Church and Life November 2019

November 2019 Highlights

So much to be thankful for –– in just this one issue –– I am:

Thankful for our Grundtvigian heritage which helps us deal with world chaos realistically but also with optimism.

Thankful for pastors! –– Pastor Gina Maria Koeber gives her thoughts on the Apostles Creed, the summary of what Christians believe. Welcome Pastor Gina, who began her ministry at Danebod Lutheran Church in March of this year. Pastor Gina has many talents, as shown in her performance at the Opera House in Lake Benton this summer.

Thankful for ship models in our Danish churches! –– THE SUPERB is the Swedish model ship which negotiates the deep waters of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston TX. The story of the ship is provided by Kirsten Drigsdahl from Denmark with notes added by Bridget Jensen, Jr from Houston. I am indeed thankful for Bridget who will be the interim editor of Church and Life. Bridget has been on the board of the Danish Interest Conference for several years.

The Danish church ship model at Luther Memorial Church in Des Moines, IA is named “HJEMAD,” which means “Homeward.” Pastor Russell Lackey writes of the different meanings of ship symbols to members of the congregation and to Grand View University Students. We also have the Cathedral ship in Arhus, DK from Dagmar Muthamia.

Thankful for Music! –– We have three articles about the importance of music. Sandra Laursen of Boulder CO writes about “where the music comes from” to bring up the “living Spirit” of joy and gratitude for each of us to experience in our daily lives. Susan introduces us to Lee Hoiby, a composer she researched of Danish heritage. Sandra is the daughter of Paul and Carol Laursen.

Hanna Broadbridge of Randers, Denmark knows there is magic in group singing which is going to be encouraged throughout Denmark in the coming year. Alsang 2020 is a new movement encouraging more group singing throughout Denmark! The Grundtvig prize of 25,000 DKK has just been awarded to translator Edward Broadbridge and pianist Rasmus Skov Borring for encouraging and increasing the singing of Grundtvig’s hymns and songs. Congratulations Edward and Rasmus on this prestigious award. AND Thank you, N.F. S Grundtvig!

Margaret Johnson of Portland OR expresses what music means to her –– health and happiness! She was inspired by “Sing,” Carrie Newcomer’s poem which was published in the Holden Village Voice.

Thankful for Danebod! –– folk meetings, family camps, and for all Danebod means historically, now and to the future. A photo page in this issue shows some of the presenters at the 2019 Folk Meeting. Hopefully you can catch some of the folk meeting’s enjoyment by simply looking at the photographs!

AND Most of all I am thankful for you –– the readers, writers and subscribers of Church and Life! - Ji

The Cover: On the cover is a photograph by Walt Thomsen of the large model ship in the Church of Holmen (Danish: Holmens Kirke) a Parish church in central Copenhagen, Denmark, located on Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. (See Wikipedia, Church of Holmen. It was Walt’s grandfather who crafted the model ship at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler, MN. Whitey Jorgensen of Minneapolis reminded me of Garrison Keillor’s comment when he spoke at the Danebod folk meeting in Tyler in 1985, “Only the Danes on the verge of South Dakota would have a ship in their church.”

Save the Dates

Bethania Lutheran Church, Solvang, CA, February 21-23, The Solvang Folk School Talks, a new program led by Pastor Chris Brown will feature Michael Gungor and Mike McHargue, founders of the Liturgists Podcast, one of the top religious podcasts in the country. See fmlectures.org or www.theliturgists.com or contact Bethania Lutheran Church (805) 688-4637.

Announcement

Bridget Jensen, Jr. of Houston, TX is the new Interim editor of Church and Life beginning January 1, 2020. Bridget has been on the board of the Danish Interest Conference since 2009. She has attended several folk meetings at Danebod and presented a lecture, “Witnessing Palestine,” about her February 2019 return trip to Israel/Palestine where she visited the Occupied Territories. Most recently she has been involved in celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Danevang, Texas. Beginning with the January issue of Church and Life, submissions should be sent to Bridget Lois Jensen, Jr., 1920 W. Clay, Houston TX 77019. Phone number 713-524-1290. Email: [email protected]. The deadline for the January issue is December 20.

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