THE CROW’S
NEST---------------------June
29, 2007
I hadn’t planned on another
“Crow’s Nest” before the big
celebration; but, changed my
mind.
The biggest news is the fire
that leveled Odalen Lutheran
Church six miles west of
Edinburg last Thursday, the
21st of June.
What a horrible night for
everyone. The fire call
came in about 7:45 PM when
many of the locals were at
the Community Center working
on the plans for the 125th.
I didn’t go to the meeting
that night, so about 8 PM
Chuck called me from the
Community Center and said I
may want to go out to Odalen
as it was burning. Watching
the fire evoked so many
memories. I was baptized,
confirmed and married
there. How well I remember
our Christmas programs every
year. As children we
learned Christmas “pieces”
to recite during the
program. Afterwards we
would get “Christmas” candy
with an apple in a brown
paper bag. Presents would
be exchanged among the
people. What a magical
night that was. I also
remember as a child the
furnace heat would come up
to the sanctuary through a
large grate in the floor.
How much fun it was to stand
over it and have the hot air
blowing around us.
Memorial Day was and has
been a big event at Odalen
since around 1925. I
remember in my younger years
having the church so full
that chairs would be set up
outside for the overflow. A
program would be held with
many musical numbers and
poems being read. There
would always be a speaker
who would talk----on and on
and on----in my childhood
way of thinking. A huge
lunch of potato salad, baked
beans, Jell-O salad,
homemade buns and dessert
was always served. It was a
“Lutheran Moment” for
sure!!!! The tradition has
continued as we held
Memorial Day Services at
Odalen this past May 27th.
The only change the last 2
years is that the lunch
following the service was
held at the Edinburg
Community Center.
Odalen will be a sweet
memory for many of us. I
appreciate all the emails I
have received from people
who used to attend there as
children and now live in
various places. Hartley
Troftgruben, who was home
from Oregon, came out to the
church the day after the
fire. I know he felt the
terrible loss as much as we
all did.
Today was an exciting day
for the members of Trinity
and Pembina Hills Lutheran
Church’s. Christopher and
Rebecca Miller accepted our
call to serve our 2
congregations and we helped
them move into the parsonage
this morning. We are
thrilled to have both of
them here and are pleased
they will be in Edinburg to
help us celebrate our 125th
this coming week. WELCOME
TO THE EDINBURG–GARDAR-MOUNTAIN
communities!
Well, the finishing touches
are being put on everything
related to the celebration.
We are busily practicing for
the Historical Pageant. I
know everyone will be
“punchy” this coming week as
we cram meetings, practices
and everything else while
trying to keep up with the
everyday things that need to
be done. Many of us are
expecting lots of family
home for the occasion so
things are hectic all over
the area. Edinburg looks SO
nice with people taking
extra time to “spiff” their
homes and yards up. It is
fun to walk around town and
see how beautiful this
wonderful little Edinburg
truly is.
I won’t be posting any
celebration pictures until
after the 14th of
July as on Sunday after our
church celebration we are
packing up our whole
family—kids and grandkids
and going to the lakes in
Minnesota. I am leaving all
my electronic gadgets at
home to include my laptop
and hope to spend the week
reading Khaled Hosseini’s
new novel, “A Thousand
Splendid Suns”. He was the
author of the wonderful
book, “The Kite Runner”.
Have a wonderful 4th
of July. The Halls are
having a family reunion and
are expecting about 175
relatives home. They will
REALLY have a full week!
Talk with you later.
I
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