A Musical Interlude

The Light House Men’s Quartet – Loewen cousins – entertained us at the Loewen reunion as did the volunteer Men’s Chorus of gentle musical tones. Their close harmony created an aura that enveloped us all in memories of Great Grandpa Jacob and Justina Leppke Loewen and their faith.

Jacob Loewen, as a youth, was a quick learner, quickly learning in the educational system in Russia. His drive, application and ability often moved him ahead of much older boys and girls in the one-room school of 160 students. When he was 12 years old (1867), the family moved to Friedensfeld where he continued schooling and activities common to young people of the soil. The Friedensfeld school was known for its superior curriculum in music from which Jacob benefited. He learned to read Ziffern (pictured), numbers instead of notes, in the music score. This is the same system he used in directing the church church choir in America. When Jacob played the reed organ, in 1941, and sang, “What a Friend We have in Jesus“, did he know that day God was calling him home?

Music was another church ministry close to Jacob’s heart. He was one of the first choir directors in the newly organized church. He had a strong tenor voice. In later years he sang in the Silberchoir (older men from the Hillsboro M.B. church). Jacob learned to play the reed organ and during his retirement days he accompanied himself on the organ. He knew many of the old German chorales and Gospel hymns from memory. He most likely sang Grosser Gott, Wir Loben Dich, Herr, wir preisen deine Starke (Holy God, we praise Thy name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee). Did he give praise for God’s leading and faithfulness through the journey of his life from Russia to America?

Is it any wonder that when Arlin Penner leads us in the family song, “Great is Thy Faithfulness“, accompanied by the talented keyboardist, Carla Jean Koslowsky, we join in and can hear our ancestors praising our Lord.

The rhythm and flow of life revolved through the family who tilled the soil. In this day of cities and many ‘indoor’ activities, we have lost the wonder of weather watching without the benefit of electronic devices. We have lost the wonder of watching trees sway in the wind and ripe waves of golden grain awaiting harvest in the fields. We no longer know the long two mile walk to church as the shadows creep across the road. We no longer lean out of our bedroom windows, like my Mom did, finding her very own star to talk to. We no longer know the joy of making our own music rather listening to an ever increasing flow of CD’s or iPods.

Caring for the family by the sweat of the brow and loving God foremost creates a rhythm all its own.

Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends. I Thessalonians 4:11-12

The activities of the reunion reflected the reprise of the lives of Jacob & Justina Loewen.

• Praise and worship, reading God’s Word at each meal. Music is an integral part of our heritage – and apparent through the trio, the volunteer men’s chorus, three sisters of the 6th generation playing during the last noon meal.
• Appreciation of beauty is an underlining melody of the Loewen family with the craft project (picture decoration), the incredible needlework of the Loewen Sisters (CA) and the quilts made by other members of the Loewen family, the hand made Bengstai (little bench). The latter two were two items of the Loewen Auction, conducted by Clint Seibel with much laughter. The one item that caught my eye, which brought $200, was the hand made knitted shawl made by Justina Loewen.
• Another activity was teaching the art of zweiback backing by Pam Voth. A group of ladies enjoyed watching and learning how to make the two story rolls, a heritage. This is the delicate bread I remember my Grandmother Suderman baking when I was a girl. Rugga Brot (dark bread) was a part of all meals in Russia. Before coming to this country, red winter wheat seeds were spread on the table, and gallons of the seeds were brought in trunks to this country. A cousin, Esther Loewen Vogt, immortalized the red winter wheat in her book for children Turkey Red.
• Tabor College has an incredible collection of Mennonite artifacts in the CMBS Center for Mennonite Brethern Studies. Peggy Goertzen gave us information by pointing artifacts in the room that highlighted the enormous undertaking of Jacob & Justina (Leppke) Loewen in coming to United States from the area of Ukraine in Russia in the 1800’s.
• A visit to the adobe house, made of 5,000 to 6,000 adobe bricks made of grass and sticks, individually. The house held many historical artifacts – including an ironing machine roller that incorporated the use of rocks to weight the rollers. A homemade cradle, donated by a Loewen family member, was in one bedroom, and the bed that doubles as a sitting bench.
  We saw a huge wooden trunk in which were packed all that was allowed for each family as they came to America to begin a new life. The 18 foot bricks built the huge oven in the center of the house that heated 4 or 5 rooms of the house. Above the oven was a space where the smoke could escape, where the curing hams were hung.
• The children enjoyed swimming bring to mind that Jacob Loewen enjoyed swimming and fishing in the Dneiper River in Russia. Jacob built a pond close to his house, that was filled by a running windmill. The cold water running through the milkhouse kept the milk, crea and butter chilled. It measured 32 by 100 feet, boxed in on the sides with planks. The depths were 7 to 8 feet deep where Jacob raised German carp, a swimming pool and an excellent skating rink in the winter.
• Karen Suderman Penner, a member of GRHS, presented pictures and descriptions of the places in the Ukraine where Jacob lived during his young life. Some of the fields were reminiscent of the farmland near Hillsboro. One house intrigued me – for it was built by a Loewen many years ago and is still inhabited.

Esther Loewen Vogt wrote of her grandparents, “Look what Grandpa and Grandma started!“
This year again, we made plans for another Loewen reunion at Tabor College in 2011. Again we think about our goodly heritage that has as its theme – faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. Luke 1:49-50

Is the Coda of the Loewen Reunion about to be played? Or will we go to the Repeat Sign….enjoying the Loewen Interlude in 2011 from generation to generation? A time when we remember once again the strength of the influence of family in our lives? When we give Praise and Adoration to our Lord for each blessing, each new baby, and yes, for the trials, too. For each trial strengthens our faith and our promise for the greatest Reunion yet to come when we are united with many faithful families from many ages from many parts of our world.

Comment?