This morning I brought greetings from the synod and presided over Holy Communion at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. From 2011-2017 I served on the Luther Heights Bible Camp board and back then the board met at Our Savior every spring and fall and the church also hosted the November annual meeting (now held in February). Since I started Nov. 1, 2010 at Trinity, Our Savior was one of the first church buildings other than Trinity’s that I visited. The last time I was there was in 2020 for camp program director Jon Davidson’s goodbye luncheon. So, lots of memories today.

Photos of the 2005 building may give the impression that the congregation is young, but it was actually organized in 1940 and had many homes before landing on Carriage Lane North. I always loved the open space concept, especially the fact that no one has to walk down a hallway to go from worship to fellowship time.

But, I had never been there for Sunday morning worship and it was such a gift to join this congregation on Transfiguration Sunday. I’ve sat on Zoom text study with TEEM Candidate Andy Hamblen for several years and it was a joy to hear him preach. I was able to greet members I’ve know for years through camp or synod assemblies and meet many new to me people. After a well-attended fellowship time, I joined the youth Sunday School classroom for Q and A with the Bishop. Andy had written some questions in advance and each kid got to draw to questions out of the basket and ask me everything from who is my boss to do I have pets. I did my part by asking who had been to Luther Heights and who would be attending this upcoming summer.

Andy is finishing up his time as the Luther Heights board chair, though he will stay not the board for another year, so our lunch conversation included camp but also worship, Twin Falls, and the upcoming Regional Gathering Our Savior will host for Southern Idaho May 4.