Emmaus Church

Ukraine

In 2004, 2005, and 2008 I was in the Ukraine on three separate mission trips. Each time we went to Cherkasy, a city south of the capital, Kiev. We conducted English Language Camps at the House of Gospel church.

My host family was a lovely couple that opened their home to my friend, Kay, and I. More host families from their church took in the other members on our team. But each year, Kay and I stayed together with this same family. Our home stays were about 7-8 days…enough time to build relationships.

Valerie, Maria, Kay, 2023, in Minnesota, USA.

This couple and their son, who was living at home at the time, were gracious and loving and took good care of us. The English Language Camps were held at their church. The camps were promoted for kids ages 15-20. We used Bible stories as our resource. There were eight group leaders. We each had interpreters with our small groups of 8-10 kids. The kids were excited to practice their English language skills on native speakers. Many kids attended (~90) and many kids had never been to church. It was rewarding.

The table decorations for the pot luck reception at Emmaus Church: Sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower.

After our first trip in 2004, our church started supporting our host family’s daughter and her husband, who are missionaries in Odesa, a city in the southern part of the Ukraine. Every few years the missionaries, Caleb and Christina, come to our church to give an update and thank Emmaus for our support. This year they brought along Christina’s parents, our hosts from those trips many years ago.

It was such a privilege and joy to have them stay in our home. I never thought I’d see them in Minnesota! It was great to visit with them and get an update on the current situation in Ukraine, and to just bond with them and strengthen our relationship. We had a delightful time together.

Sometimes I’m amazed when I think about having friends and family that I know and love in other places in this world. For me, those places include Norway, Ukraine, Mozambique and Japan. What an honor and blessing.

Merry Christmas

The children’s Christmas pageant at our church, includes shepherd and angels and cows etc.
Our wonderful children – telling and singing the Christmas story.

Luke 2: 8-12
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The full set design…the stable and a living room se,t complete with fireplace, for a grandmother and grandchild to reflect on the Christmas story. A new member of our church created this elaborate set.

Merry Christmas.

All Saints’ Day

All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, is celebrated in honor of all the saints of the church. I’m grateful our church celebrates this day, always on the Sunday before the official November 1st date.

In our church, names of loved ones that have passed away are collected from members prior to the Sunday service. You add names of those people who have gone before you, those that have made a difference in your life, especially spiritually. The list scrolls through the ceremony in the church service, and the congregation can read the names to get a visual of the many people we consider important to us…Ruby, Herb, Agnes, Bob, Warren, Jean, Ed, Henry…

During a time set apart in the service, people from the congregation get up and walk to the front of the church. On the altar there is a table with many votive candles. You can light a candle(s) for your loved one(s).

Sunday’s sermon focused on the several long-time members our church who passed away in the last four months. It was somber, yet celebratory, as we were reminded of these wonderful folks who were a part of our congregation, whom we loved, and whom we will miss.

We sang the old, traditional hymn, For All The Saints, written by William Walsham How, in 1864.

A few select verses (from 8 stanzas):

1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness dread, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

8 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Today is All Saint’s Day…take time to remember.

Hair

I can’t tell you how many times I went to turn on a light switch, or look at the clock yesterday morning…and neither of them worked. The electricity went out in our neighborhood Sunday morning, as we were getting ready for church.

I had showered and dried my hair…the next step was to use the flat iron to smooth out and curl my hair under a bit. But that’s when the electricity went out. I thought, if it doesn’t start up soon I won’t be going to church because of my hair.

Next, a text came through saying the electricity would not be restored for a couple hours. Hmmm

OK, so I wondered if I should stay home from church because of my hair? That’s not a very good reason…yet it kind of is…then I thought of some old Velcro curlers I had in my dresser drawer. I retrieved them and set my hair, and looked a sight– think 1960’s!

Although my hair was dry I thought maybe the curl would still take, especially if I used hairspray. I let the curlers set for ten minutes and then took them out. It did help enough, so I did get to Sunday school, and church.

I learned the power went out in much of Northfield, and I talked with others who struggled with the same issues of no electricity…shaving, curling hair, getting the car out of the garage (electric garage door openers)…

The power came back on in time for church, everyone settled in and no one paid one bit of attention to my hair… imagine that! Ha

And on the subject of hair…after church, I couldn’t resist taking a photo of these three characters from our church who were talking together…

Photo taken with permission to publish on my blog. 😉

Bike Rally

Our church held an interesting and fun event last weekend. The music director had the great idea of hosting a bicycle rally. This was an outreach event to our church neighbors… to help people get their bicycles into shape for the summer season.

There were a few bike stations set up…for minor repairs and pumping up tires as needed…there was a giveaway table, a raffle for bike helmets and bike locks. There was sunshine (although chilly at the beginning), and of course, there was music and food…donuts and coffee, hot dogs and water…all free…for all. O yes, and free t-shirts.

The raffle table, and overview of the lower parking lot at church.

Gary and I volunteered to help at the event. We envisioned lots of kids coming with their bikes. We were surprised, and enjoyed the fact, that many families came together, and many adults had their bikes serviced.

A station for decorating bikes. Kids had fun with this…including the old-fashioned playing card attached to the spoke to make your bike sound “cool”.

There was a good turn out, and steady…not everyone came at once. We were there for four hours and all of us volunteers could tell people were having a great time, as were we!

There were a couple obstacle courses set up in the front parking lot.

The bike rally was deemed successful. We were able to show love to our neighbors, and offer them something practical and fun.

It was most likely the beginning ofan annual event.

We attended church yesterday… for the first time since March 0f 2020 when Covid-19 shut everything down. We wore our masks and social-distanced ourselves inside the sanctuary, but the energy was there…the Spirit of God was there… building us up, and it was good to be together again.

Since we’ve been gone some updates took place…the sanctuary was painted, the podium platform was raised 10″ for better viewing, we got new, more comfortable chairs and brand new carpet…it looks great! And seeing it filled with people was even greater.

Outside Emmaus Church in Northfield, Minnesota.

It will probably one of those first times, always remembered, as to what it was like – attending church for the first time after a pandemic.

I’m thinking God saw it and thought it was good.

Ash Wednesday

Our small statue of “Cristo Redentor” – Christ the Redeemer.

Our church offered a drive-thru, what they termed, “Imposition of Ashes”. Because our church is still closed due to the pandemic this was offered to the congregation (and community) as the start of the Lenten season. You simply drove up to the church entrance. Our pastor met us at our car, applied the ashes, and sent us on our way with this scripture and prayer.

Psalm 51:10-12

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

O God, Give me stillness to recognize your presence. Give me quiet to hear your voice. Holy Spirit, I ask you to fill my heart with your peace, your love and your ways. Restore me and my spirit with Your strength to turn and follow you. Amen.

As our pastor marked our foreheads with the ashes he said, in part, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Now turn and follow Jesus.”

Amen.

Snippets from this Past Week

Here are a few photos depicting life these days…

This scene captured my heart…I feel it shows the essence of this pandemic…isolation. This young man sitting alone under the tree…contemplating these crazy times I’m sure.

Our online church services, including taking communion at home.

Learning to use new technologies…Zoom became a popular connection tool. These are my wonderful bookclub friends meeting on Zoom. We use Zoom to connect with our two sons and their families too.

Sadly, this fresh milk is going down the drain on my sister-in-law’s dairy farm in Pennsylvania. Evidently there is an over supply of milk due to the massive closings of schools and restaurants. Photo by sh

Picnic areas, playgrounds, and gathering spaces fenced off.

Cool Blue and his babe Lil’ Oaty sit on our deck railing watching children walk by on the sidewalk that leads to walking paths and ponds in our neighborhood. The Teddy Bear movement is making a bear or stuffed animal visible for children to hunt for while going for a walk.

Signs of spring and hope!…daffodils recently seen on my daily walk.

…and some bright color crocus’ too.
Photo by ba

Be still and know that I am God.     Psalm 46:10

Thanksgiving Revisited

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It all began Wednesday night at our annual Thanksgiving service at Emmaus Church. We gather for praise and worship along with our traditional “circling around the sanctuary, holding hands and speaking our thanks in prayer together.” Then we head downstairs to the fellowship hall for a pie social! Folks bring pies to share, and everyone eats one or two pieces as they visit.

The next morning Gary and I helped at Northfield’s community meal. Laura Baker Services Association (housing, educational and support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities) provides a traditional Thanksgiving meal to anyone in the community. No need to sign up, just show up for a delicious meal. This was their 19^th year of arranging this wonderful event. They baked 22 turkeys, and made potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, salad, cranberries and pie! Last year we ate dinner at LBSA – this year we volunteered to serve. It was fun.

After we left LBSA we joined a family from church, who had invited us to come for dinner when they found out…at the pie social Wednesday eve…that we would not be with our family Thanksgiving Day. It was a beautiful thing, sitting around the table with old friends and new, sharing a meal together. We were blessed by their kindness, and by being at their family celebration.

The blessings continued as we joined our son and his wife and 1 ½ year old daughter at their home the next day, for another feast. My brother and his wife, their daughter and son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren came also. One grandchild is a baby boy…nine days old. The other is a three year old boy. The two “older” toddlers had fun playing together and exuded a lot of energy.

After our tradition of reading children’s stories, and eating dessert, the others said good-bye, so only our immediate family was left. In the living room, soon before we were going to depart, there was one more blessing. My daughter-in-love explained our granddaughter, Aria, “sets the stage often.” Aria points to the sound bar to have the music start (mom turns it on), then points to the gas fireplace to have it turned on (mom flips the switch), and then Aria starts dancing. What a joy to watch.

It was a special time…this blessed thanksgiving…and our hearts are full.

Now we’re moving into the Christmas season as I start to decorate the house, in anticipation of our other two grandchildren (along with mom and dad) coming over from Africa and living with us for a while. I hope their eyes light up when they see our Christmas tree full of colored lights. We’re so excited.

A Children’s Christmas Program

Children’s Program Bulletin for 12/17/17

Our church’s children’s program was performed last Sunday: O Come, Let Us Adore Him. One of my favorite Sundays in the church year is the day the children put on a Christmas program. I love to see the children all dressed up, some in shepherd’s clothing, some with angel wings, all cute. It’s fun to hear them sing, read their lines and perform solos, all the while other kids are fidgeting and waving to the their mom or dad, and adjusting their halos. It’s pure and innocent. I know I’m not alone in finding joy watching the children tell the story of Jesus and his birth each year at Christmastime.

The children of Emmaus Church in the Christmas Program, December 2017

After the program the kids all received a treat bag with candy and popcorn balls. It brought back memories of receiving my own treat bag at the church I grew up in after participating in our Christmas Pageant. Our bags were filled with ribbon candy, and an orange, and some walnuts in the shell, if I remember correctly.

The beauty of this pageant tradition is they are telling the same wonderful story every year but we are seeing it with fresh eyes by watching our children act and sing it out once again.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14