Gathering at the Rail - Skálholt

Shortly after arriving in Skálholt we joined together with several Icelandic church leaders and pastors for worship. We gathered inside a church which has a history dating back over 1000 years. The sanctuary is breathtaking and the acoustics are so good that every voice multiplies in rich magnificent layers of sound, even an average voice like my own. The entire service was spoken in Icelandic. However the liturgy itself seem to transcend the barriers of culture and language and made all us feel at home and comfortable.

My favorite part of worship has always been Holy Communion, especially when kneeling at the rail which we were able to do during this service. My family’s church in Colorado also uses a kneeling rail around the altar during communion. The rail creates a powerful image for me. Not only is the congregation fully participating together in communion, but the chance to witness both young and old come forward and kneel to pray/worship/praise God touches my heart every time. I also treasure watching each person leave the rail after communion. There always seems to be a heightened sense of community and love between every person present. And the more I think about it the more I believe that this sense of community - regardless of which country or continent we are gathered to worship – becomes a real and tangible presence of Christ among us.

Thank you God for the opportunity to worship you in such an awe inspiring beautiful place. Thank you for the opportunity to gather around the rail with our brothers and sisters of Iceland. I pray that you continue to bless the leaders and pastors of your church, that we may continue to do the work you have called us to do. Thank you for my Wartburg brothers and sisters who I am privileged to share this experience with. May all of us together reflect your light throughout creation wherever we are called to serve. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen  

Skalholt in the Darkness

We have landed in Iceland and had a blessed couple of days trying to get caught up on our wakefulness.  So far we have seen the downtown area of Reykjavik, the new Harpin music house, the Icelandic parliament, Reykjavik city hall, one of the local geo-thermal heated swimming areas, and made our way to Skalholt in the center of the country.  Skalholt is the area where the country converted to Christianity from the old forms of Nordic religion in the 11^th century.  The Bishop of Iceland was also centered here up until the 19^th century as well as the country’s seminary for up and coming pastors like myself.  It is situated in a beautiful valley between mountains and plateaus on all sides, behind which the sun seems to playfully rise and fall in a low-lying manner, barely illuminating this sacred place of Icelandic Christianity and history. 

Yesterday morning I arrived here with the early group of students who traveled with some of the pastors attending the conference and our professor, Dr. Sam Giere.  Fortunately, (or unfortunately as the case may be) we cannot speak Icelandic and were not expected to attend the sessions that the other pastors are present and gathered here for.  As a result, we had time to play cards, explore the beautiful church and take a wonderful walk through the freezing snow and frigid windchill.  I was told that the winters here were warmer than those in America but am so far finding that to be baloney. The closest frame of reference I have for yesterday’s hike through the snow is the January whether of North Dakota, which, by all available accounts, is colder and windier than any place I have ever lived.  I hope that it warms up so I can experience some of the milder weather that I was promised.   

            The church and worship in Skalholt are truly magnificent.  The chapel is the fourth in a thousand years of Christianity in the country, and is a mere two-thirds the size of the original chapel that was built here in the 11^th century- an impressive feat for some recently Christianized Vikings without many trees present locally to build such a place of worship.  The trees for the first chapel were apparently brought over on medieval ships from Norway and then drawn by horse a couple hundred kilometers inland where they were then incorporated into the largest Scandinavian structure of its day.  Simply impressive.  Unfortunately, that building eventually burned down and, a few centuries later, they now have a newer building that is smaller but nevertheless wonderful.  Even better, the space inside proves itself to be more than worthy of the magnificent chants and prayers that Icelandic worship is laden with.  Their worship consists of a far more intentional and complete form of prayerful singing that many Lutheran churches in the U.S. seem to have left behind.  I am seeing here now that our changes in worship may have been a bit hasty as there is a beauty which has been left behind.

There is darkness all around us here.  It pervades our time, our sleep, our waking, our moving and our vision (if that is possible).  There is more light than I thought there would be actually, but it is by far more dark than light this time of year in this land of ice.  I have found it particularly difficult to wake up in the lingering darkness.  This comes as somewhat of a surprise to me because I am not very good at waking up when the sun is around and did not think that a lack of sunlight would make any difference.  It turns out that I can be even worse at stirring when the sun is not present to help me along.  My host shares my distaste for darkness in the morning, revealing the other day that he would prefer to follow the daylight savings time practice of most of the United States.  I guess you can live in a place all your life and still not prefer everything about it, even in a country as beautiful as Iceland.

            Yet, I asked another one of our hosts, Gunnar, if he liked the darkness in Iceland and he responded differently.  We were walking at the front of the group through Reykjavik when I posed the question, “Do you like the darkness?” Gunnar paused for a moment, considering my question, and said simply, “Yes, I do”.  Judging that I was looking for a little bit more in his answer, he thankfully continued.  He explained that the external darkness of this northern land forces people to shine an inner light more strongly.  If they are to continue in happiness and well-being through the dark months, they must be bright themselves and not rely on bright light shining in the sky to light their spirits and bring them joy.  He also explained the real joy of the fireworks that are shot off in bulk around this new year time.  He said, “You know, in America you celebrate the fourth of July in the summer time with fireworks to celebrate your country’s founding.  Here, the fireworks mean something different and shine all the more brightly because they are in the middle of our time of complete darkness and they light up the sky like you can’t believe”.  He meant no disrespect, I am fairly sure, to our celebration of the fourth of July.  Rather, he used is as a point of comparison to when we shoot of the most fireworks.  I have to say that I can really see his point.  I imagine that if I lived this far north the fireworks around the time of winter solstice would not only represent a celebration of the nation, they would also embody the persevering light of the soul.  I am grateful that they have ways of coping.

      Dear God, light our way in this foreign land that we may brightly see the work you do among your church and your people.   Be with our family far away as our family is extending here across the sea.  Bless the mission of the church in Iceland that Skalholt will not fade into history for the people of Iceland but will continue  to shine for generations to come .

           

Zach's First Post =)

Today is the fourth day of our trip. It has been amazing so far. On the flight to Iceland from Boston, Emily and I sat by a diplomat from China who was working in the Chinese embassy in Iceland. He provided a unique perspective on Iceland, including how he enjoys driving here because there is no traffic and how in the summer, many parties start at 2am.

Our host family (Emily and I are together) is wonderful. They have been most gracious and have shown extraordinary hospitality to us. The second night here, our host cooked us the best fish I have ever eaten in my life. We have been able to experience a wide variety of cuisine here, most of which has been absolutely delicious.

Now, in Skalholt, our dear professor Winston Persaud is leading some lectures for a gathering of pastors from Iceland which meet every year for lectures on varying topics. This year, there is a focus upon the mental health of the pastors in Iceland and what affects that has upon the pastor and the parish.

The National Church of Iceland has suffered an interesting ordeal for the past 17 years or so. The Bishop of Iceland was accused of abusing some parishioners which became a scandal in Iceland which included people accusing him, him denying that this happened, and each having to go to court with lawyers and the whole nine yards. This had a very damaging effect upon the perspective of the National Church of Iceland in the eyes of Iceland, which is understandable because the Bishop of Iceland is the head of the National Church here. A few years ago, I am not sure about this date, the daughter of this now deceased bishop said that he sexually abused her. Her family, from what I have heard, denies that this actually occurred, but she wrote a book about this experience which has become a best-seller here in Iceland. Her book has brought this whole ordeal back into the focus of the Icelandic people, which is again causing strife within the church.

The current Bishop is resigning this year so there has been talk about electing the new Bishop and how this could be the change needed to bring the church back into the good graces of the populace.

The process by which this occurs has been changed since the last time a Bishop of Iceland was elected. The last time, it was only the pastors who voted in the bishop. Now, however, the pastors, the presidents of the churches in Iceland, the vice presidents of the churches around Reykjavik, and the deacons (I believe), all come together to vote for the new Bishop (around 500 people). This adds quite a few new aspects to the election. The pastors here in Iceland are a tight knit group who know each other fairly well (I believe there are around 120 of them). Therefore, most are aware of each others strengths and weaknesses and have an understanding of who each pastor "is" (which is debatable considering the scandal of 1996). However, those laity who are now involved in this process do not have this type of understanding of each of the pastors running for Bishop. Therefore, there must be a type of campaign for people to become acquainted with the candidates running for Bishop before votes can be cast for the election.

There is also talk about changing the structure of the church because some think that the position of the "Bishop of Iceland" has too much power. There is talk about trying to become more democratic in how decisions are made, specifically when it comes to funds allocated to churches in different areas of the country. This is a truly interesting time for the National Church of Iceland with a large potential for change which will, God willing, be for the betterment of the Church in Iceland and for the church worldwide.

Dear God, I ask that you guide the process of electing a new Bishop of Iceland. I ask that you guide all those involved to allow this process to be beneficial for the proclamation of the Gospel and for the people of Iceland. Please guide those making decisions concerning the structure of the National Church of Iceland. Thank you for this opportunity to meet with the pastors of Iceland and to hear about their struggles. Guide them in their future pursuits and allow them to continue having Christ at the center of their lives and ministry. I ask all this in Jesus name. Amen.

New Beginnings

Well, this has certainly been a wonderful beginning to our trip. The first 24 hours were spent traveling from Iowa to Iceland. Our first full day here in Iceland is a bit of a blur. Because I didn't sleep much on the plane rides, I was exhausted when we landed, but instead of sleeping, we were treated to a wonderful breakfast at our host's parish here near Reykjavik. After some much needed sleep, we spent the reaminder of the day visiting with our hosts and enjoying a wonderful dinner.

Our second full day here was spent in Reykjavik, where we began our day visiting a Salvation Army homeless shelter, and learning about their outreach ministry here in Iceland. We also visited spent time walking through downtown, where we visited the parliament building, as well as one of the cathedrals. We finished our sight-seeing at the new concert hall, enjoying fellowship and a nice warm cup of coffee. The evening began with a swim in the local pool, though this description does not do this activity justice. It was around 20 degrees here, and these pools are hot tubs outside in the cold...very weird, but very relaxing. After an hour or so soaking in these hot tubs, I was very mellow. My favorite part of this day was the time spent listening to Gunnar, our host, as well as other pastors, talk about their life here in Iceland. I find their advice and points of view very valuable.

Today, we set off for Skálholt, which is about two hours from here. While there, we will be able to hear Winston Persaud make a presentation, as well as get a chance to see some of the Icelandic countryside.

I am fascinated as I was the last time that I traveled internationally that our way of life in America is, well...big. At home, dinners are served in large portions, the cars are big, the houses are huge...Here, sitting down and actually enjoying a dinner for an hour or two, not stuffing myself (though last night's dinner was tough not to do that) has been very relaxing and enjoyable. As far as I can tell so far, meal times are geared more around the fellowship than anything else, though the food has been tremendously good.

More to come when we return from Skálholt...

From Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.

Lord,

Thank you for allowing me to travel to this beautiful place, and thank you for the gift of fellowship, both with my traveling companions and our hosts. Please continue to bless our time here in Iceland as we become more familiar with the people and places here. Continue to watch over those that we have left back at home, and comfort them as we are away. Thank you for providing us with food and shelter while we are here.
I pray that you will help keep my eyes and heart open to new experiences in the time that I have left here in Iceland.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

It is the eve of our second day in Iceland. I wish to begin this reflection by sharing with all that it has been an exhilarating experience so far, and I am excited for what will be next. The people are very friendly and warm, and to call them hospitable is an under-statement. The landscape is gorgeous, and as I grow more accustomed to the time difference, the more I appreciate watching the sunrise creeping over the mountains.

This is my first trip overseas, so my goal has been to try new experiences. This has been a blessing and a curse, but has been a great source of enjoyment for all. I am happy to declare that I have yet to slip and fall on the ice here, which to all who know me well is a huge accomplishment. Along with the varied experiences we as a group have seen many great things already in this early stage, including a day shelter for the homeless and hungry. Reykjavik has a few night shelters, but we visited a day shelter run by The Salvation Army that aids people when these other places are closed. The people who work this shelter are very bright individuals who give off an energy they attribute to the driving love of God. It was a powerful experience. Seeing people help others in a much different context was amazing, and learning more about the systems in place here in Iceland is intriguing and has sparked my curiosity to learn more.

Gracious God, watch over us all this evening. Grant us a peaceful sleep so that we will be ready for more wonderful experiences. Ready our hearts and minds for your gracious Spirit, so that we may be faithful stewards of the new day. Amen.

Mountains on the Horizon

Our group arrived safely in Iceland early Monday morning. After a gracious reception from our hosts, including breakfast at Gunnar's church, it was time to rest and succumb to the effects of jetlag and the six hour time change. I slept like a baby for three hours and awoke in the afternoon to my first glimpse of the Iceland daylight which was peeking around the edges of the window blinds in my room. I made my way upstairs and was immediately captivated by the view through the living room window. Past the city lights and laying under the purple and orange sky were mountains on the horizon, beautiful jagged magnificent mountains.

I have always loved exploring nature however there is something especially intriguing about mountains to me. I made my way outside to snap a few pictures. And as always, pictures never do justice to the beauty experienced in person. As the snow crunched under my feet I thought about how the mountains on the horizon parallel the possibilities of the two weeks of this Jterm that lie ahead. What will I experience over the horizon? If I feel this excited about a city scape imagine how I will feel when I visit one of the oldest churches in the country, or when I see the ocean waves crashing on the rocky coast. I cannot wait to find out and feel truly blessed to be here.

Creator God, thank you for the beauty of your creation and for the adventure that lie ahead. May my journeys and experiences always glorify your holy name. Keep watch over our loved ones and bring them peace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

In Flight Reflections on the Sprawl

            I am currently in the middle of our flight to Iceland, soaring above the island of Greenland.  So far on the flight I have finished reading the required book The Windows of Brimness by Bill Holm, tried to sleep a little bit, failed multiple times to get the in flight movie screen to actually play movies (I was attempting to watch Crazy Heart), succeeding in using the said device to listen to a little Bjork as I do not own any myself but found it fitting in light of our present destination, failed at sleeping in the seat that seems adamant on resisting my desires to get it to recline, and (in light of the latter failure) decided to use my waking moments to start blogging for the trip.  It is apparent that my attempts at writing at this present time are laden with intent to capture something of the existential.   When one travels, worlds inevitably collide, converse and, hopefully, befriend.  The process is so simple, standard and ageless that it hardly seems worth pointing out.  Yet, there are elements of entering a new world that are continually new and vibrant, regardless of how many Vikings have ventured into them before me.

            There are many a Teutonic individual who have been to this land on which I soon hope to land and many of whom have ventured there in far more rugged circumstances than I.  In the book I just finished, Holm makes mention of Iceland being originally discovered by a Norwegian going for a joyride in his longboat three fourths of the way into the ninth century.  As I doubt his longboat had access to movies with Jeff Bridges like the IcelandAir flight on which I am traveling, I feel my transcendental wanderings hardly compare to arriving in Iceland over icy, torrent seas on a few planks of wood carried primarily by individual grit.  Still, though I feel very over matched by the venturings of the Vikings, there is something epic about our travels to the land known for its glaciers, even it is only by way of a five hour flight in a temperature controlled cabin.

            As people are moving all over the world, out and about and to and fro, there are elements of our sprawl that will always be unique, particular and, I must say it again, epic.  Though on the macro level people have been traveling since we lost our seats in paradise and have met all sorts of Cain’s people along the way, there are elements of every meeting that mark our place in history- even if they do not stand distinct relative to one another.  Though my travels to Iceland will likely not be remembered or have the impact on the country in a way even remotely close to that of the Norwegian 1300 years ago, they will be epic.  In my sprawl I will meet other sprawlers, and I will encounter where others have chosen long ago to make their stand in the universe.  These encounters will probably not lead to founding colonies but they will lead me to see the world and others in new ways. 

            I am currently listening to Arcade Fire’s song Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) which not only rocks one’s socks off, but also tells of the movement of persons encircling our modern cities in a siege of mundane living.  Indeed, though I have not really lived much of my life in suburban areas there is much to the emotions that the song conveys which gets at a real irony of what I have experienced in the past while traveling and hope to experience on this voyage.  The sprawl has overtaken me many times before as I have remained located in one spot without hope of movement.  The feeling is one of being stuck; bogged down in the proverbial mud.  The irony is that I have gotten out of it in the past by voyaging and, ultimately, sprawling away to other parts of the country and world.  It is the sprawling of persons that makes me feel stuck and to feel unstuck I sprawl myself.  So much for consistency.  Fortunately, I am no stranger to contradicting myself and I rather enjoy it at times.  As a result, I am able to see that in the midst of my own sprawling conceived in the sprawling of the world around me I am able to find my place.  Sprawling around the world leads me to come back home and see what place is all about, what home is all about, and what life is all about.  I do not recommend that one take to sprawling lightly (it can be dangerous to really lose yourself), but I can say that it is good to be on this flight on this voyage to Iceland.  In fact, it is so good that perhaps next time I will take a long boat.

Bless us in our travels, oh Lord, that they may be epic.  May our voyage carry us safely to our destination and our hearts be open to those whom we will meet.  Bless our way that in our travels we may encounter you all along the way.