It is just before 9am here in Iceland, one would expect the sun to be up and the sky to be bright; however, the sky is dark and the city is bright via the artificial lights found on buildings. While I prefer to see the sun when I wake in the morning, there is beauty found all around.
The first several days were spent at Skalhot at the Academy of Skalhot, which served two purposes in my mind. The first being a time of continuing education, Dr. Craig Nessan from Wartburg was the lecturer and spent time with the concept of Shalom Church. It was a powerful time learning from each other and it was a fruitful couple of days. The second purpose being a time of renewal for the pastors, it seemed as even though the lectures were thought-provoking, simply the time spent together with colleagues was even more life giving. It was neat to experience and reminds me of Theological Convention in the Nebraska Synod.
From Skalhot, the trip took us south to visit the Geysir, which was beautiful to experience and learn about the history. A waterfall was also on the docket plus a church with a beautiful painting that pastors thought about while Dr. Nessan lectured. Dinner was soon arriving and the hospitality of Pastor Halldora was something unimaginable. The food was delicious but the conversations is what I wanted second and thirds of.
While the conversations ranged in talking about the volcano Hekla, which was close by, to the work of the church, one theme rang through the entirety that really struck me as powerful. The idea that the term parish is not talking about the individuals who are members in a specific church but rather the geographical area of the church and all who live in that area. Too often I have been apart of congregations that are focused solely on the the names on the roster and being blind to the community outside the church walls. While this model of congregation is widely used, I found deep comfort and joy in the idea that a parish is something much more then those in the pews each week. It is about being apart of the whole and being someone that is active and engaging. It really seeks the idea of "mission field" differently as the geographical area in which one resides is their community and church not their mission.
Changing the way I think about the parish and the community has been fruitful and challenging. The next several days in Iceland will be filled with the same conversations that not only renew my call to ministry but also to serve as a model when I graduate from Wartburg and serve a place. The sun may not be up here for another couple of hours, God's light is shining bright in this place.
Heavenly Father, my life sings praises to you for creating such a place as Iceland. Thank you for filling my heart with joy as I engage in conversations with those who have graciously opened not only their homes but their lives as well to the stranger among them. Continue to bless the time spent being present with your servants and learning how to live out our call in a fruitful way. Grant us good health and rest so we may not miss an opportunity to learn from others. Amen
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