Liz Charron: Luther League Music & TP Parties
Holy Trinity was my home, and the people there became my family. Like many others, I found my church family when I was invited by a friend, who had started attending several months earlier (after being invited by a friend). Unlike many in the youth group, I did not grow up in the church and at 14 years old, I was new to Lutheranism. Doug Langholz, our youth pastor, took the time to lead me individually through all of the classes and studies required for confirmation, which I celebrated in 1972. It was a wonderful day, made even more joyful with a celebration I shared with friends. I have always appreciated that he, in effect, took the time to leave the 99 to be sure I was found.
The group was called the Luther League, made up of teens like myself and some remarkable adults who shepherded us through some very challenging years. We prayed together, we studied together, we worshipped, and we worked hard to learn a lot of great music. Under the direction of Kay Slocum, we formed a group called, “Get Together.” The group performed in coffee houses around the area, within our own walls, and had the amazing experience of putting on a production of Godspell titled “A Touch of Godspell,” complete with original script and most of the musical numbers. We visited a neighborhood nursing home once a month, where we learned the value of the ministry of presence. We participated in the annual Bible quiz, and learned teamwork. We sang in the choir every Sunday and learned that even from the distance of the altar to the choir loft, Pastor Doug could quiet us down without saying a word. Ahem… Our semi-annual retreats at Caroline Furnace were always wonderful times of fellowship and immense joy in being together in the beautiful outdoors. We all have great memories of the camaraderie and antics, along with the covering of love we experienced from Pastor Doug and our other youth sponsors.
On the other side of the coin, we were extremely silly, too. We typically spent all of our free time together, despite the fact that between about 15 or so of us, we represented close to half a dozen area high schools. One of our favorite weekend ‘sports’ if you will, was to ‘tee pee’ the homes of our beloved youth sponsors and our pastor. Armed by one friend who happened to work at a nearby hotel and therefore had an endless supply of toilet paper, we regularly covered the homes of Jan and Barb Allsman and the house across the street from the church, which, at that time, was the parsonage. On one occasion in the spring of 1974, about 10 of us were just putting the final touches on the Langholz’s residence when two police cars rolled into the parking lot with lights flashing. We were caught red handed. They rounded us up, knocked on the door and out came Pastor Doug. He listened to what the officers said, looked at us and then back at the policemen and said, “Officers, I’d like introduce you to the president of our Luther League (yours truly), the vice-president of our Luther League (Jeanne (nee) Brawand…” He did what he always did; he held us accountable in way that was affirming, unconditionally loving, and showered us with not only his sense of humor, but forgiveness and grace.
The fruit of the spirit, lived out by Doug Langholz and poured into our young and searching hearts has remained with me always. It became the foundation for my faith in Jesus and my life’s goal to be the hands and feet in whatever capacity the Lord chooses to use me.
A few years later, my husband Scott and I were able to give back in a measure when we became youth sponsors for the Luther League under Steve DGweck. “Son Country,” the music group we formed with our ‘kids.’ We performed all over Northern VA and at a Lutheran youth convention in Kansas City in 1979. Much like the relationships we formed with our high school group, we have life-long bonds with many of the Luther Leaguers we were honored to sponsor and support. Although we moved away in 1984, Holy Trinity will always be our ‘home’ church and hold a very special place in our hearts.