Going to Church

January 17, 1932  Sunday.  We all went to church.  In the afternoon C. Dalkes and Ed Smiths came over.

Evangeliums-Lieder, Mennonite songbook

The Siemens all went to church every Sunday, as long as bad weather or sickness did not prevent it.  They were members of the Kleine Gemeinde Mennonite church.  At the worship service, the men and women entered through separate doors (see the two doors below) and sat on separate sides.  The worship service started with the congregation singing several songs.  Because they sang a capella, everyone sang in parts and most sang well because all they heard were their own voices and those of their neighbors.  When they prayed, they would turn and kneel at the pews.  Then the elder and some of the preachers would preach two or three sermons, so the service was long.  Finally, the congregation would dismiss with a song.  Even though the people spoke Plautdietsch or Low German, the worship service was conducted in High German because the Bible and hymns were in High German.  The Sunday worship service was a highlight of the week because it was a time to worship God, to see friends and relatives, and to rest from a week of hard physical labor. 

Jacob F. Isaac, elder of the Meade Kleine Gemeinde church

Kleine Gemeinde north church building, Meade, Kansas

Former location of north church building near Meade.  Cemetery is still there, surrounded by evergreen trees.