I just returned from a full weekend in the farthest east cluster of our synod, though I did not make it into Wyoming on this trip.

Not wanting to risk driving in the snow after dusk, I drove over Friday afternoon. This gave me some time to rest Saturday morning before the ecumenical Epiphany worship service at Good Shepherd Lutheran, Pocatello. The Episcopal priest preached, the Methodist pastor presided at Communion, and ELCA Pastor Wayne Shipman led the rest of the liturgy. We each got chalk as we left worship to chalk our thresholds.

Our synod covers four presbyteries and we do a lot ecumenically, so I try to keep nurturing my relationships with the four presbyters. Cathy Chisolm and I met for coffee at Gate City. I parked in a business’ parking lot and got to enjoy the art in this alley, not quite as professional as Freak Alley in Boise, but some fun art nonetheless.

Sunday morning I preached at St. John’s Lutheran in American Falls. Pastor Jon Beake, who as been there over 15 years, presided. It was quite a snowy morning so attendance was low but we all had a great conversation after worship, talking about the changes in the community, what the congregation has meant in people’s lives, why their Christian faith remains vital. Everyone really does have a faith story.

Pastor Beake gave me a tour of the massive building. The gymnasium is used for community youth basketball five nights a week. The congregation moved children’s faith formation to Thursday evening and it’s thriving. American Falls has new businesses coming in–Lamb Weston (think McDonald’s french fries) is building a plant which should employ 600 people and a Ridley’s Grocery store just opened. The community also has a housing shortage.

Pocatello is home to Idaho State University, which houses the Idaho Natural History Museum, open on Sunday afternoons. So after lunch with Pastor Beake, I toured the museum. It is fabulous! Parts of it reminded me of the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD, an hour south of my home town of Custer.

Pastors from the cluster drove to Pocatello from Twin Falls, American Falls, and Jackson so we could all enjoy lunch together before I headed back home. It takes five hours to drive across this one cluster, but this group has worked hard on collegiality and it was so good to see and hear their mutual support of one another. We missed Pastor Ann, but she couldn’t miss her ELCA Family Systems Academy sessions.