Do Days are the second and fourth WEDNESDAY of each month, at 1:00 p.m. Please feel free to join us!
DECEMBER 2022 Submitted by June Torrison
The Tea and Tables event on November 12 was a wonderful success. When I arrived, I had to look for a parking place!!! The committee did a great job planning it – so many details to consider. There were about a dozen tables set up by members for various events, many including family pictures and interesting stories about the things on the tables. I especially noticed the Hardanger napkins made by a friend of mine who used to live in Hayfield, now Rochester. Many people did baking for the Scandinavian booth including family members from away. The lefse went fast!!! The choice of soups was good, too along with the desserts offered. Jayne Shaffer’s hand was in the decorations on the dining tables and in the landing just before the fellowship hall. Others involved included Sue Speer, Janet Rosedahl, Deb Iverson, Kristy Hockens, Colette Miles, Deanna Bergan. Mary Lunning, Barb Kling and Judy Orum. If I missed others, I am sorry. There were people there from other communities as well as locals. Lots of good visiting. We missed so much fellowship during the COVID episodes.
My family and I thank the council and congregation for the lovely reception after the November 13 church service. We appreciated the cards, flowers and gifts, Lucy’s cake and coffee. My children Jeff, Jerry and Jill were there to worship and sing along with three of my grandchildren Garrett, Ethan and Jessica. They weren’t able to rehearse together ahead of time, but it worked. And we were honored to have Janet, Jordan and Rachel return to sing a trio. They have done this many times in the past, but now the “kids” have moved away.
I couldn’t help but look back on the things and people I have played for through the years. I have played 42 organs in five states and Norway. Pianos are much the same, but organs can be very different. That includes churches, homes and funeral homes. I did not include the pipe organ that a friend had in his shed on the farm. He also maintained the pipe organ at our church that his daughter played. There have been 242 funerals and 112 weddings (the first wedding in 1952 for my cousin Anita - later for her funeral in 2011). I also played for her father’s funeral in 1970. Uncle Clifford was killed in a car accident. Yes, lots of memories of the families involved, some happy, some sad.
We have been fortunate to find people to lead worship during Pastor Bakker’s recovery. Pastor John Kerr who serves the local Presbyterian Church filled in on very short notice the first Sunday. He focused on Reformation Sunday in a very meaningful way. Fortunately he lives just a block away. But of course he isn’t available to do services at both Le Roy Lutheran and Trinity. The second Sunday we enjoyed having Shirley Gangstad from Spring Valley. She is very much in demand as a lay preacher and we can understand why. I have known her for many years and her uncle was a college friend. Third was Pastor Linda Helberg from Rochester. She handled a mix-up about times very graciously and again, brought a very good message. I had seen her recently at a gathering of retired clergy and spouses held near Owatonna. Also at the SEMN Synod church women convention at Bethel in Rochester. We wish Pastor well as he gains strength.
