CCHS has now acquired  12 copies with translations of the German publication, Evang.Lutherische Gemeindebode (Evangelical Lutheran Parish Messenger), a monthly    newsletter from 1921 to 1932 for the eleven  Evangelical Lutheran churches in Carver County:  St. John, Chaska;  Trinity, Waconia;  St. John,  Young America;  St. Peter, Watertown;   Zion, Benton;  Zion, Mayer;  St. Mark, New Germany; Emanuel, Hamburg;  St. John, Hollywood;  St. Peter, Carver;  and Trinity, Carver.  For historical and genealogical reasons, this acquisition is of immense importance. Pastors contributed  the previous month’s parish news, which included births, deaths (often full obits), baptisms, confirmations, election of officers, and financial accounts. In addition might be a pastor’s more personal notes on his church’s history, celebrations, concerns, and  hopes.  To cite a few:  Trinity, Carver’s Pastor H. Raedeke describes their first Christmas Tree (1921: 1.1), while St. John, Hollywood’s Pastor W. L. Ernst adds an emotional account of his congregation’s surprise party and pot-luck for him on the parsonage lawn, one warm August evening—with no bugs! (1926: 6.8).  Most editions also include other matter, whether Synod (St. Louis, Missouri) news, a spiritual/seasonal message, or a few    anecdotes (the latter usually in English). All include local business advertisements, themselves a useful historical resource. Throughout these issues is woven an increasing concern about the pressures for more worship services in English at the expense of those traditionally in German.  Sadly, the Messenger had to be discontinued after the last issue, December 1932, for lack of support., even though Its subscription price had been raised from 25 cts. to 50 cts. One wonders whether the dramatic decrease in subscribers was due to the increased price  or the fact that now, by 1932, fewer subscribers could read German.

CCHS thus far has only an incomplete, broken series (Jan. 1, 1921; May, 1922; March, May, August, 1924; February, August, 1926; January, 1927; February, 1928; December, 1930, and March, 1932). These issues were gratefully received over the past few years as donations from local families.  The Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, has the full set of original, German issues, with the exception of years  1921, nos. 1-12,  and June, 1925. Unfortunately these are all bound together in one thick volume (Call # BX800001.C33), and must be consulted on site, since deterioration of the binding prevents photocopying.

Obviously, to have the full original series—and translated—available at CCHS would be an even greater advantage. So please—look through your family’s early mementoes. You might  be able to help us fill our missing gaps!