On Sunday, Nov. 1 St. Peters Lutheran Church in Shepherdstown celebrates 250 years of word and sacrament ministry with a special service on Sunday, Nov. 1 to reflect Lutheran history and remembrance of saints. Bishop Matthew Riegel and Pastor Karen Erskine-Valentine will celebrate the Muhlenberg Mass at 11 a.m. with parishioners, guests and visitors at St. Peters Lutheran Church on King Street.

The Muhlenberg Mass, written in 1748 was the first new order workship worship used among Lutherans in the Western Hemisphere. It became the standard in the Mid-Atlantic region of the American colonies and would have been used by early Lutherans in Shepherdstown. Bishop Riegel will preach in period attire.

Bishop Riegel, formerly the chaplain of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU, was elected June 6 by the 2015 Assembly of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to the office of synodical bishop. He assumed duties in this new position on Sept. 1. The bishop earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Gettysburg (Pa.) College. From the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.), Riegel earned a master of divinity degree and a master of sacred theology degree.

Co-officiant will be Karen Erskine-Valentine who was installed as pastor of The Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish in July 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and a masters of divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

St. Peters Lutheran Church is celebrating their 250th anniversary with special services and events throughout the year. Worship will be followed by a social event and conversation with Bishop Riegel. For more information please visit “http://shepherdstownlutheranparish.org/”>shepherdstownlutheranparish.org/