NORTH BOUND

My last Saturday in Las Cruces consisted of eating out at two of our favorite restaurants, fixing a few things not done yet and packing. WOW! What a long day.

I thought I was pretty well done packing. I had done quite a bit already but I had more to do. It was a long, long day.

Finally late that night I finished stuffing my bug full to the brim, gassed it up and made ready for my trip to Denver and Riverton.

I can't see out the back. There is no room left in that car. Our car-top carrier was too big to use so I only had the inside to use. As it is I got a lot in there.

Well I got up, cleaned up, hugged & kissed Cindy goodbye and took off around 7am yesterday. I plugged in "Angels & Demons" (book on cd), got in the zone and sailed along. Ten hours later I arrived in Denver.

IT IS COLDISH HERE! WHAT HAVE I DONE? THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND! I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SHOVEL THAT STUFF AGAIN!

On Wednesday I head north for 6.5 hours in central Wyoming and the good people of St. John Lutheran church in Riverton.

The ADVENTURE CONTINUES.......



THE "QUEEN MARY"

The Queen Mary was a British trans-atlantic cruise ship launched in 1936, I believe. It remained in service until retiring and being sold and moving to California in the late 60's. It now sits moored in Long Beach.

It was a fun adventure for us. This was the closest Cindy could get to the bow of the ship.

We walked the deck and checked everything out. I have a thing about movie stars from the 30's - 50's. So seeing that all the big names plus Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, etc. had sailed it I was enthralled. Just think - Jimmy Stewart, Fed Astaire, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, etc. had sailed on the Queen Mary. Now Cindy doesn't give a hoot about movie stars but she was a bit impressed by Churchill having a suite named after him.

Our cabin was small, of course, but nice. The view out the porthole was of the marina and city. At night the lights were beautiful.





CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP

Cindy & I had said more than a few times that since we were so close to California we should drive over there and vacation. We went once in the 8.5 years we were there. So California seemed like the place to go between ministries.

After turning in my keys at Trinity LC Cindy & I went home, changed clothes, made sure the cats were fine, got in the car and took off.

We have always enjoyed roadtrips. We talk, sleep, ponder, sit, trade drives, stop every so often and on and on we go. We made it to the western side of Phoenix about 7pm and arranged to meet up with my brother Don for dinner. It was quick but nice. We wanted to drive a bit more so that on Monday we could get up and go and avoid Phoenix rush-hour. It worked great.

We arrived at our motel in Anaheim in mid afternoon. It was a short distance from Disneyland and Downtown Disney. After getting situated in our hotel we walked on over to Downtown Disney. It was a beautiful day - warm, sunny. It just felt good to be walking and to be there.

The next day we spent at Disneyland. This was our secend time there. It was a great time. WHOHOO no kids. We weren't rushed, hassled, or anything. We rode the rides we wanted when we wanted. It was a great time. Once again it was a beautiful warm, sunny day. At the end of the day we were beat and ready to sleep.

The next few nights we stayed aboard the "Queen Mary" cruise ship hotel in Long Beach. We both have enjoyed cruising so this sounded like fun. I'll post a bit more about it in the next entry.

After a few days of beaching and relaxing our adventure in California was over. So we loaded our car and headed home. We drove all the way from Long Beach, south to the San Diego area and then east to Las Cruces. It was long but uneventful.

LAST SUNDAY - FEB 19, 2012

Our last Sunday, Feb. 19th finally arrived. I say "our" because not only was I signing off as the pastor at Trinity but Cindy would no longer be worshipping there or be the choir even though she will be in town for a while. So it was "our" farewell.

The last worship service was wonderful. The sanctuary was full. I think some were there to make sure I was finally going. :) We sang some great hymns. Our Sunday School children sang "The Butterfly Song" and there were smiles all around. I was so proud of those kids. The Odegaard family deserve a great deal of thanks for their Sunday School ministry. The Senior Choir also sang.

In my last post I mentioned a song called "A Closing Prayer" by Don Besig. Well I bought copies of that song for the choir so they could sing it at that worship service.

I preached on the text Proverbs 3:5-6 about "Trusting in the Lord with all your heart...".  All of us are walking in faith. Trinity LC members need to trust that God will provide them with a great pastor - someone who will love them and challenge them and lead them. The members of my new congregation must also trust that God has been leading this process and that they wouldn't get a dud. Cindy & I feel that it was God who opened this door and we are walking through it. So all of us walk in faith.

At the end of our worship together there was a formal liturgy entitles "At the End of a Ministry" that we used. I thought it was great. Once completed the choir sang "A Closing Prayer" and we were finished.

From there we went to our Fellowship Hall for a great potluck lunch. Wow! There was so much food and the place was packed. We ate, we talked, there were a few gifts, a few songs and then hugs and handshakes.

What a morning. I helped with a few other tasks then turned in my keys and Cindy & I walked out the doors.

I felt good. I wasn't overwhelmed with emotion which I thought I would be. It had been a good ministry all-in-all with great people but I wasn't through yet. There was more adventure to come.

THE CLOSING PRAYER

In the last congregation I served we ended most worship services with the song titled “A Closing Prayer” by Don Besig. It pretty much sums up the feelings Cindy and I have as we prepare to leave you. The choir will sing this song on our final Sunday.

                        The time has come, O Lord, for us to leave this place;

                        Guide us and protect us and lead us in Thy grace.
                        Wherever life may  take us as we go our separate ways,
                        Help us share with others the things we've shared today.                           
                                                                   
                        May the peace of God the Father, and the love of Christ, His Son
                        Guide us in the days ahead and strengthen us, each one.
                        May the blessings of the Spirit fill us from within;
                        God bless us and return us to this fellowship once again.
                                                             -          “A Closing Prayer”  - Don Besig

Just remember what Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 

In the midst of change the one anchor we can always count on is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May the Holy Spirit of God guide us as we seek to do God’s will.

THE COUNTDOWN

One week to go. It really seems strange writing that.

My office is packed. I'm working on my last sermon and preparing the bulletin for the final service, Feb. 19. This week I hope to visit with some older friends who I have gotten to know pretty well over the years.

Since announcing our plans people have been inviting us out to dinner. Last Sunday Cindy & I were at some friends for a nice quite dinner. They even had lefse. IT WAS WONDERFUL. Last Thursday we were part of a progressive dinner. For you younger folks that is a dinner you share with friends by going from house to house eating a different course. We started out with appetizers and drinks, next on to salad and bread, then on to the main course of ribs and potato salad and finally on to dessert and coffee. It was great fun with laughter, stories and great food. I haven't been on a progressive dinner in 30 years. If you haven't been a part of one organize one.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we have an Open House in our bid to sell our house. So it's anyones guess if I will be in Riverton alone for a long time or not.

This final week will include lunch with a good friend on Monday, Thursday dinner out with other friends, Saturday afternoon with a bunch of friends and then Sunday worship followed by a potluck - farewell gathering. I am sure there will be some other lunch outs during the week too.

While all that is going on I'll load up boxes from my office so that after church next Sunday I can turn in my keys and walk out the door. That is going to seem weird - very weird.

Once that is over Cindy & I will get in our car and head to California where we will visit Disneyland, The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and go whale watching. It should be fun.