My Sunday

Our Friend Ellen mentioned she liked our church so I thought it would be sort of fun to share my Sunday experience with you all.

Getting to church I go through back country roads with rolling hills of farm fields, old farms and huge apple orchards. Our church  was built in the 1890′s and was founded in 1865.  It is truly one of those out in the middle of nowhere churches and it is full of the kindest, nicest ppl you could ever find.  Many of them are ppl I grew up with as neighbors.  Sort of like a coming home for me for the past several years. I usually spend a half hour or so greeting them and catching up and finding out how everyone is. It is a highlight of my day.  Then I go to my usual spot and sit down and…

I read the Psalms as prayers before the service, the ones where David appealed to God to hear his prayers and deliver him from his problems.  I do my personal prayers before the liturgy and try to remember everything I do wrong as I confess to God my many faults… it takes a long time.. ahem… then the liturgy begins and my spirit soars and while I am a terrible singer I enjoy the huge organ and its rumbling, body shaking roar and the beauty of the ppl around me singing.  As we do the confession and are pronounced forgiven of our sins through Jesus Christ our Lord often times I have tears in my eyes for who am I to be forgiven…..  The beauty of the liturgy moves me deeply and communion, the taking of the body and blood of our Lord is the most moving part of it all.  Oftentimes I have been known to go back to my seat and sit there deeply moved, very deeply moved to the point where I cant speak, cant do anything but sit there praying my thankfulness and especially on occasions like Easter literally so moved I can’t do anything but weep in gratefulness. Yeah, a silly old sentimentalist….. but wow… to die like that for everyone, even like a stinking wretch like me…. wow……

As we progress through the Liturgy and prayers I rejoice and absorb the joyful sounds around me and yet find myself in deep thought about how I need to keep working on walking the pathway with God, trying to be what He wants me to be.  As the Liturgy ends and we file out I always make sure to thank the Pastor and to say God Bless You to him for he brings so many blessings to everyone and I am sure he can use all the blessings he can get too.

After service we go tot he basement for bible study, which is sometimes studies about other things than the bible, such as other religions, other traditions and in some years a study of the Augsburg Confession or other Lutheran Documents.  We are blessed to have a wonderful teacher in a man who is also the principal of the church school.  We of course have the coffee and doughnuts, although I drink juice instead for coffee does not like me.  Then, it is over and off to home I go through the wending roads through the beautiful countryside.

THat is the description…. here are the pictures…

So, here is what I see when I go to church…

Sunday, when I do not have to work is the highlight of my week.  Below are pictures of where I go and what I see, even how I feel, when I go to church….I hope you enjoy these pictures and find them interesting!

Built in the 1890′s some additions and changes have been done to Holy Trinity.  This is where I actually park and go in.  This is actually the back of the church, but is now the most used entrance entering through the basement… which is nice on hot summer days for there is no air conditioning here.

This is the west side of Holy Trinity.  I love the traditional look of this church.  The big windows, the beautiful bell tower. When this church was built they actually only had German Divine Services.  This congregation was founded in the 1860′s in a church that is now where the parking lot is.

A slightly different angle of the west side.  Starting in 1916 English services were begun here.  A small rural church its families roots run deep and founding family descendants still attend many of them still living in the same houses their ancestors did who worshiped here.

This is the east side.  What is lovely about this church is that on spring and summer days when it is very warm (there is no air conditioning) the windows are open and as the service proceeds we can hear the birds singing!

This is a view of the Altar from where I usually sit. I love this spot for it is right by the windows and bright yet out of the direct sunlight so it is not hot in the summer sun!  You can see on the old Altar Jesus on the Crucifix, the communion rail, the pulpit for our Minister.  You will also notice the white stucco type walls with the cut stone arches. Very European in style, yet with a American twist.  I find much peace here…..

This is the big East window on my right from where I usually sit.  I love these windows…. awe inspiring and their beautiful yet simplistic style is refreshing….  Notice the woodwork and the stone style arches…

These are the small windows under the big east window.  For some reason I always think of the Pennsylvania Dutch (who were Germans!) when I see these windows although I have seen windows in pictures in Lutheran Churches in Europe that look a lot like these.

These are the West Windows from where I usually sit.  Notice the big stained glass windows.. very pretty.  Up by the Altar they have the stained glass windows that have Jesus on them… and by the front entrance are some wonderful stained glass windows with Jesus in various Bible situations also.  I wanted to get more of the windows… but I ran out of time….

Here is a closer view of the Altar.  The woodwork on it and all the woodwork in this church in beautiful! Like all Lutheran Churches its organ is awesome!!!!  However, what makes this church my home are the wonderful people who go there who welcomed me with open arms and most of all the feeling of the presence of God there.   His presence is full of Love, yet it is so powerful…. well if you know the song “A Mighty Fortress Is My God” you know what I mean.  When we first sang A Mighty Fortress Is My God I have to admit I had chills, goosebumps and tears in my eyes….. for it was good to be home!

So, that is my Sunday Church experience at Holy Trinity …… hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you for reading and God Bless You!

We are ready to go to Church Dad!  Will they be singing Jesus will be bringing in his sheep with the help of his collies? 

My favorite tune… when we sing it it is one of the most moving moments I know of….

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