My last Sunday at Zumbro Lutheran

So yes.. I am back in the twin Cities... but before I reflect on that....

It was an amazing last Sunday at Zumbro Lutheran, but so sad. I thought I would be ok, but when we had our prayer together before the service started... tears began to roll down like waters... I composed my self.... Sandy of of the altar guild told me... "Im not going to pin on your honorary flower if you're gonna cry... now COME ON!"... Gotta love motivational words from Sandy!

I was great through the service... until I had to preach. To start my sermons off I always like to grab the audience with a story or catching beginning... so I started my last sermon by comparing my first sermon at Zumbro to know. 1. I was a lot shorter... (I stepped off the step they made me, whoa... what a difference). 2. my first sermon I held on to the pulpit with my life cause I was so nervous, but now I can do large hand gestures...thank you pastor Nick (supervisor). 3. I looked down a lot at my sermon... not smiling, or letting my personality shine through... but now I can be confident in being myself and look up cause I see all your faces. Thank you Zumbro for being my support, my constructive critique, my friends this past year (on come the tears). My sermon was about the bread of life... so I also thanks Zumbro for being my bread this year...nourishing me on internship!

Once I got through that part... I took a deep breath and continued with the text... No tears for the remainder... of the sermon....

When it came to communion... oh man... it was like I was saying my own personal goodbyes.. to everyone I served wine too... I had to look them in the eye....needless to say.. I was sniffling and slowly getting the words "blood of Christ shed for you" out as best I could. A powerful experience.
And Ironically the closing hymn for that Sunday was "God be with you till be meet again"... I swear I didn't pick it! Whoa!

There was a reception for me in the lounge following each service... I didn't even make it in there after the first one. There was a long line of people to wish me farewell and Godspeed as they left the sanctuary... I tried to make my way to the lounge but kept getting stopped by people... it was a good problem to have. My poor flower got crushed! By the time I made it in the lounge they were already starting announcements for the second service... so off I went to do the final service/sermon at Zumbro. I cried in all the same spots as the first service.. but couldn't quite stop at the end. It was tough!

My family and some friends came down for the second service, so after everyone left my goodbye lounge party... the pastors of the church, my parents, sisters, Dave, friends Dena and Tommy all came together to have a brunch. My dad made a whole bunch of Chicken salad, cut up fruit, and sugar cookies! It was a great closure to the morning.

I was exhausted after that.. so I took a well needed nap later that day.
I ended up going back Monday to say goodbye to staff members, clean out my computer hard drive, and pick up a few more cards people had dropped off.

Packing was Monday. Dave's family came down with a trailer.. THANKS Be to God for them!
Cleaning was Tuesday... then internship committee dinner that night. I was home back in the cities Tuesday night!

It all went so fast! I can honestly say it was the fastest year of my life... filled with so many good memories, teaching moments, and dear friends in Christ!