St. Paul’s Lutheran Church's annual Oktoberfest is coming up: October 7-9, 2018 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday). It's time to register! 

The church is at 109 South Elm Street in Kewanee, Illinois.  The church's website is here. 

The Twenty-third Annual Oktoberfest! and Gottesdienst Central will be hosting the Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Winger, president of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS), St. Catharines, Ontario.

Dr. Winger is the author of dozens of articles, many published in Lutheran Theological Review. He is the (co)editor of three books and a contributor to The Lutheran Study Bible. He has written studies for the theological commissions of Lutheran Church–Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE). He also served as a member of the liturgy committee of Lutheran Service Book.

His topic will be 

“Hints of the Liturgy in the Epistle to the Ephesians and other New Testament Texts”

He is a recognized authority especially in liturgy and in Ephesians.

The event begins Sunday the 7th with Vespers at 5 p.m. Following the service is our annual bratwurst banquet. When everyone has had their fill of brats and beer, Dr. Winger will give a synopsis of his Monday seminar. Following the banquet is the after-the-party party, at Father Eckardt’s home, where a gaggle of the editors of Gottesdienst is usually milling about.

On Monday, October 8th, the day begins with Mass at 9 a.m. Following Mass and a continental breakfast, Dr. Winger will hold forth for the rest of the day, in two sessions running until about 2:45, followed by Vespers.

On Tuesday, October 9th, the conference will continue in the same format, with a special focus on the themes of our current and previous issue of Gottesdienst, namely:

Weddings and Funerals

with Father Eckardt, pastor at St. Paul’s, holding forth. The Tuesday sessions will be framed by morning low Mass (spoken Divine Service) and Vespers.

REGISTRATION: $50 per person, $70 per couple, students $25 — includes Sunday banquet and Monday continental; no charge for children with parents. Registration is easy, at the St. Paul's website. Click here. You may pay the registration fee when you arrive. Recommended Lodging: AmericInn, 309-856-7200. Special rate $94.00 (mention Oktoberfest when you register, by September 12th); also Aunt Daisy’s B & B, 309-853-3300; Motel 6, 309-853-8800; Super 8 (Galva), 309-932-2841; Best Western (Annawan), (309) 935-6565; Kewanee Motor Lodge, (309) 853-4000.