Faith of our fathers.

   Yesterday, when we returned from the hospital, Eleanor's apartment was being cleaned so we decided to check her mail and have a cup of coffee. The activities director came through and told us there was Lutheran communion service in the main dining room. We went to the service and wound up sitting in the front row as we were late;  good Lutherans always fill the back of the service area first, so those who come late will get the added benefit of sitting in front.
   Today we decided to talk about being Lutheran. Mom was baptized Lutheran by Pastor Korn who came to the house ten days after her birth. Eleanor was born at home and her birth wasn't registered until November 30th. Her grandfather, Peter Albers lived in Goodhue with her aunt Margaret, but often came to the farm to visit. Eleanor remembers him saying prayers and reading from his German Bible."Komm, Herr Jesu" was the prayer he always began meals with. She was confirmed on Palm Sunday, 1934 at St. Peter's Church in Goodhue, Minnesota. Except for brief times in Pennsylvania, and during WW II, she has always attended the Lutheran Church. It provides her with great confidence and comfort. She has always felt that religion is important, and always tried to be active in church. I can remember when she first came to Seward, she helped with communion set up at Heartland. My father joined the Lutheran Church while they were stationed in Panama, and they even helped with the founding of the Lutheran Missionary Church in Panama. Eleanor recalls that it was built with cinder block and wasn't much to look at. As time has passed, it is increasingly difficult to get to church but she is fortunate that St. John has a regular service schedule at Heartland.
   Joanne and I are Methodist, and I think Eleanor wishes we were still Lutheran. Getting me to go to communion with her is always her way of trying to keep the door open to Lutheranism.