with lights, ornaments, tinsel, popcorn balls, and candy canes (when the tree was taken down, the popcorn balls and candy canes were given to the school children – what a treat for all of us!) Our faces beamed with happiness during the service, and after the service when each child was handed a big bag with fruit, nuts, peanuts, and candy in it!

Our very cozy little home (it is still there) has a living room which is two steps above the dining room. Before Christmas “Ma” put up a sheet between the rooms and said, “don’t peek, Santa Claus is in there.” Can you believe, we really thought Santa Claus was in there? I have to admit that sometimes we did steal a peek, but were disappointed we never saw him!

When we came home from church on Christmas Eve, the sheet was gone, and there was a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with lights, ornaments, and the family Nativity set under it. Also, there was ONE gift for each of us. How happy and excited I was when I opened my gift and it was a RADIO!!! It was an extra special gift because in those days there wasn’t any television yet. Our hearts were filled with joy and thankfulness to Jesus.

What wonderful, treasured, memories I have of my St. Mark’s Christmas Eve Services and our family Christmases together.

NAMES OF MY ST. MARK’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SCHOOL TEACHERS:

Back row: Ruby Reich
Lester Raabe
Hertha Sievert

Front row: Louise Fenske
Kurt Oswald, Principal
Ada Sievert

Mrs. Irene Louise Mueller, 1520 Lakeside Terrace, Watertown, Wisconsin 53094
Phone: 920-206-0046
 

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES CHRISTMAS ARTICLE – DECEMBER – 2009

SPECIAL GIFT OF UNFORGETTABLE “SILENT NIGHTS”
 

My husband, retired Pastor/Missionary Richard William Mueller, Jr., when working in the full-time ministry of the Wisconsin Synod Evangelical Lutheran Synod, had very special Children’s Christmas Eve services.

At the end of the very meaningful and joyful recitations and hymns of the telling of Jesus’ birth by the children, candles were handed out to the people in the congregation. The children received battery-operated candles.

When all the candles were lighted, the lights were turned off, and all the people sang, “Silent Night”. It was awesome! I will never forget the words of my husband, his voice breaking, when he saw all the lighted candles in the darkened church, “if you were standing where I am standing, there would be tears in your eyes – like there are in mine.”

It reminds me of the beautiful little children’s hymn:

“This little Light of mine,
I’m going to let it shine
This little Light of mine,
I’m going to let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.”

Let the Light of your faith in God
shine brightly in your hearts at
Christmastime and always!

Mrs. Irene Louise Mueller, 1520 Lakeside Terrace, Watertown, Wisconsin 53094
Phone: 920-206-004