The Monroe Valley Chapel invites all to come experience a German-style Christmas at the historic Monroe Valley Chapel in northern Lebanon County.
Two services will be held: Saturday, December 1 at 7:00pm and Sunday, December 2 at 2:00pm. The church is located at 49 Monroe Valley Dr in Fredericksburg.
Students from Grantville’s Summit International School of Ministry will help with the service.
Expect a visit from Belsnickel, the creature featured in the image above. Don’t know what to expect? Fellow PA Dutch Dwight Schrute is here to show you what’s what. As Jim Halpert says, he’s kinda like Santa, but dirty and worse.
The evening will also feature a performance by Die Schwadore Schalle (the Swatara Sounds), organized by Alice Spayd in 2002. Check out this video for a rendition to the tune of Oh Eliza:
The Monroe Valley Chapel was built between 1760 and 1800 and likely used by the Moravians. The Lutherans took over at some point as an 1869 Business Directory lists the church as the Monroe Valley Meeting House. The chapel is owned and maintained by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County.