Summer Worship

I’ve been out of town the last two Sundays. On June 14th, my family and I were in Kansas City to celebrate my niece's wedding. I was asked to preside over the nuptials and shared the officiant duties with one of the pastors of the church where my niece and her husband were married. It was an honor to be part of their special weekend, which was filled with memorable moments. All of my siblings and most of my nieces and nephews were in attendance, making it the first time we had been together since we celebrated my father’s 90th birthday two summers ago.

This past weekend, I was the visiting pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ephraim, Wisconsin. I have been privileged to serve the good people of Bethany for the last three years. Door County has been a place for our family to gather in the summers for more than twenty-five years. It was especially sweet to have some of my extended family at worship on Sunday. (Thanks to Pastor Gary for preaching and presiding while I was away!)

I hope that when you are away from Dr. Martin Luther Church on vacation, you will seek out a church to attend. Take the opportunity to introduce yourself to your passing of the peace and tell them where you’re from — I promise they will appreciate you being there. If you like the church and find yourself back at the same place every year, you’ll find yourself getting to know some of the congregation.

Before being asked to serve at Bethany, we attended St. Paul’s Lutheran in Juddville, just south of Fish Creek. St. Paul’s is another ELCA congregation that revels in having visitors in their midst. Take time to visit some websites of churches in the area where you vacation. I look forward to hearing about your adventures when you return!

See you at church!