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SAYING GOOD-BYE Pastoral Care to Those Whose Congregation is Closing A Reflections column about a time this summer when Vang met its past REFLECTIONS FROM INTERNSHIP - AUGUST, 1995 Last month I told you about the closing of Vang Lutheran Church. This month I want to tell you of something special that happened there in July when we opened again for just one afternoon. Back in the 1870's, Ole, Knute and Gunhild Kringstad came to North Dakota from Norway. They are buried in the cemetery at Vang Lutheran Church. In July their descendants in this country held a family reunion and the descendants of the piece of their family that had stayed in Norway came to participate. There were 11 of them from Norway. Some spoke a little English, the rest did not. they ranged in age from 19-80. They wanted to have a worship service at Vang Lutheran Church, so - via telephone with the family connection here on this side of the ocean, that was arranged. We had a Norwegian lay preacher lined up and, since I was busy that Sunday in Fairdale with the worship service for the big all-school reunion weekend, I figured they wouldn't need me at Vang. But then the message came from Norway that it was quite important for them to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion during their Vang worship service. So an afternoon worship was arranged and I gladly went to be a part of it. When I met the folks from Norway, they told me why it had been so important for them to receive communion in the Vang Church. It seems that the custom back in the late 1800's when so many were emigrating to the United States, was when the day came to leave, one very special preparation that had been let until last was observed. The whole family - those who were leaving and those who were staying - would walk together to the Parish Church and receive together the sacrament of Holy Communion. Then those who were staying would walk with those who were leaving to their first departure point and say good-bye. They never knew when - or even if - they would see each other again and receiving the Sacrament together reminded them that they were bound together in a way that was much stronger than human blood ties - they were one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. And in that Oneness - they knew they could never be separated from one another. It gave some strength for the journey and others strength for the staying behind. And so the descendants of Ole and Knute and Gunhild - two brothers and a sister who had put down roots in a new land - marrying, raising children, holding tight to the faith through good times and bad - these descendants now knelt at the altar of Vang Lutheran Church and received that same sacrament that had provided strength so long ago. And Knute and Ole and Gunhild - buried just outside the church doors - were remembered with love and gratitude. I couldn't help but think of the rejoicing there will be on Resurrection day when the generations will met face to face! Sandy Larson |
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