NW DCE Confrence Day 3 (Seattle)

Jamie and I awoke early for the final day of DCE Conference in Leavenworth. We had breakfast and once again were serenaded by the alpine horn on the deck of the hotel. We then went into closing worship.
Closing worship was one of the most powerful things. I’m not sure if it was the music, or the simple gospel message of re-assurance that touched my heart but it was fantastic. To wrap things up we has communion. We stood in a circle and proceeded to pass around a common cup and wafers, for which each DCE would commune the person to their right side. It was beautiful.

Breakfast!

Closing Worship

Communion

The group. The NW District DCE's who attended the confrence

We then said our goodbyes and hit the road. Since our arrival two days previous Leavenworth had 13 inches of snow. We were warned by the front desk upon check out that we might not be able to get across snoqualmie pass as the patrol was stopping vehicles and allowing chained tires only.

Jamie and I walked around the cute little tourist shops one last time and then were on our way. We turned on the radio and heard that they were now allowing “winter tired vehicles” to pass but oversized vehicles were prohibited.

As we started on our drive this seemed strange since it was clear skies and dry roads. About a half hour in as we made our accent over Snoqualmie pass. As we descended on the other side of the pass the snow turned into freezing fog and freezing rain making for slippery roads. By the time we were on the flat and nearing Seattle it was partly cloudy skies. It was strange to drive through such a variety of weather in a short period of time.

Clear skies and dry roads, what were they talking about?

More snow, wet roads but still not bad...

Entering Snoqualmie Pass-sleet/freezing rain

Freezing fog and icy roads...

Seattle--partly cloudy skies and dry roads

We arrived in Seattle with six hours before our flight left back for Alaska. So we did what any good tourist would do and headed for the famous Seattle Space Needle. Finding parking was atrocious but we managed to find an open ramp. From there Jamie and I walked several blocks toward the towering spectacle. We purchased two tickets to the top and headed on our way.

Headed to the Space Needle

At the top looking over Seattle

The Seattle Skyline from the top of the Space Needle

Fun facts for you all, contrary to popular belief the whole top does not spin. There are two levels at the top. One is a restaurant the other is the viewing for tourists like myself. Only the restaurant spins, but of the restaurant only the exterior ring nearest the window moves. The restaurant kitchen and pluming area at the center of the needle does not move.

Other fun facts:

• When the Space Needle was built in 1962 it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.
• The Space Needle sways approximately 1 inch for every 10 mph of wind. It was built to withstand a wind velocity of 200 miles per hour, doubling the 1962 building code requirements. When winds around the Needle reach high speeds, 35 mph or higher, the elevators are designed to reduce their traveling speed to 5 mph for safety reasons. During the 1993 Inaugural Day storm, wind gusts reached 90 mph and the top house was closed for an hour and a half.
• On a hot day the Space Needle expands about one inch.
• There are 25 lightning rods (24 actual rods plus the tower) on the roof of the Needle to withstand lightning strikes.
• The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair.

DCE Conference Day 2 (part 2)

After a day of intense spiritual renewal and discussion it was time for a little fun. We had free time in the afternoon. Jamie and started our afternoon with a trip to the local clinic. My ear was killing me and had bothering me since the day before. I thought it was due to the fight since it could not pop but upon inspection the doctor told me I had not only an ear infection but that it had spread to my Eustachian tube.

The doctor said this probably happened on the flight. She asked when I was to return home and I told her the next day. She asked if there was any way I could wait a couple days to heal but that was simply not possible. She then also prescribed me with Tylenol with codeine for the flight home as it would probably be a painful one.

With that over we were on our way to all the cute little shops downtown. They are all very touristy and cute. I only bought a hat, but the shops were neat to look at. Some highlights included Nussknacker Haus—more nutcrackers than I ever seen in my life, Rocky Mountain Chocolate, Das Sweet Shop, Kestel Vinters, Kris Kringle (an all Christmas store, all year long), Das Sportsmenn, Alpen Haus Gifts, Munchan Haus and others but I cannot remember their names.

After 3 hours out and about, and lots of walking all of us DCE’s gathered at King Ludwigs for supper. King Ludwigs is a family owned and operated restaurant takes it's name from the famous German King Ludwig II. My meal was Veal, Spätzle, (the pasta of Germany) and Rotkraut (Red Cabbage). It was very good and I am a fan of the Spätzle. Others ordered Schweinshax’n (rotisseried broiled pork hock), Chicken Munich Style (half a rotisseried chicken), Schweine Schnitzel (breaded, pan fried pork cutlet), and Leberkäse (Bavarian Meatloaf).

The dish I ordered-Veal, Spätzle and Rotkraut 

Another dish split between 4 people--Schweinshax’n (rotisseried broiled pork hock), Chicken Munich Style (half a rotisseried chicken), two Schweine Schnitzel (breaded, pan fried pork cutlet), and three sausages, two slices of Leberkäse (Bavarian Meatloaf).

Jamie and I outside King Ludwig's

In addition to great food there was beer wine and live music! An accordion player named Frank graced us with fantastic music. It was fun. He played several songs from the sound of music, Que Sera, Sera, Auf Wiedersehen, Edelweiss, Oh! Suzanna, Oh Munchen, Mein Munchen, and others but I don’t know their names.

The majority of the group joined in dancing to these tunes. The Frank moved to play the chicken dance to which EVERYONE joined in whether at the table or on the dance floor. We made a circle around Frank and danced until we were tired. It was fun and nice to have such an enjoyable evening to think of nothing else but relaxing. It was a great way to end the day.

Frank and I

NW DCE Conference Day 2 (part 1)

We awoke early as breakfast was at 7:30am. As Jamie and I peered out our hotel window we found that overnight 8 inches of snow had covered the hotel courtyard. Across the courtyard I saw perfectly spaced icicles hanging off of the ruffled roof-one icicle on each bump.

Perfect icicles!

I guess we got some snow overnight...

Good Morning!

Jamie and I made our way upstairs to breakfast. Breakfast was FANTASTIC. It was unlike any other continental breakfast I’ve ever had. A hotel employee dressed in German attire made each person their own omelet with all the fixings, or lack of fixings, they wanted. There was also rolls, yogurt, fresh fruit, cereal, sausage and cheesy potato casserole.

After most of the fellow NW district DCE’s gathered in the great hall an alpine horn-man came walking through the center of the room carrying his alpine horn in two long pieces. The horn man climbed up atop the ledge of the roof and played several tunes. I only recognized one of them—Amazing Grace—but they were all unique.

Alpine horn!

I walked out onto the deck where the alpine man was playing only to find breathtaking scenery. The 8 inches of snow covered everything in the town and the mountains around. Leavenworth is nestled in the middle of the mountains. A fog hung over the base of the mountains but the peaks were visible and the sun was shining. What a perfect start to the day.

Looking downtown Leavenworth

Perfect Scenery, building tops, and mountains peeking out of fog. 

It's going to be a beautiful day!

We moved into opening worship which was led by Jamie and myself. I played guitar to Be Thou My Vision and Here I am Lord. Jamie led the morning devotion activity. Being DCE’s we did a common activity in which we blindfolded a volunteer in this case Uma. Uma then had to make his way through the obstacle course of tables and chairs following the voice of “God” another person far across the room.

Leading worship

Jamie blindfolding Uma

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

Uma with some run-ins with chairs and tables found his way. We then repeated the activity this time with all 20+ DCE’s shouting distractions so that it would be hard for Uma to hear the voice. But we also gave Uma a guide to help him find his way.

We had way to much fun and Jim even created a pile of chairs, to which Uma and his guide had to crawl under a table. The point of the activity was that sometimes life throws distractions at our life and it’s hard to hear/see God’s voice and will. But God also provides us with a helper. He has given us both the Holy Spirit and fellow believers and supports-brothers and sisters.

Jim was determined to not let Uma find his way

But Uma had a great guide-under the table we go

From there we moved into the first of 3 sessions with keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Robin J. Dugall. This was absolutely refreshing. I will explain some of my learning’s and discussion that we had as DCE’s.

As Christians and as Lutherans the term “Faith without works is dead” is one we hear often” likewise scripture without application is worthless. The Bible is not a paradigm to distance us from the text but rather a way to articulate our spiritual journey in the here in now. We need to be in scripture. It’s not of the past as scripture is eternally speaking, and eternally creating. With that said the Word of God need to be incarnated in our lives.

Keynote Speaker  Rev. Dr. Robin Dugall

The Bible itself talks of how the “Word became Flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) through Christ. We too are to be “little Christs”. In fact, the Holy Spirit is HERE and NOW in making disciples. As John 1:14 says the Bible is a part of God. If we separate the Bible from the body (God) we are in trouble.

If you ask someone what truth is they might say truth is something honest and real. Scripture tells us that God is “the way the truth and the life”. With that in mind we as Christians believe that truth is a person (Christ). Truth embodies someone, and truth is where the Lord is. God is truth! It is the truth, and God who we follow and desire and crave to be in relationship with.

As Dr. Robin went on he talked about being in community not only with God but with one another and how it is vital for us as workers to find friendship and community with others in our field as support. Robin said that in Bible times friendship could not exist unless you were among equals. Slaves were not friends with masters but with other slaves as there were in a specific hierarchy class. Friends were only friends with those in the same class. It was not until Christ that we broke this. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galations 3:28)

Just as there were servants in Jesus day there still are servants today. Some would say we (as church workers) are servants. We are not just servants but masters in disguise. We are walking, talking means of grace! We are servants who’s “first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man…Our first allegiance is not to democracy or blood, no, our first allegiance is to a King in a Kingdom”

The King, our God is the only one who can grant us peace. Peace sometimes seems out of reach especially when our lives our out of control. When nothing in the church seems to go right. When ministry seems on edge of collapse. We need to find peace. Not the peace that is the absence of conflict, but the peace that is in Christ—Shalom.

DCE Conference Day 1

I was privileged to attend the 2012 NW District DCE Conference. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is broken into districts. Minnesota has two districts within it’s state (MN South and MN North). Alaska is a part of the NW District along with Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

I awoke at 1:15am and drove to meet Jamie (the other Alaska DCE attending this conference). We left Jamie’s house at 3:00am and made it to the Anchorage airport at 4:00am. After crossing through security we boarded the 6:10am flight to Seattle, WA.

I slept for most of the flight. Upon arrival to Seattle Jamie and I made our way to AVIS car rental. Our original car for a bargain price was a Chevy Aveo. The lady at the rental casually asked us what we were in town for and we told here we were going to Leavenworth, WA.

“Oh!” she exclaimed “Well we strongly recommend a vehicle upgrade since you will be going through the Snoqualmie Pass” (see the below map for location of Leavenworth and drive we took)
“We are from Alaska I think we will be fine” Jamie explained
The AVIS worker stood there and would not allow us to leave without the upgrade. So an additional $10.00 a day later and full insurance (as she INSISTED we get for the drive) we were off. Our new car a KIA Sorento.


View Larger Map

Jamie and I were both fatigued. Jamie having come off of a weekend confirmation retreat and myself playing “work ahead” as my fiancée arrives the day after I get back from the conference. Jamie drove and we rocked out to the very limited radio stations there were through the 3 hour long drive. Much to our dissapointment there was NO snow on the roads. The roads were dry. There was snow in the ditch but none on the roads. Jamie was especially frustrated having drove in wretched conditions in her 8 years of Alaska living. I guess to Seattle when there is even a dusting of snow the whole city shuts down so the sheltered lady working the AVIS counter over-reacted.

On the drive through the supposedly snowy pass

On the drive...

They even make McDonalds look German all hand painted signs

Cute Subway/76 gas sign.

Main Street: Das Hut Shop, Cafe Crista, Der Sportsmann etc.

We arrived in Leavenworth and got checked in to the Enzian Inn. The Enzian Inn was very reflective of the surrouding community of Leavenworth--It was EXTREMELY GERMAN. The whole town of Leavenworth is built to reflect Germany and has a multitude of shops each with a German name.

American and German Flag on Main street Leavenworth, WA

I could not help but think of my sister Kayli who is currently serving as the German Exchange Student for Worthington High School. Kayli is in Crailsheim, Germany.

My sister Kayli in Germany

There was approximately 20 DCE's from the NW District who were present at the gathering. We started out like any DCE would at his or her own youth event-Icebreakers! We played "Matchmaker" where a name or a Bible Character was placed on each of our backs and we had to find our pair by asking yes or no questions to one another. We then went into a crossword name game and finally we had opening worship.

Mixers!

Photo credit: John Schmidt

Photo credit: John Schmidt

Worship was very refreshing for me! Most of the time I am either assisting with leading worship, or am absent from worship while teaching children's church. This time I was fully present and able to really absorb what was going on.

It was powerful being surrounded with fellow brothers and sisters who understand where you are coming from since a lot of us are dealing with the same frustrations. The theme of the gathering was "The Joy of Being a Follower of Christ" based on Philippians 1:6-- "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."

Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Robin J. Dugall had is first session. It was SO AWESOME. He talked about how we lead to share Christ. The fact of the matter is we don't share Christ with a fancy Bible Study. It's RELATIONAL. From 1 person to another. There was talk of some of the ministries at different congregations including a soccer ministry for a Hispanic group.

The group gathers and plays soccer all day and pray before each game with people who have NO clue who Christ is. Where people see a soccer ball, we see a bridge. It's a start and it's foundation is in relationships.

As a called worker of Christ, or for any servant for that matter, our attitude needs to be that of Christ. Christ was relational. He was relevant to his time-speaking in parables. We too need to be relational, really get to know people because only then can one make a bridge.

I personally do this by attending youth events-athletic games, music concerts, and you know what it's also FUN for me. I see what's going on with my youth. Relate to them, and not just for the sake of getting involved with their lives but with their spiritual well-being.

It was a great first day, but the second day would be even better... (more posts to come)