Sanctuary at Trinity Lutheran, Las Cruces 

Barb, Joe and me 

Easter 2005 in Las Cruces

Hi all,

My sister Barb and her husband Joe who are from Tucson (4 hours away) just left our home after a short visit. We had a nice time catching up.

Worship today was so very moving. The sanctuary looked beautiful. The church was full of worshippers and we have a singing church. Between services we had a great continental breakfast. After worship we went out to an Easter buffet at the local Hilton hotel. It was very filling.

My sister Barb graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD in the early 60's. Well she discovered that one of the members of my church, Chickie Lerdal, was in her graduating class. So over breakfast they had a reunion.

Now to relax!

"Bartholomew" (left) is a banker, "James the Less" headed up the parks department in Las Cruces and is responsible for the development of many of the green areas in town; "Andrew" is a fireman here in town. 

"Judas" the snake on the left works out at White Sands and helps track missle launches by watching over the equipment. 

"Jesus" (on the right) must have developed his drawl while ministering in Texas. Few knew that he actually lived in Texas at one time. Peter (dark hair on left) is an engineer. Do I have that right? 

"James" in the middle was the "greater" (think larger) of the disciples.  

"Matthew" was our sound man while "Simon" on the far right works at White Sands Missle Base and hasn't acted before. 

"Thaddeus" went on the become a professor teaching biology at NMSU.  

"Thomas" spent his formative years in London so he speaks with a bit of an accent. 

"Philip" was blind without his glasses. 

The disciple "John" in a more casual setting. He's eating a sub sandwhich while wearing his cap and combat boots. 

The setting 

More Living Last Supper Photos

I have addeed some more photos from the production last night.

Today's Good Friday services were very moving. About a dozen of us have gotten together each Sunday evening for the last week to watch and talk about Mel Gibson's "The Passion". Good Friday takes on a different intensity of emotion after you watch that film. In the scriptures Jesus was scourged and handed over to be crucified. The words alone can't capture the reality. I had heard the words for years but I had no idea. Jesus was flayed. Enough said.

Things Happening

Hidey ho all,

Today is Good Friday. There are two worship services today and then two on Easter Sunday. I truly enjoy officiating at these worship services since they are so meaningful.

It is going to be around 62 degrees here today and overcast. Tomorrow afternoon my sister Barb and her husband Joe will drive over from Tucson. It will be great seeing them and having them in our home.

Last Monday I invited a landscape planner to drop by our home to offer us some advice about our backyard. Hopefully he will provide us with some creative ideas. Right now our backyard is fairly bare. I'll post a picture so that you can see what I mean.

On Thursday I'm heading west to Bisbee, AR to visit with my brother Paul & Deb and family who will be visiting Deb's sister. Cindy has to work so I will head over there by myself. I'll probably find some historical sites along the way to visit. I just read an article about Bisbee in the newset Sunset magazine.

I just started this site last night so I am trying things out. I would like to be able to have Cindy's folks "tune in" so they can read about what's happening. They live in Minnesota.

Ta ta.
Well enough

Vern, Annette, Cindy & Scott

Apricot tree  

Backyard 

Sunset 

The painting 

The Set 

Jerry 

The Living Last Supper 

Living Last Supper 

Easter Greetings

Tonight members of our congregation presented "The Living Last Supper". It is a production that uses Leonardo da Vinci's painting of The Last Supper as the setting. Actors pose like the painting and only unfreeze when they talk about themselves to the audience. They did a great job. They had to memorize their parts and take off eyeglasses, etc that are not in the painting. The actors ranged in age from 41 to 74.

This presentation was built around a worship service. "Jesus" and some of the other "disciples" helped serve Holy Communion. I believe it went very well and was appreciated and very moving.

I had never seen anything like this before and I was tapped as the director. All I did was coordinate, show up and offer encouragement and some ideas.