You Are Invited

SEPTLA Spring Meeting 2025

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Trappe, PA / St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

The Continuing Education Committee has planned a unique program this year—a “field trip” to Trappe, PA, the historic home of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, a Lutheran minister from Germany and the so-called “Father of American Lutheranism.”

Our day will begin with a guided tour of several significant sites in historic Trappe, including the Muhlenberg Parsonage, the Speaker’s House (home of Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the US House of Representatives), and Dewees Tavern, which now houses the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies. https://historictrappe.org

After the tour, we will head to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (about a half-hour drive from Trappe) for lunch, followed by our business meeting and elections. We also hope to take a tour of their new library and campus!

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/XWxfJJpZ55mGTLPz8 by April 15.

Schedule:

• 9:50 Arrive at St. Luke’s Church in Trappe
• 10:00 Begin tour of historic Trappe
• 12:00 Drive to St. Charles Borromeo
• 12:45 (approx.) Lunch
• 1:45 Business meeting and interest groups
• 3:15 Library tour

Due to the nature of this meeting, times will be flexible. I aim to be done no later than 4pm.

During this gathering, we will also be conducting elections for key positions within SEPTLA, specifically President and Secretary. I encourage all members to submit their nominations for these positions. Nominations can be made either prior to the event or during the business meeting itself. Self-nominations are also accepted!

There are also openings for the Chair of the Continuing Education Committee, the Newsletter Editor, and the Website Manager. I encourage all members to consider serving in one of these roles. SEPTLA thrives because of the dedication and contributions of its members, and we always welcome fresh perspectives and new energy.

Parking instructions for Historic Trappe:

• Park in the lot for St. Luke’s Church (200 W Main St, Trappe, PA 19426), which is directly across from the Henry Muhlenberg House.
• Our tour guide will meet us in the parking lot

Directions to St. Charles Borromeo:

• Leaving the Muhlenberg House on Morris Rd.:
• Left onto 202 N/DeKalb Pike
• Right onto Sumneytown Pike
• Left onto Evans Rd.
• Right onto Assumption Drive (there’s a sign for Gwynedd Mercy and St. Charles there)
• Tell the guard at the gatehouse you’re going to St. Charles
• Follow the road a quarter mile, see St. Charles Seminary on the left
• Go past the large main building, park in the lots directly next to the smaller dormitory building before the road curves right onto Gwynedd’s campus

Finally, this will be my last meeting as President. The past two years have been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to continuing to serve SEPTLA in other ways.

Thank you for considering contributing your time and talents to SEPTLA’s work, and I hope to see you at our Spring meeting!

Warm regards,

Victoria J. Jesswein, President