On the road again

July 16, 2007 (5:19am)
38º F, Clear, Calm wind.

Good morning,

Another week starts and we are heading to FISKLAND this morning. Bible study tomorrow, then hoping we can also return tomorrow to Guds Nordtre again. It should not take us as long to load the truck this time as we don’t need to run around to get things to move anymore. Everything in and around the house is going, eventually. There still is much to move and we will be very happy when it is over.

I finished all of the remaining Bible studies I intend to write and lead. I finished the one for tomorrow and sent it off via email to Grace and Helen who will be leading the studies from now on. After that task was finished, I tackled the last one and finished it and got it emailed. Another thing finished and a "tie" broken from Grace. That experience too will be ending shortly. The Bible study and Grace have been a huge part of my/our lives and we will miss that part greatly.

We went to church in Florence yesterday. I think we have found our church. It is a very small church and congregation. The church celebrates it’s 115th year in November this year. We feel a calling to this congregation and I have felt that long ago, before ever visiting it. One of the banners on the wall was, "Blossom where God plants you." That sealed the deal for me. I really felt that we are being planted there and will have a ministry there. Both of us have lots of experience that I think will be beneficial. The congregation has 54 confirmed members and their average attendance is 46! Wow! Grace should do that well.

The folks were rather friendly, but they didn’t have any coffee or like that after the service. Must not be any Norwegians in the congregation and it just doesn’t feel Lutheran at all. There is a good mix of ages and a lot of kids. That is a pretty good sign for the future of the congregation. The folks appear to be more of the working class/farmer type of people. They televise the service to the basement for parents with children or folks who want to not be in the sanctuary for any reason. Next Sunday they have a Christmas in July service with Christmas music and Christmas cookies afterwards. I think we might be making that service for sure. All in all, we had a pretty positive experience and we are looking forward to more.

The church is very old-fashioned in many respects. There definitely needs to be an awareness of the Holy Spirt in the folks and living in it. Parts of the service are very much current, but there is a real lack of music. There is an organ, played by the local retired English teacher, but it really isn’t used as much as it could be. All of the liturgy is spoken, even some of the songs that are written into it. Seemed strange. I looked up their parochial report to the Synod and found that they owe nothing and have nearly $200,000.00 in the bank drawing interest. While it is nice to see a church not having any debt, it is a bit unsettling to see them have so much in reserve. The amount is about 3½ times their annual budget. That money should be, I think, out doing God’s work.

On the way home, we took a side trip to Horse Race Rapids on the Paint river. I am including a couple of pictures of the rapids. As you can see, it would be a whole bunch of fun to shoot them in a canoe. After a rather long drive on a gravel road, we came to the parking place and then for a rather long walk to the rapids. It certainly was worth the time and effort. The rapids are in a huge, narrow gorge, lined with trees. I could spend the rest of my life sitting at the edge of the river in that spot. Wished it was 30 years or so earlier and I had access to a canoe. The ride down the rapids would have been great. With either the gal, Linda, who was my co-leader of OOPS or my lead girl scout, Julie, I did a lot of canoeing with in the bow, we would have had a ball and gotten totally soaking wet. Of course both of us were not dressed for the hike, but managed. Would have been much better to have proper shoes at least. Might return for another visit. Bet it is beautiful in the fall or in the winter when there is a lot of snow and ice.

After church we stopped at Barb’s Café for brunch. We have stopped there before on our way to or from here. We had more than necessary and I had to help Margriet to finish her county omelet. I had steak and eggs, something I don’t order much, but was very good. Several folks from church also stopped in and one of the gals from church either owns or manages the restaurant. Nice place and very pleasant folks, not to mention the good food.

Time to get a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris ><>