NW District Conference Day 3

Today was day three of the NW District all workers conference. The morning was filled with lecture by our keynote speaker Rev. Jack Preus. The lecture itself was okay but the opening the floor for questions was long. Since we were on such a roll they decided not to take the half hour break. Needless to say it the topic of discussion we never really got to but rather tip toed around the subject at hand. Do not get me wrong, it has it's place but I feel table discussion would have been more beneficial as it would have engaged more people rather than one person talking and one person (the same expert) answering the question. Needless to say After the four hour morning of large group session I was ready for lunch.

For lunch us Alaska DCE's headed down to the beach. Larry, Gretchen, Jamie and I found a swing set conveniently built and we took the opportunity to relive childhood memories and swing. We then walked out to the water. It was colder today 55 degrees, and windy on the ocean shore. The shore was covered with green alge and a goo of some sort.

green goop-we thought it was a jelly fish but Larry said it wasn't

Larry examining the goop. It was everywhere along the beach.

The Pacific Ocean

Represent Alaska!

Jamie, me and Gretchen on the beach swings

After the beach we had lunch at a quaint little place called Tsunami sandwich Company. On the west coast they have a special brand of cheese called “Tillamook”. In the Tsunami  Sandwich company shop they serve all their sandwiches with Tillamook Cheese which is made in the town of Tillamook, Oregon. It was quite good. The best part was when I found out they had huckleberry ice cream. Huckleberries are a west coast berry and the last time I had huckleberries was on St. Matthew’s Mission trip to Shoshone Base camp in Idaho when I was in high school. It was delicious, and is my favorite ice cream of all time.

YUM! Huckleberry ice cream!

In the afternoon we had our break-out sessions which were very good and applicable to me. My first session was about the partnership between and Lutheran church and Lutheran school and how the two work together, yet separate. Someday I may work in a congregation with a Lutheran school so I found it very informative.

The second session was on sharpening your vocation. It talked about five steps to identifying if you are in the right place and how to best utilize your talents to the service of others. It was the best session of the day and once again very applicable to me and my future in ministry.

We then went out for an early dinner since Gretchen had to be back to help with evening worship. A group of thirteen Pastors, their wives, and DCE’s went out to a restaurant called Bigfoot’s Pub and Grub.

Greeting with a smile.

Todd with the Bigfoot Burger it's HUGE!

On a side note the Bigfoot headquarters is located in Oregon. The restaurant had a whole menu with facts built into it on Bigfoot sightings etc. Apparently the NW district is Bigfoot country. The restaurant also contains museum type set up with displays and facts. One of the featured items is the "Yeti Burger" it's huge and contains 1 pound of ground chuck, ham, egg, cheddar and Swiss with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickle and special sauce. Two people, Todd and Joe, at our table ordered it but only Todd finished.

After supper we dropped of Gretchen to prepare for evening worship and Jamie and I hit up the outlet mall and got baby Gavin some cute clothes at Oshkosh B'gosh.

We then went to evening worship. It was way cool as ALL workers (Pastors, DCE's, Deacons/Deaconess', and Lutheran classroom teachers were present). The Concordia University Portland choir was there to help lead worship. It was a lot of singing but it was a great mix of contemporary and traditional style which was greatly appreciated. We all communed and the whole convention center was filled with the Holy Spirit, quite literally.

Concordia Portland Choir.

After worship it was a time of fellowship which had drinks, and dessert. I met up with Natalie Duran a graduate of Concordia St. Paul who is now a Lutheran Classroom Teacher in Anchorage Alaska. We were both tired, as she just flew in today with what was a long day of missing flights and waiting on standby. But she was here and it was great to see her. Once a Lutheran always a family :)

Natalie!

NW District Conference Day 2

Today was day two for me in Oregon. We woke up early to drive from Portland to Seaside. This is normally an hour drive but it took two hours due to traffic. Traffic leaving Portland was bad but not near as bad as the oncoming lane for those commuting into Portland. The drive was gorgeous. I kept saying I felt like I was in Brazil (I’ve never been to Brazil but it was like what I’d imagine Brazil to be like). There was a constant dense population of very tall evergreen trees. Most of them had thick moss growing up the trunk. It was incredible.

Morning Traffic leaving Portland

We arrived in Seaside and hit up the outlet mall for a couple hours before checking into our hotel. After check in we headed to the Seaside convention center for the opening session of the NW district all workers conference.

Our hotel is LITERALLY across the street from the Convention center

The theme this year is “Walking Toward Oneness” based on Ephesians 4:11-13. The opening two large group sessions were led by Rev. Jack Preus. In each of the two hour session he presented on unity vs. diversity and whether one is good or bad and how as church workers we can embrace diversity without losing the unity of ONE theology, that is the Word of God. The presentation was good. After presenting he opened the floor for questions and comments and I must admit it got a little long as the pastors got into deep debate. Perhaps it’s because I’m young and see things in a different light but some of the questions posed were not as complicated (to me at least) as they made them out to be.

After the large group sessions we had a break for dinner. Jamie, Gretchen and I went to a quaint little place called McKeown’s. Three pastors also accompanied us. Pastor Brad (Seattle, WA), Pastor Mark ( Bremerton, Wa), and Pastor Matthew (Des Moines, Washington). It was great to converse with them. They are all young pastors within five years of just finishing seminary. It was great to talk with them about everything from the future of the LCMS, to the new generation, to sports.

Out to Dinner

After dinner we headed back for the highlight of my day. We broke into our group sessions ie: DCE, Pastors etc. All of the DCE’s at the convention were together in one room. THAT was more like it. I sometimes feel like DCE’s are the lost crowd. We are not pastors so the “pastoral talk” does not quite fit us. We are not teachers so all the “schooling talk” does not fit us (although we are directors of Christian EDUCATION) so one might confuse us as such. We are also not deacons/deaconesses. I was conversing with my fellow DCE workers and we discussed how we do not fit in with the LEA (Lutheran Education Association) conventions, nor pastoral conventions, we are a group all our own. Because we are all our own I think that sometimes people don’t know exactly what it is that a DCE does.

With that said it was very refreshing to have time just for DCE’s to be together. We broke into groups of three, and got to know each other on a smaller scale. While I was meeting people I found out just how small the world is. Of all people to meet I met Tracy Prescher (former MN Camp Omega Program Director) who is now serving in the Northwest District at camp Perkins in Idaho. Who would have thought? I also met two other people from Minnesota, one of whom grew up in Pipestone just an hour away from me. I guess when you are in the Lutheran world one is never far from home.

Tracy and I

After the evening break-out session we moved into evening Taize worship. Taize is a worship of meditative singing and scripture contemplation. Taize is held every Tuesday night at Concordia St. Paul and I rather enjoy this service so it was refreshing to be apart of it once again.

Taize this evening was exactly what I needed. I shall now delve into the deep life of an intern. Being an intern sometimes the wellness wheel is not always in balance. What I mean by that is that as a spiritual leader, sometimes one lacks being spiritually fed. Although I do not hold a Pastor position there are very few worship services where I can actually be present in front of God. Often times its thinking about what song I'm leading next, or if the Children's church volunteers have all their supplies, or what I'm teaching after the service for high school.

Taize this evening was FANTASTIC. I got to simply BE. Maybe it was the channeling energy of the service setting back at CSP, or perhaps being surrounded by hundreds of church workers, but it was overpowering.

Taize began with silence, something that many of us lack. I think that we are afraid of silence, but tonight, together as a NW district we got to EMBRACE the silence. Then altogether we silently read Psalm 78:1-6...

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

After that people called out a word or phrase the stuck out to them. It was neat to hear what was chosen. We then went into a time of confession by singing a South African Folk song "Senze nínah" which means "What have we done" God really was working through those around me mainly Gretchen who tonight God used to enhance the worship experience through simply her singing next to me.

After that we went into prayer where we sang Kyrie Eleison after each petition. At one point the worship leader opened a time for people to speak out loud a name, or word (not a full, flashy prayer) but a simple word, as God knows what is on our heart. This was overpowering! Some people whispered names or words while others spoke more loud, but the room was filled with petitions prayer, and it led me to goosbumps. I cannot describe it but it was overpowering.

Worship ended in speaking together the Lord's Prayer. Something about so many clergy workers in one room, with one prayer, is amazing! I left feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.

After worship all NW District workers were invited for an evening of fellowship. I got to meet so many pastors both within Alaska and outside, and also got to continue conversing with some DCE's I met earlier as they gave me words of wisdom and encouragement. All in all it was an extremely good second day at the NW District All workers conference. I can't wait for tomorrow.

NW District Conference Day 1

This morning I awoke with victory! The mouse who has been making a ruckus was caught in the trap! I was happy. I finished packing and then was off to the airport. Jamie Walters, and Gretchen McCullough (DCE's from Palmer and Homer) gave me a ride and are my two mentors for the trip.

No more Mr. Mousey!

 After we got through security a large crowd of Alaska Pastors and DCE's gathered at gate C1. For all you Minnesota folk (specifically Mankato Area), I got to meet Pastor Andrew Richie who transferred up here from Mankato and is now serving at Anchorage Lutheran.

Alaska church workers including a plethora of pastors in the background.

Leaving on a jet plane...

 The plane ride was an adventure. It was, in my short life, the WORST plane ride I've experienced as far as turbulence goes. I have not flow a ton but this was bad. The pilot came on several times saying he was trying to find the best pocket (altitude) to fly at as the plane went up and down. They had to stop service of serving snacks and beverages because the flight attendants couldn't stand up or control the cart even with the cart breaks applied.

There was also a baby on board who cried for the greater portion of the flight. I give the mom credit as she was doing everything possible but nothing could soothe the crying baby. Nothing until there was the worst patch of turbulence and then the infant quit crying at least for some time. It was not all bad because after a half hour of crying it became background noise.

Leaving snow capped mountains

 The pilot came on again saying that the turbulence would continue for another 45 minutes, and it did. After that there was mild patches but nothing as severe as that 45 minute spell. Three hours later the pilot pointed out Mt. Rainier which was a sight to behold as the largest mountain in the state of Washington. Although Mount Rainier is an active volcano, as of 2010 there was no evidence of an imminent eruption as it's last documented eruption was between 1820 and 1854.

Beautiful!

Mount Rainier

Mount St. Helen & Mount Hood

After landing in Portland we left the airport and checked into our hotel. Then, the three of us (Jamie, Gretchen and I) went shopping. We hit up Ikea, Ross, and went out to Buffalo Wild Wings. While driving around one thing I did notice was that fall is just beginning here, where as in Alaska fall is at the very tail end.

Leaves just starting to turn color

After that we went back to the hotel for a short while and then met up with Carlee (One of Jamie's youth) who is a student at Concordia University, Portland. It was interesting being on campus. It is small like CSP, and they have a brand new library like CSP (except newer). They also have old dorms like CSP. There are lots of similarities but one thing it lacks is the iconic Luther statue.

We took Carlee out for dessert at McMenamins Kennedy's School which is an old elementary school that is now a restaurant and hotel.

Carlee, Jamie, Gretchen and I. Dessert time!

Tomorrow we get up early and drive from Portland to Seaside, OR. The conference itself starts at 1:00pm. It will be a time of fun and learning. I'm can't wait. Stay tuned...