Some Of Our World

Today my daughter joined the Church and it was a wonderful moment to behold.  As we went through Advent and Christmas we loved the tradition of the of the Church and the candles in the windows, the candles along the pews and the candles around the Altar.  It was beautiful and knowing the traditions go back to the beginning of our church 150 years ago and back into Germany whence the local founders came from. 🙂

As we walked into church knowing it , the building, goes back to the 1890’s it is like walking back into time.  Knowing also that it was all German Immigrants and that 100 years ago all the services were in German is not hard to absorb.   It is like walking back into history.  It is tradition.  It lives, breathes and absorbs us.  Many people who go there are the 5th generation of family members who attend there.  There ancestors lie in the church graveyard behind the church.

Adding the Lutheran traditions going back to the Reformation… the ancient Church traditions back almost 2,000 years and for a person who loves tradition and history such as myself it is a living history lesson.

It is special in our modern world to be able to step back into time… but for all that tradition…. the modern technology is used in ways that enhance the tradition and history in our service to God…..  after all Jesus and serving in His name and spreading the word about the Salvation he brings is the main focus.  So, having a foot in both worlds is at times interesting, powerful and awesome.

Below are some pictures from the Christmas season….  not all the candles are lit…. for it glows when they are… but we don’t take pictures during the service… there is no rule against it… its just being polite is all…

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One of the main side windows… if you look you will see each of the four windows has a cnadle in it…. the candle in the foreground is a candle on the end of the pew down the main aisle. Each pew has one and it glows when these, the window candles, the altar candles, the advent candles and others are lit.

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THe Altar…. as you can see there are candles not yet lit on the Altar, beside the Altar and the windows have candles in them and it glows this time of year…..

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The traditional Christmas Tree which is about half the size this year as normal.. 🙂   IT is a beautiful tree and always decorated with love by members who love to celebrate the coming of the Lord….

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Another view……

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So, again a big welcome to my daughter for joining! 🙂

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When do we get to go dad?   We want to help sing those hymns too…. awwwwoooooooo!!!