Emerging Kristin

Emily, Doug and I went over to my brother’s (Les & Barb) for Christmas Day supper. Leslie’s eldest son pointed out that Leslie and I were wearing matching colours. Then everyone began commenting on how much we looked alike. I don’t see it. Do you see it?? I want to point out that Leslie is ten years older than I am!!

As you can see … Doug is pretty happy with this gift! His very own SK Roughrider jacket! Some people are really spoiled. There is no “Poor Doug” here.

I love this photo of Leah … she is ripping into a present which won’t surrender to her fingernails. Eventually she did make her way through the layers of tape and wrap.

As you can see, Rhett can’t control his excitement! I’m actually afraid for his life … but he can’t wait for spring so that he can fire up this puppy and take down a few trees. You know how the story goes … first it is a chain saw … then it is a truck to haul the stuff away.

Emily got just what she was hoping for – a new pair of mukluks. Emily has always loved mukluks and moccasins since she was a young girl.

Check out this link to see lots of photos. We changed our habit from opening gifts Christmas morning to doing it on Christmas Eve. I was leading the Christmas Day service at 11:00 a.m. and Rhett and Leah were heading to her parents, so it only made good sense … but Doug had to be very flexible in changing … and he was!

Rhett & Leah got a new dog about two months ago. Duke is a three year old Standard Poodle/Giant Schanauzzer cross. The introduction of Duke to Flame and Phoenix went surprisingly well. Duke is about 70 pounds to Flame and Phoenix 58 pounds.

Check out this link to see some wonderful dog and family photos from our family Christmas Eve.

St. Paul, Herbert – is the congregation where I travel a half hour east of Swift Current (on the Trans Canada divided highway) one day each week. I feel especially close with these folks as I have gotten to know them a bit better through visits to their homes, plus our weekly bible study.

I have selected this photo because it shows off the most outstanding feature – their lighted stained glass cross. Isn’t it beautiful?

I wanted to highlight the altar which is lovely. This is how the altar was decorated for Christmas Eve, where I led a “Lessons & Carols” service. You’ll see numerous votives on the altar. We had so many candles lit – gradually – throughout the service that there was so much light … the True Light coming into the world!

I love the nativity set and Advent log which they used. Below is a manger which will have a baby Jesus processed to it during the service. Check out the additional photos with this link. I love the fact that the doll that the congregational family brought is a Black baby Jesus I was delighted when I went to tell the children’s story, after baby Jesus was processed in. I used glow sticks as part of the children’s message, and that was a big hit!

We ended up having a nice turnout of probaby 40-50 people, ten of whom were kids. Our music was wonderful and it was a blessed first Christmas Eve in ministry leadership.

I have a number of photos of St. Olaf’s. In this photo you get a sense of the size of the church – it can seat about 225 people. I find the “ceiling ribs” to be one of the church’s outstanding features. In one of my classes that focused on church architecture, these “ribs” are to remind us of the hull of Noah’s ark.

In this photo you can the rear view of the sanctuary. The attendance drops off as the winter grows more intense, after Christmas. They would like to say there is an average of 250 people attending over two services on a Sunday. My experience would suggest about 80 and 140 … but possibly the balance would be the Sunday School attendance which can be as high 30 children. Sunday School is between services. There is only a small number of children who attend the 11:00 service in terms of coming forward for the weekly children’s sermon.

Here is a photo of part of the narthex. You’ll see a room – this is the library. Click on this link so that you can see more photos of St. Olaf’s. About 15+ years ago they put a significant addition onto the church. This did not affect the sanctuary or office area. This church has the largest narthex I have ever seen – wonderful for fellowship. The elevator is on the right side.

For as much as there is lots of room in the narthex, the actual fellowship hall is downstairs. If you check out the photos you will see you enter on one level, go a full flight upstairs to the sanctuary or a full flight downstairs to the Sunday School rooms, youth room, storage rooms and fellowship hall and kitchen. There is an elevator.

This isn’t a very good photo, but it is the only one that begins to show you the size of the kitchen. It is three rooms big. It is so fantastic that I can’t believe a church council listened so carefully to go to the expense of creating a highly functioning space. It is a fully commercial kitchen … and it is used a lot! Check out the photos to see the design.

My Ontario friends might find this post a little humorous … but a significant landmark as you drive north from Swift Current on #4 Highway (towards Kyle & 2.5 hours latter- Saskatoon) … is a tree …… a lone tree ……. a tree all by its lonesome … THE Lone Tree.

I rather chuckled to myself when my brother was driving me out to Kyle on my first Sunday in September. Leslie pointed out … that’s the “Lone Tree.” Nobody knows how it got there. This area isn’t known for trees (as compared to northern SK as you enter the Canadian Shield.) I couldn’t figure out why I would want to know about a single tree.

About two weeks after seeing the lone tree I was in confirmation class. I discovered one student lived on a farm. I asked “Where?” She said, “Do you know where the Lone Tree is?” … With confidence I could say “Yes!”

Zion is the country church which is about six miles south and eight miles west of Kyle. I remember living at the country church when I was on internship in southern Ontario. There is something about country churches … atleast they seem an “oddity” for me to come over a hill and see a church in the middle of nowhere.

Zion has lovely woodwork as well. For me, seeing this large picture of Jesus reminds me of the tile mosiac of Hanover ON’s church. Their altar rail is curved and that must have challenged a very talented carpenter.

I find Zion’s pulpit very intimidating. First it is a very slim fit … I’m not sure anyone larger than me could slide their hips into the pulpit. It also feels very high up. Comparatively speaking, St. Peter’s is much higher but Zion is a much smaller church so even if people are sitting a few rows away, I still feel like I’m towering over them.

Again the altar is attached to the wall. Zion and Clearwater are both very small congregations. They probably have 20 people at the most at each service. Zion is blessed with strong men singers and music is very important here.

Zion has a cemetary directly across the road. The community area is called “White Bear” but the cemetary is called “Horse Butte.” I’m gradually learning the stories behind the names in the community. These two points have pastor-led worship services every week.

Click here if you would like to see about 10 more photos.

I made a point of taking a few photos as I realized you probably would be interested in seeing the churches where I lead worship. They are all decorated extra special for Christmas, so I thought I would take a few photos.

Here is Clearwater Lutheran in the town of Kyle, SK. Each of the churches that I serve have a bit different architecture even though they are a similar age.

Clearwater has lovely woodwork. You can also see that the pews are on a slight angle. They have the tradition of using royal purple instead of blue for their paraments in Advent.

I find the altar railing very interesting. You can only access the altar area from the sides. The altar is also attached to the wall. Clearwater only communes once a month. Based on our rotation schedule it has worked out that I have only presided at communion once at this church. They have a lovely office area behind the altar. It has a phone, photocopier, and sound system. Downstairs they have a kitchen open to the fellowship area. It is all very lovely. Click here if you would like to see a few more photos.

Two weeks ago I took a two day Red Cross First Aid, CPR and External Defibralator course. I was concerned that working with youth, and travelling to the National Youth Gathering in London, ON next August, it might be a good thing for me to learn. It was already helpful when I had a children’s party at church this past week and the Mom told me her son had Type I diabetes and was I comfortable with that … and I said “Yes.”

I didn’t realize I would be putting my training to use so fast. … The Doug “Story.”

Yesterday Doug was taking the garburator apart as the sink wasn’t draining. He got it all cleaned up and put back together quite promptly. I was busy in the bedroom putting my make-up on. …. Then I heard him YELL … “Oh, F*@*!” …. I waited to hear something – nothing. … I called out “Talk to me!” … silence in the house … I yelled again “Talk to me.” ….. silence.

I went running out to the kitchen expecting Doug to be dead. Doug is sitting up. I said, “What happened? Why didn’t you answer me?” I was sure he had electrocuted himself.

Doug was so mad. The previous homeowner had mislabelled the breaker in the basement. The good news is that he started with the ground wires so he didn’t get a shock, but the garburator started running.

I was so mad at him for not answering me when I called out. I was imagining being at his funeral … and someone asking me “What were Doug’s last words to you?” …………………

As you can see, Doug has finally selected a 2010 Toyota Corolla S as his new car. After three months of renting cars to come out to Swift Current on the weekends … and countless trips to car dealerships … a choice was made. And Doug is thrilled to have a red car!

Now is this Doug’s dream car? No. But given the price point he was limited to, it was the best choice from ride and drive and road noise. It is a manual drive, so I’ll have to get used to shifting gears again. I’m not sure how often I’ll get to drive it since I haven’t been given any keys!

I’m going to put a big, shiny bow on the car … and then say “Merry Christmas, Doug!”

Last weekend and through Monday, we experienced extreme wind chill here in SK. It was -45. As of Wednesday I got to experience my first chinook. Chinooks are common in SW Saskatchewan as we catch the tail-end of AB chinooks. About -3 today and so you will see that the snow in my front yard has already compressed with the warm temperatures.