Last weekend in Decorah it was Nordic Fest -- a grand
weekend for our townspeople and family and guests from all across the
region. Gregory and I have two favorite
meals in which we like to partake during the festival, the UCC Salad Luncheon
on Friday, and the First Lutheran Church Norwegian Dinner on Saturday. Both events serve hundreds and hundreds of
guests, offer yummy food, and make loads of money for the host churches.
It was at the First Lutheran Church dinner that we were
seated with Martin and Mary Lou Mohr, emeriti professors from the Luther
English department, along with Owen Christianson, a retired Lutheran pastor,
all of us members at FLC. The
conversation turned to our recent Africa trip and Gregory and I relished in yet
one more opportunity to regale these listeners with our adventures.
We told of the generous welcome we had received from our
ELCIN brothers and sisters and from Presiding Bishop Nambala. We told our friends about how is it when you
sit and visit quite formally with the Bishop -- you take turns introducing
yourself, saying who you are, explaining your profession and what has brought
you there. Then the Bishop shares
remarks and for us he was quick to tell us about the work and mission and
history of the ELCIN. His insights on the larger vision and the current challenges were most
meaningful. Then the Bishop turned to me
and asked me if I had brought greetings.
Now to the uninitiated, this can catch you up! But I had learned well from Gregory and from
Tim Peter on our last trip, that this is customary. So I was prepared as I brought greetings from
President Torgerson, Luther College, our colleagues on the ELCA Global Mission
staff, our church First Lutheran, other friends who had been to the North, and
also from all of our donors to Empowering Learners. I told the Bishop that many friends and
family were traveling with us in prayer.
I also relayed greetings from Orv and Kathy Johnson, whom the Bishop
knows well and counts as dear friends.
So as I recounted this experience (of bringing greetings) at the Nordic Fest dinner
table, Pastor Owen (who BTW is a big, big fan of this project!) said – “isn’t
that wonderful, just like the early church.”
Now talk about being caught up! I stopped everything and thought this is
exactly right! Every letter from the
Apostle Paul begins in some way . . . Grace and Peace to you brothers and sisters
. . . I pray daily for you . . . I give thanks for you . . . you are remembered
with joy and thanksgiving by . . .
I do declare! The
many blessings of this trip continue in such splendid ways!
Since that meat ball dinner one week ago I have thought
often about how everything Lutheran in Namibia reminds me of what we know about
the early church. That the faithful knew
that Jesus, or John, or Paul, or Titus, were to be present someplace and so
they walked. And they walked and they
walked. They pressed into the rooms,
they leaned in through the doorways and windows, and where you might have
expected hundreds to gather, instead thousands gathered, and the services took
their time. Furthermore, and by some
amazing miracle these early faithful were fed.
Jesus always attended to the hospitality and made sure every hunger was
met.
Dear family and friends.
This is how it is to be Lutheran in Namibia. People come to worship from far and wide,
often on foot – or piled into the back of a pick-up truck. Sometimes the pastor -- covering multiple parishes
-- has no option but to walk. Every word
of the sermon matters and is clung to.
Greetings from guests are received and accepted with thanks and the
favor is returned. The singing is
splendid. The welcome is lavish and
wonderful. And you enjoy a meal
together. You are fed.
In Medieval times, town fairs revolved around the parish and
the central square. Merchants did a big
business, guests came from far off places, and the inns were full. Musicians played and good ale was
served. There were races, revelry, and
rejoicing.
This all sounds like Nordic Fest.
We’re reminded that in every place the divine is present. For me, this was surely true at the Norwegian
meat ball dinner.
Thank you Pastor Christianson. Empowering
Learners.
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