Folks can get a taste of Germany this Saturday when St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, 5151 Lake Howell Road, Winter Park, hosts Oktoberfest 2017.
Planned in conjunction with St. John’s Lutheran of Winter Park as part of celebrating the 500th Protestant Reformation, Oktoberfest will feature German food and beer, music, and more at St. Richard’s parish hall and patio. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will last until the beer runs out.
Oktoberfest is actually the second of four planned Reformation anniversary events this month. The other three events are special worship services that pay tribute to Martin Luther, a German priest and professor of theology, who on Oct. 31, 1517, posted 95 theses on the chapel door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and unknowingly set in motion the Protestant Reformation.
St. Richard’s was scheduled to host a service on Oct. 15, and two other services are planned for Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 at St. John. The public is invited to join in all of the celebrations.
“We had a wonderful Oktoberfest six years ago,” said St. Richard’s rector, the Rev. Alison Harrity. “We are happy to put this on with St. John and in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.”
Assisting the two churches with the event this year is local neighborhood association, Tanglewood Area Community Association. The coordinated effort will feature a number of special eats and drinks.
A group of parishioners from St. Richard’s is cooking sauerkraut and red cabbage, making German potato salad, and buying bratwurst and chicken. “We have invited people to bake their favorite apple dessert for the event,” Harrity said.
Additionally, participants can play cornhole and join in and sing karaoke of favorite Oktoberfest songs.
Here is the remaining worship schedule that is part of the Reformation Celebration:
Oct. 22
10:15 a.m., St. John –
The Rev. Alison Harrity, rector, St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, preaching 10:30 a.m., St. Richard’s.
Reformation sermon by the Rev. Dr. Dale Truscott.
Oct. 29 – Reformation Anniversary Worship –
10:15 a.m., St. John –
Reformation Celebration Worship.
Performance of “May God Bestow on Us His Grace” by joint choirs.
Reformation Sermon by The Rev. Dr. Dale Truscott.
St. John is located at 1600 S. Orlando Avenue, Winter Park. For more information, call St. John’s at 407-644-1783 or St. Richard’s at 407-671-4211.