Church

My parents were quite active in the church during my early childhood, but my dad had a bad experience with one of the pastors and, as a result, my mother and dad stopped going to church.  My sisters, however, were very regular, going to church every Sunday, making sure that I went to Sunday School every week. We were Lutherans.  "Lutheran" could mean 15 different things because the Lutherans have been so fragmented over the years.

Dorothy and I  have been members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Saratoga since 1961.  All of our 5 kids were confirmed there, and 4 were married there.  Dorothy and I taught Sunday school, taking care to choose at least one year where we could be teachers for each of the kids.   For awhile I was superintendent of the Sunday School program.  Dorothy was Registrar for a time.

For many years I have enjoyed my regular place in the back row of the POP choir, one of the "Boys of the Back Row", adding bass to the songs we perform for Sunday services.

POP has been the center of our social life for a long time, and still is.  It has also been a focus of my creative handiwork when I’ve had the chance to test my design and construction skills on various church projects over the years, such as a steel-frame cross, a bench and patio project for the parish hall, kitchen cabinetry, podiums, alter guild cabinets, an audio equipment cabinet, a guest book stand, speaker boxes, decorative candle holders, a patio fence, and Sunday School cabinets.  Most of this work was done at home, in my backyard workshop.  Every one of these projects brought me a lot of pleasure and meaning. 

It was particularly meaningful to have a hand in organizing the financing and construction of our beautiful worship building in 1985, while I was President of the Congregation.  Prince of Peace has come a long way since we joined in 1961, and it has been very gratifying and inspirational for us to see it grow so well.