The Congregational Library contains a surprisingly large number of German-language periodicals. One standout is the Illustrierte Kirchenbote-Kalender, or "The Illustrated Christian Messenger Almanac". The library has a large number of issues, 23 to be precise, of this annual publication, ranging from 1905 to 1963. Each issue contains a wide variety of visual and written contributions, arranged to be read over the course of the upcoming year. This sister publication to the Kirchenbote is notable for its variety, including devotional fiction, poetry, adventure stories, historical sketches, lives of noteworthy figures, information about weather and daily life, and other writings.
It is also important for publishing a yearly attempt at a reckoning of the scope of German Congregationalism. Each issue of the Kirchenbote Kalender contains a detailed record of the congregations of the German conference of the Congregational church. Thus each issue contains a snapshot of the state of German Congregationalism in the early-to-mid-20th century, including cultural and demographical information, encompassing a wide range of relevant information in each volume. It is also a particularly delightful read within the scope of German publications, beautifully printed and published to have staying value for twelve months, and remains a great window into a little-known group of Congregationalists' particular sensibility for us today.
-Jaime Bonney
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