Lucy and the Lutherans

Lucy: Daddy, let's walk to the Grace Lutheran Church down the street.

We came on the right Sunday. The bishop was there!

The place was packed with Lutherans, sturdy and God fearing. You betcha.

They even brought out the brass to celebrate a preaching appointment.

One of their members was recently appointed to a church in Bethlehem, PA.

The preacher there told how James (the appointee) had stumbled during one of his ordination interviews. They needed to assess his Bible knowledge so they started with something easy.

Inquisitor: Okay, so where was Jesus born?

James: Philadelphia

Inquisitor: No. That's not right.

James: Oh, right. I know. It's Pittsburgh.

Inquisitor: Actually, no. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

James: Well, I knew it was somewhere in Pennsylvania

Lutheran humor (imported from Lake Wobegon)

Lucy is growing up. She is almost as tall as a tree!

Lutheran Pentecost, Minneapolis

For those of you who read Jacob's Caring Bridge site, these pictures are self explanatory. For those of you who have not visited Caring Bridge,
 Click here to access Jacob's Caring Bridge Site

Caring Bridge reminds me of a song fitting for Pentecost Sunday:

As a fire is meant for burning

with a bright and warming flame,

so the church is meant for mission,

giving glory to God's name.

Not to preach our creeds or customs,

but to build a bridge of care,

we join hands across the nations,

finding neighbors everywhere.

We are learners; we are teachers;

we are pilgrims on the way.

We are seekers; we are givers;

we are vessels made of clay.

By our gentle loving actions, 

we would show that Christ is light.

in a humble, listening spirit, 

we would live to God's delight.

Grace Lutheran Church

Prayer Garden with Bathing Sparrows

The Chancel, Pulpit, Altar

Pentecost: Red Paraments

The Nave

So we decided to get Chinese food

and on the way home we saw a rainbow

blue skies to our left and dark clouds to our right

but we chose to go to the "dark side"

and the sky opened up

and the rained poured down like the Spirit on Pentecost

could've done without the hail, though...

Now we will dry off and warm up under this prayer shawl

We will pray for you and you will pray for us

and we will stumble on, rejoicing...

Pentecost is the outpouring of power from the God of creation

to the ones who wish to be "new creations" in Christ Jesus.