By Adam Lane, Mid-Atlantic District newsletter
Imagine sitting inside a 19th-century church, singing a cappella with the sounds of rifles and cannons echoing outside. Around you are Civil War reenactors and encampments, while inside, worshipers gather for a traditional Dunker Service.
This year’s service at the historic Dunker meetinghouse at the Antietam Civil War battlefield outside Sharpsburg, Md., will be on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. (Eastern time).
Keep an eye on the Dunker Service’s Facebook page for details.
For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed, allowing others to experience this meaningful connection between faith and history. Connect to the livestream
Months of planning, collaboration, and preparation
What many people experience as a single Sunday service actually represents months of planning, collaboration, and preparation.
Now in its 56th year, the annual Dunker Service at Antietam has continued through changing times—even during COVID-19. When gathering inside the church was not possible, the service was recorded and shared with the community. The following year, the service moved outdoors. Through it all, the commitment to preserving this unique tradition continued.
Planning for the next service begins before the current one has even taken place. After the September service, the planning committee meets in early November to review the previous service and begin preparing for the next. This includes working with Antietam National Battlefield to secure permits and coordinate the date with the annual reenactment.
One of the most important—and time-consuming—parts of planning is working with the speaker. This year’s speaker is Denise Kettering-Lane, associate professor of Brethren Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary. Together, the committee and speaker develop the scripture and theme, select hymns, and shape the service’s emphasis.
Each year, Debbie Bittle Wilson writes a Battlefield Lament connected to the speaker’s theme and scripture. The committee also selects hymns that would have been sung during the Civil War era.
Much of what makes the Dunker Service special happens through the efforts of many people working together. The planning committee, district leadership, music leaders, speakers, and National Park Service all contribute to making the service possible.
Yet perhaps the most remarkable part is simply being there. The church’s beautiful acoustics, a cappella singing, and the sounds of a battlefield reenactment happening outside create an experience unlike any ordinary worship service.
— Adam Lane is on the Communications Ministry Team of Mid-Atlantic District. This piece first appeared in the district newsletter.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Church is encouraged to recognize National Migration Week on Sept. 21-27
- Yo ankouraje Legliz la pou l selebre Semèn Nasyonal Migrasyon an soti 21 pou rive 27 septanm
- Se anima a la Iglesia a conmemorar la Semana Nacional de la Migración del 21 al 27 de septiembre
- More than a service: The story behind the Dunker Service
- Más que un servicio: La historia detrás del servicio Dunker