He Has Risen

Yes He has risen and Easter is being celebrated throughout the world today.  I read two very  good articles in Saturdays newspaper and they made me think back to the days growing up in the congregation at Trinity Lutheran on the north side of La Crosse.  Back then we used to have two services on Palm Sunday at the Mary E Sawyer Auditorium.  We would be there early to help with getting items ready for the service.  Normally, my friend Merlin Thompson or I would be the alter boy for one or both of the services.  The stage was big and there we so many flowers displayed on the floor or on the lily display my brother built for his project to earn the church medal for Scouting.  Most of the ushers were the church elders and the next group of men to lead the church boards.  I have good memories of these service and Pastor Hanson and then Pastor Nelson took great pride in the turnout at these Palm Sunday Services.

The music was always great and it was a time when families would find places to set all over the auditorium.  For this Sunday no one had claim to their seats (at least perceived) like they seemed to think the had at Trinity.

The Good Friday service was always full and I remembered as a kid watching the black veil covering the huge cross at the front of the church.  the music and the reading of the passages for the Bible seemed more intense.  Pastor Nelson had a strong and several points in his sermon (anyone who took sermon notes for confirmation knows exactly what I mean) and his deep voice seemed to echo even more.

Sunday sunrise Service was very popular and ushers often had to put chairs down the center isle to accommodate all of the worshipers.  The service had some of my most favorite hymns of the Christian year.  But the first song was always "He Is Risen" and we sang all of the verses which was a little uncommon for other hymns during the year.  The church and congregation we all up beat ans filled with the Holy Spirit.  Once the service was over we (almost everyone) headed down stairs for a breakfast made by the youth of the church.  Merlin and I didn't have to cook because we were apart of the 3 Services that day.  We did however get to help take down all of the tables and chairs.

Well, that is how I remember the Holy week back in the 60's at Trinity.  The church was full and all the women and girls had their Easter Bonnets on and the beautiful bright colors added to the day.  It has been along  time since I have been to Trinity, as I have lived out of town for  years, but I would hope the young people there today will make the memories that they can share 40 years from now like I have been able to do.

 HE HAS RISEN and THANK GOD HE DID.

F