Otto's Bakery Night

So... one of the many traditions here at Zumbro is Otto's Bakery night! Otto is a member of our church and he provides all the bakery treats on Sunday mornings! One Saturday night a year he opens up his bakery, In Byron, for members to come and have a potluck dinner, and then watch how doughnuts, apple fritters, and tasty treats are made!

One part of this tradition is that the INTERN is required to go and asist Otto in making everything!
I was not aware it was a requirement/hazing! It was not a bad thing but they really do make you work!

Some of my duties were as follows:

1.I was asked to measure out the flour, base, and yeast... get the (heavy) dough out of the bowl so it could rise.

2. Flip everything that was fried.. you used two sticks (that looked like what you would play drums with)

3. Glaze certain but not all doughnuts ( I called that baptism)

4. Distribute treats for those standing around.

5. Roll out the dough in a fast paced machine!

6. Sometimes I was asked to catch the dough that came of the fast moving machine.. very nervewracking!

7. Cut, twist, and place on trays

8. Frost the Long John's

9. Dice up the apple fritters

10. Fill the bismarks with custard or raspberrry filling!

Needless to say, it was a busy but super fun night! I kept the crowd entertained for sure! Many said they saw a whole new side to Intern Mollie!

Just one more reason I am so lucky to be at Zumbro! My experiences have been unforgettable!
I can now add this to my resume! Some church is gonna want someone who appreciates the making of doughnuts/lefse/ and norweigian cookies... right!?

Enjoy all the pics pastor Wayne and pastor Paul took of the evening!

Pastor Wayne.. the photographer!

pals, puppies, and picnics!

Last weekend, when the weather was gorgeous, Dave and I got together with our friends Kat and Austin so we could meet the new addition to their family... Nash.. the lab/retriever puppy.... a huge step but such a blessed one! The got him through a Craigslist ad, that was just meant to be. The ad had been put up just before they checked it, and the people lined up to come "see" the dog, never showed... so off they went to meet and greet, and adopt their new puppy, for a great price including, bowls, puppy food... more than they could ask for!!



It was fun to see them as a family, and see Nash and his puppy ways! So fun to go have a fun lunch in a park near by and eat Buffalo Wild Wings and just enjoy each others company, the NICE weather, and the simple pleasures in life; just like Nash who found fun in a stick, or freedom to run, or to lay in the grass and just be! Amazing how much you can learn from a puppy!



I need to do more of that in this time of lent. I am getting too caught up the busyness of completing a check list... I need to just be, not get caught up in the hectic time frame of when I am free, or obligated to be somewhere.

So blessings to you Kat and Austin with your new addition, Nash! He is one lucky puppy! So loved!

Teenage wasteland

This last Saturday I was able to attend another performance here in Rochester, called Teenage Wasteland... some of our kids from church were in it. The Schowalter sisters, Kirsten, Megan, Susan, and Gretchen.... are all dancers and all took part in this show! I am partial to these girls because they are 4 girls, just like in my family!!! They also take part in our liturgical dance group here at Zumbro too.. so they are able to show their talent when the liturgical dancers perform during the service every now and again.

Teenage Wasteland is a performance of dances done by teens to show the different things they face each day... at home, at school, dances, cliques, health class, peer pressure.... all the music is up to date music such as Where is the Love by Black Eyed Peas, Fallen by Alicia Keys, Parents just dont undertsnad by Will Smith... so very contemporary but powerful... it strips away the sugar coating and lays it right out there for you to see.. the struggles, the humor, the real things that are impacting teens these days!

the Performance was truly amazing! I feel so blessed to witness such talent in the Rochester Community, and have some of them be memebers of my church! ha, I almost feel like a proud parent!

Sadly I didnt take any videos of the show.. but that is because I was so into it!

These are the Schowalter girls... such a fun group of sisters... reminds me a lot of me and my sisters so much!

Godspell

I was able to drive down to Luther College and see ms. Carah Claflin in their dress rehearsal of Godspell. I went with Carah's mom Beverly and the Edina high School performance team since they are doing a production of Godspell in April.

I absolutely love Godspell! The first time I saw it was at South high school in 8th grade with my friend Nick... we ended up going back the next 3 nights to see it! I love the songs, the messages, the creativity you can do with that show! I cant say enough about it! Yes, I even own the movie Godspell on VHS! I only wish I could do a performance of it here at Zumbro, because the musical talent this congregation holds is incredible... but there is just not enough time left in my internship year.

The show at Luther was amazing. Such talented actors and actresses, musicians, director...it really helped me to appreciate the arts and how important they are in schools.. and in my life! They did creative things with the script..using modern songs to help emphasize the point( example: single ladies, put a ring on it)
The dancing was powerful, the message and acting was powerful... so way to go!!

I provided a couple videos from the show so you could get a peek into the brilliant show!



Enjoy! and have a God filled day!

Weekends

As I sit here in Caribou, on a Friday, my day off... I am starting to see the affects of my true pastoral life style. I have time today to do nothing.. no work, just play.. as the world around me is busy working--the last day of their work week preparing for the weekend, when I am already a day into mine.

THIS Weekend's plans will consist of the following:
- Dave comes down tonight- for a movie and dinner at Seyward's place with Justin and Rachel.
-Saturday will be low key with dinner plans at Janpachi- the Bennihana of Rochester
-Sunday will start early with church services at 8:30 and 11:00- home for lunch with Dave- lunch- mostly Erberts and Gerberts... Dave will head home and I will get together with the girls to watch some reality TV.. head to bed so I can get up the next day for a full weeks work.

My weekends are from Thursday night to Saturday... where most people have the typical Friday night to Sunday weekend. Lots of activities happen on Saturday nights... which I have to miss out on due to my early Sunday morning.

Part of it is because I am in Rochester, and majority of my friends who invite me to fun Saturday night activities, live in the cities. My big challenge that will effect this awkward weekend schedule I own, is, all the weddings... in June.. that take place up in the cities SATURDAY nights....
Dave and I have 4 weddings to attend in June... 2 of which I am in. I cant possibly take off all Sundays in June... so do I ask to miss the first service and drive back that morning in time for the 11? Do I drive back that night after the reception so I can be there for both services? Do I take of the Sundays following the weddings I am in?

I know my church is understanding and will help accommodate the scheduling.. but I am now realizing this is how my life is going to be. I am not complaining in the slightest..... although it is hard to get up early on a Sunday.. once I step inside the doors of church and see congregation memebers, I am filled with energy and LOVE for what I do! I am reassured every day, but especially Sundays of the Holy Spirit working through me to serve God and the the Zumbro Lutheran Congregation! I just get to experience "sabbath" and rest on different days!

This is my life... and I do love it... I really do beat to my own drum.. or at least share this drum with the lives of other pastors!

Blessings this weekend to you.. may you find time to rest in the schedule you live!

wher did the time go?

As I look back on the last time I posted.. it has been so long that the month of March is now here...
I cant believe it. So much has happened since the SPAM museum, so I thought I would create a list...

1. Had lunch at Holmstead (living facility for senior citizens, for a pastor appreciation lunch, and have been invited back to have a pool tournament with some of the residents there.

2. Hosted an Academy Awards party and had Rachel, Seyward, Justin, and Dave over for food, and ballots!

3. Experienced Ash Wednesday by imposing members with Ashes. Not a service I attended frequently growing up at church.. but this Ash Wednesday was powerful. reading the liturgy, mixing the Ashes, imposing the members... not once but twice( 2 services that day)... incredible beginning to lent.

4. Gave up fast food for lent with the exception of Subway and Herberts and Gerberts- since it is "healthy"...

5. Went back to Seminary and saw a lot of people I had been missing!

6. Played an awesome game of Trivial Pursuit 90's edition.. with Kat and Austin and Dave... boys against girls... GIRLS WON!!

7. Celebrated Danielle's baby shower with some great girls from church. It was a fun car ride.. going way out of our way, but seeing many interesting things while driving through the middle of NO WHERE!!

8. Sprained my right foot while running up the stairs at the Kuntz home. Its healing, but not fast enough. I had to rely on others to get me medicine, ice, drive me home... and I realized how guilty I feel depending so much on others.. I know I know.. I couldnt help it...but I am supposed to be the one helping others... its hard to reverse the roles...

9.Discovered a new salad from DOLE that I love, called Winter Jubilee! Bib/iceberg lettuce, dried cherries, almound slices, blue cheese crumbles, and white vinigrette! AMAZING!

10. Said goodbye to my supervisor who is now in Flordia with his wife for the month of March. (it was in his interim contract)... its going to be a busy month, but he has supervised me well enough that I will manage. I have a sub supervisor( the other interim pastor)... but he wont have to do much.

I am blown away with the fact my internship is already half over.. well more than that actually. I have been learning so much and enjoying my time here.. so much... it is going to be tough to leave! but I stillhave 5 months to enjoy and work hard before I head back to class/homework/late night studying.