About Us
Our Past Decade (1999-2010 in NC):
We began as a small group of Raleigh NC residents in 2002 with a common goal of getting together to
talk a little German, meeting at the home of Brigitte & Harry Fritz in Raleigh, NC. We met on the first
Saturday of the month, spoke German for about an hour, and then shared food for the rest of the evening
and spoke in German and English to include those who were less versed in German.
In 2003, our group decided to do a German language Christmas service. Brigitte & Harry, having
previously served in ministry while residing in Wisconsin were commissioned to develop a liturgical
service, find a host church and initiate a marketing plan to promote this service.
The First A.G. Church in Raleigh allowed the group to use their building for the service. The choir of the
Church sang Christmas Hymns in German. Attending that first service were 187 people, many of whom
had not been to a German language service since immigrating from Europe.
In the years that followed, the German Christmas Service & Weihnachts-Café became an annual event in
which as many as 325 adults and 58 children participated in a given year until 2009. Families are
encouraged to bring their children - a small package of imported edibles are distributed to them. After
the service, food is served at the "Weihnachts-Cafe." German-style salads, deli foods and baked goods are
available for those who participated at the service.
For 2008-9, Providence Baptist Church hosted the event at the Delta Lake Center; the latest German
Christmas Program in 2009 was filled with emotions as Pastor Harry announced that they had accepted a
pastoral position in Tacoma WA for 2010. No immediate successor to the Raleigh event has been
announced...
The success of this model in generating interest on a cultural as well as a religious level has not gone
unnoticed. Today the German Christmas format has found acceptance in many other US and Canadian
cities; other cultures and languages are seeking to adapt this format as well. It has truly become a
"revival" of sorts - honoring the Lord Jesus - after all, He is the Reason for the Seasons !
Current since April 2010 and Future:
In April 2010, Harry & Brigitte relocated to Tacoma, WA to Pastor a German-American Church - Valley
View Christian Fellowship. They were installed on May 23 for full-time ministry and look forward to serving
the community in both German and English. Visit this site frequently for updates and information
regarding their work within their area as well as with other partners of similar calling throughout this great
country.
In 2011, the Fritz's organized the "German-Austrian-Swiss of Tacoma" (GAST) meetup.com group. Their
success in these types of formats are encouraging and will continue to support the German language
community.
We began as a small group of Raleigh NC residents in 2002 with a common goal of getting together to
talk a little German, meeting at the home of Brigitte & Harry Fritz in Raleigh, NC. We met on the first
Saturday of the month, spoke German for about an hour, and then shared food for the rest of the evening
and spoke in German and English to include those who were less versed in German.
In 2003, our group decided to do a German language Christmas service. Brigitte & Harry, having
previously served in ministry while residing in Wisconsin were commissioned to develop a liturgical
service, find a host church and initiate a marketing plan to promote this service.
The First A.G. Church in Raleigh allowed the group to use their building for the service. The choir of the
Church sang Christmas Hymns in German. Attending that first service were 187 people, many of whom
had not been to a German language service since immigrating from Europe.
In the years that followed, the German Christmas Service & Weihnachts-Café became an annual event in
which as many as 325 adults and 58 children participated in a given year until 2009. Families are
encouraged to bring their children - a small package of imported edibles are distributed to them. After
the service, food is served at the "Weihnachts-Cafe." German-style salads, deli foods and baked goods are
available for those who participated at the service.
For 2008-9, Providence Baptist Church hosted the event at the Delta Lake Center; the latest German
Christmas Program in 2009 was filled with emotions as Pastor Harry announced that they had accepted a
pastoral position in Tacoma WA for 2010. No immediate successor to the Raleigh event has been
announced...
The success of this model in generating interest on a cultural as well as a religious level has not gone
unnoticed. Today the German Christmas format has found acceptance in many other US and Canadian
cities; other cultures and languages are seeking to adapt this format as well. It has truly become a
"revival" of sorts - honoring the Lord Jesus - after all, He is the Reason for the Seasons !
Current since April 2010 and Future:
In April 2010, Harry & Brigitte relocated to Tacoma, WA to Pastor a German-American Church - Valley
View Christian Fellowship. They were installed on May 23 for full-time ministry and look forward to serving
the community in both German and English. Visit this site frequently for updates and information
regarding their work within their area as well as with other partners of similar calling throughout this great
country.
In 2011, the Fritz's organized the "German-Austrian-Swiss of Tacoma" (GAST) meetup.com group. Their
success in these types of formats are encouraging and will continue to support the German language
community.
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About Harry & Brigitte:
Rev. Harry Fritz, a fully ordained Christian Minister
holding credentials with the Assemblies of God,
was born in Bremen, Germany, raised and
educated in Wisconsin and has served as Pastor
of churches in the states of Wisconsin, North
Carolina and now in Washington. He also has
been President, Executive Director and Board
Member of several non-profit groups and organi-
zations. He actively teaches on the Life of Christ
and studies Christian Denominations and their
people. His desire is to serve Christians of all
faiths and all nations in the communities that he
is invited to participate with.
Brigitte was born in Hameln, Germany and re-
ceived most of her education as a legal secretary
in her home city. After marriage, she became a
homemaker, raised 3 children, ran an interior
decorating business and worked part time in the
bakery of a 5-diamond resort. The story of how
Brigitte and Harry met is fascinating and a testi-
mony of how long distance romances - when
orchestrated by heaven itself - really does work
and can build long-lasting relationships. Today
they do ministry together, are married over 35
years and still very much in love with each other.
Both Harry and Brigitte team together to do
ministry among the German language people.
This website is only a sample of some of the
featured events which they help to organize and
participate with. In addition, Harry is called upon
to do marriages, baby blessings, special dedi-
cations, funerals, church services, seminars and
other public and private functions. Brigitte enjoys
interior decorating & outside gardening, but also
has developed a good reputation as a specialist
in bread baking and in healthy cuisine.
Visit the church where we now serve the
German-American community:
Valley View Christian Fellowship
3735 Waller Road E
Tacoma, WA 98443-1617
German Service at 9:30am every* Sunday
English Service at 11:00am every* Sunday
* Combined Service at 10:30am on the
last Sunday of the Month
Rev. Harry Fritz, a fully ordained Christian Minister
holding credentials with the Assemblies of God,
was born in Bremen, Germany, raised and
educated in Wisconsin and has served as Pastor
of churches in the states of Wisconsin, North
Carolina and now in Washington. He also has
been President, Executive Director and Board
Member of several non-profit groups and organi-
zations. He actively teaches on the Life of Christ
and studies Christian Denominations and their
people. His desire is to serve Christians of all
faiths and all nations in the communities that he
is invited to participate with.
Brigitte was born in Hameln, Germany and re-
ceived most of her education as a legal secretary
in her home city. After marriage, she became a
homemaker, raised 3 children, ran an interior
decorating business and worked part time in the
bakery of a 5-diamond resort. The story of how
Brigitte and Harry met is fascinating and a testi-
mony of how long distance romances - when
orchestrated by heaven itself - really does work
and can build long-lasting relationships. Today
they do ministry together, are married over 35
years and still very much in love with each other.
Both Harry and Brigitte team together to do
ministry among the German language people.
This website is only a sample of some of the
featured events which they help to organize and
participate with. In addition, Harry is called upon
to do marriages, baby blessings, special dedi-
cations, funerals, church services, seminars and
other public and private functions. Brigitte enjoys
interior decorating & outside gardening, but also
has developed a good reputation as a specialist
in bread baking and in healthy cuisine.
Visit the church where we now serve the
German-American community:
Valley View Christian Fellowship
3735 Waller Road E
Tacoma, WA 98443-1617
German Service at 9:30am every* Sunday
English Service at 11:00am every* Sunday
* Combined Service at 10:30am on the
last Sunday of the Month
Mission Statement
Our mission is to connect German-speaking people
throughout the USA; we also look to maintain our
German-Austrian-Swiss-Luxembourg-Lichtenstein
heritages.
Our mission is to connect German-speaking people
throughout the USA; we also look to maintain our
German-Austrian-Swiss-Luxembourg-Lichtenstein
heritages.
