It was a joy to be with the people of the Upper Snake River Cluster at their annual summer picnic in Firth, Idaho Saturday, but that really made up only one sliver of a great weekend of relationship building and exploration.

First Pictures: I serve on the board for LEAP Housing and I think I found the lot in Mountain Home for Falcon’s Landing; lunch with Pastor Andy Hamblen in Twin Falls (Andy serves Our Savior, Twin Falls and is also the board president for Luther Heights); coffee with Presbytery of Kendall Presbyter Cathy Chisholm (lots of dreaming); Pocatello: home to ISU–go Bengals!

Saturday was the first time the cluster had been able to hold the picnic for several years, for a number of reasons. People were so happy to be together. We had a simple worship service during which I read the Body of Christ passage from I Corinthians 12 and then, as has become my practice, shared what we do together as the Northwest Intermountain Synod. Bethel Lutheran, Firth transformed a drainage into a park, our meeting for the picnic. It was an afternoon rich in food and conversation.

Next Photos: Red pickups are a popular vehicle for Upper Snake River Cluster pastors, inside of Bethel Lutheran and a binder from their recent 125th anniversary celebration, worship, shelter, grilling, me and Pastor Jon Beake (St. John’s, American Falls–Beake has served in SW Wyoming & SE Idaho for 28 years), group photo around the fire pit.

Final Photos: The pastors also planned a full Sunday for me: preaching at Cluster Dean Pastor Wayne Shipman’s two congregations (Good Shepherd, Pocatello and Emanuel, Blackfoot) and then an evening potluck at New Day Lutheran in Idaho Falls, which is hosted by St. Luke’s Episcopal. Good Shepherd has a rich history of gifted musicians and this Sunday was no exception. Follow this LINK and go to minute 43:30 for a song written for the Feeding of the Multitude text from Matthew for Jordan Bowman to sing, accompanied by her dad David Bowman. It is wonderful! Good Shepherd is hosting a Let’s Make Some Music day camp for kids this week. Note below that Emanuel, Blackfoot creatively repurposed its Reformation 500 Anniversary door by turning it into the television stand for worship slides.