I woke up feeling anxious (mostly because I was hungry) and while I wait for my sourdough bread and juice to hit my stomach, I’m blogging out some ponderings I have.
Last Thursday, we worshipped with the men of Prisoners of Hope Lutheran Church, a mission congregation of the ELCA at Prairie Correctional Facility. It was an immensely humbling and emotional experience for me, especially since it really redefined the boundaries of grace for me and reminded me that in terms of sin, I’m just as bad as these prisoners. I have never been welcomed so warmly by any congregation before as I was by the men in this group and I was also amused that I was sitting between an LCMS prisoner and a WELS prisoner and the three of us (me being the evil, heretical ELCA chica) were worshipping and praising together joyfully without a care as to our denominational squabbles. This must be what Heaven is like!
On Friday, Jon and I got a call from someone about L, a parishioner who has been fighting cancer for the last year, telling us that they had found cancer on her brain. L called us in tears the next day and we prayed with her and told her that we’d come down to Sioux Falls (2 1/2 hours one way) to see her. I ended up driving Jon down yesterday and I am really glad that I came along. L is really not doing well but she and her kids have an amazing attitude, which is that this is all in God’s hands and that it will all be all right. She was exhorting Jon and I and the two of her kids who were there to trust in the Lord and to live our lives in His way (among other things). Her daughter read the devotion for the day to all of us (including the nurse who was checking to see if she could swallow) and all 5 of us had Communion when the nurse left. (This was one of the most moving times I’ve received the Body and Blood.) When I left, I got a hug from her and a kiss on the cheek, which almost made me cry — these are Norwegians — they aren’t affectionate. The visit was definitely good for my soul — we went to minister to her and she ended up ministering to us.
I’ve noticed something about some of the families in the church. EVERYONE is there on Sunday — it’s not a matter of whether the kids (at least those who are confirmed) want to be there but instead it is expected that they are there. It’s the attitude of “it’s Sunday morning, so we’re in church” and I think in those families, there really is no discussion — it’s simply an expectation. I really wish that this was the case for everyone.
Me thinks I should go to sleep now…
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“I was sitting between an LCMS prisoner and a WELS prisoner and the three of us (me being the evil, heretical ELCA chica) were worshipping and praising together joyfully without a care as to our denominational squabbles”
AMEN! Jen, you have no idea how much the thought of that just blesses me!
“we went to minister to her and she ended up ministering to us”
Funny how God works that way. Isn’t it great! As we do our ‘duty’ to serve Him and help others we are often helped ourselves in ways we could never imagine in ways that we never knew we needed.
Been praying for you as well.
“EVERYONE is there on Sunday – it’s not a matter of whether the kids (at least those who are confirmed) want to be there but instead it is expected that they are there. It’s the attitude of ‘it’s Sunday morning, so we’re in church’ and I think in those families, there really is no discussion – it’s simply an expectation”
i’ve always wanted that. that’s so normal and nice.