Parkwood Neighborhood

Fiesta Nueva

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeanne Albrecht
210/496-6686
March 26, 2007
For Immediate Release:
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
celebrates Fiesta Nueva and 150th Anniversary

WHAT: Fiesta Nueva at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church has it all for anyone looking for a festival filled with music, food, games and prizes:
• The first weekend of Fiesta San Antonio, April 22nd
• Family-friendly event
• Jazz and Tejano musical entertainment from noon – p.m.
• Raffle prizes include a 42” LCD HDTV, a portable DVD player and gift certificates for $500, $200 and $100
• Mini-raffle with items less expensive for the kids to enjoy
• Silent auction with items ranging from gift cards, trips, hotel weekends, gift baskets, rounds of golf, jewelry, etc.
• Plenty of food and beverages to quench your appetite such as hot dogs, fajitas, brisket on a bun, sausage on a bun, sausage on a stick, raspas, cotton candy, and beverages.
• Mariachi church service at 10 a.m. with the “Mariachi Trio”
• Crowning of King Gallo at 2 p.m. for the parishioner who brings the most in donations for the event. King Gallo wears a crown and a robe with a rooster on it (based on St. John’s being known as the “Rooster Church” in the earlier days when the prior sanctuary had a rooster weather vane on the steeple)
• Event’s profits support the church’s Family Ministries--programs geared to encourage Christian growth particularly in the children, youth and families within the congregation. This ministry was born about three years ago and is really just coming to fruition with the hiring of the Christian Growth Facilitator and the existing Day School of St. John’s. Volunteers from the congregation, Day School parents and teachers and their friends volunteer at the event

WHEN Sunday, April 22, 2007
& WHERE: 10 a.m.: Mariachi Church service at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 502 East Nueva
Guest preacher Pastor Jay Alanis
Noon to 4 p.m.: the Fiesta Nueva in church parking lot

St. John’s Lutheran Church congregation is celebrating a yearlong schedule of special events in 2007 to mark the 150th anniversary of the church’s founding.

The Rev. Philipp Friedrich Zizelmann, a Lutheran minister from Germany, returned to San Antonio in 1856 to establish a congregation in San Antonio, and on organization day, December 26, 1857, 44 members signed the Constitution and a total of 64 became charter members.