Norma Engelbrecht started playing the organ in church back when Elvis Presley was shaking his hips to "Jailhouse Rock." The United States had just started passing significant civil rights legislation, and the Beat Generation counterculture movement was emerging.
The world has changed a lot since then, but Engelbrecht, 86, is still serving God through her gift of music.
On Sunday, Immanuel Lutheran Church honored her for 63 years of service. Immanuel Lutheran is located in Honey Creek, about 15 minutes south of Jefferson City.
The Rev. Anthony Fields, the church's pastor, said Engelbrecht has many ties to the congregation after all these years.
"We're so thankful for all of the people who donate their time to the worship of the Lord here in this place, but especially for somebody to give 63 years of their life and to do so joyfully," he said. "Making a joyful noise unto the Lord is a wonderful blessing for the congregation."
What does Engelbrecht attribute to her longevity in playing the organ in church?
"My love for music and my love for organ, and my love for my church and my Lord," she said after the Sunday service.
The Rev. R. Lee Hagan, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's Missouri District, wrote a letter of congratulations to her that was read at the 9:30 a.m. church service. In part, it said: "My hope and prayer is that the Lord will continue to grant you great joy in your continued service to Christ and his people."
She said she started playing at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lohman when she was a 23-year-old mother with a 2-year-old toddler. She and other volunteers took turns filling in after the church's main organist left.
Engelbrecht only had a grand total of five piano lessons under her belt.
"I just kind of picked it up on my own," she said.
She now knows hundreds of songs and has too many favorites to mention. Around Christmastime, "Joy to the World" is one of her favorites.
"There's a lot of us who wouldn't know what church sounds like without Norma playing," said Bill Blochberger, the congregation chairman.
Angelbrecht said she enjoys playing the organ during church and will continue as long as she's able.
"When I play the organ on Sunday morning, I always ask God to bless my abilities and that I'm doing it for the glory of God, not for my glory," she said.