SAN PABLO

As folks gather for worship at San Pablo Lutheran Church (sibling church to Custer Lutheran Fellowship) they greet one another as if they haven't seen each other for months. The singing is robust. The clapping sometimes follows the beat and at other times, not exactly, but no one seems to mind. Like other congregations, there are large extended families that take up whole sections, individuals who prefer to sit in the back row and remain mostly anonymous, and others who boisterously make sure to greet everyone during the sharing of the peace. This is the local body of Christ at 'Iglesia San Pablo Luterana'.

Christians all around the world celebrated Holy Trinity Sunday, but it also happened to be "Family Sunday" at San Pablo. The sermon centered around ideas of 'la familia de Dios' (the family of God). When it came time for the prayers Pr. Jairo invited families to gather together in groups. And during communion, distribution was by family.

After worship there was lunch and San Pablo's first ever bazaar, complete with a fishing game, raffle and an exchange (I never really figured out how the exchange worked, but people seemed to be in to it).

The first time I was at San Pablo two years ago, I felt very warmly welcomed. This time it felt like I was getting to see old friends (who I literally hadn't seen for months). The older folks hadn't changed much, but the teenagers and younger folks had clearly grown. One young person who I clearly remembered told me they still had a picture that I had given them from two years prior.

It's hard to put into words (Spanish, English or any other language) how this experience has changed my view of 'being Lutheran' and what it means to be part of 'la familia de Dios.' Partly it was worship at San Pablo. And partly it was watching Colombia beat Peru 1-0 in a World Cup playoff game with Pastor Jairo's family and his brother's family and some other friends late Sunday afternoon.