Highlights for February 2March 012

Happy Birthday to Bethania Lutheran Church which just celebrated its 100^th birthday a few weeks before many Grundtvigians gather for the Church’s Farstrup-Mortensen lectures in Solvang, CA. We begin with an article by Jarmo Tarkki, the pastor of Bethania who looks both back and to the future of Bethania with a message that pertains to all our churches.

The cover of Church and Life is a photograph of the beautiful Bethany Chancel, The altar and baptismal were carved by Jes Smidt who was present in 1938 for the dedication that July. Edwin Petersen, a grandson of Jes’ has written a beautiful book replete with photographs of Jes Smidt’s artistically carved altars, pulpits and baptismal fonts which grace many Danish churches in America. Thorvald Hansen’s review of this handsome booklet reflects a deep appreciation for Smidt’s work.

We continue with Dr. Bernhard Erling’s fascinating article, discussing Dag Hammarskjöld’s "Waymarks," showing how the Secretary-General’s spiritual life related to critical decisions he was making, i.e., the Congo Crisis, during his tenure as Secretary-General of the UN.

Continuing our 50s virtual hitch-hiking adventure with Paul Pedersen, we arrive in Switzerland, a country I always wanted to visit. I was not disappointed.

Also in the adventure category, Sandra Laursen, reader, hiker and math/science education researcher from Boulder, CO, reviews a "rollicking maritime story" by Danish author Carsten Jensen .

Enjoy a rollicking good time this month!

Save the Dates

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Bethania Lutheran Church, Solvang, CA

February 24-26 Farstrup-Mortensen Lectures Professor Marcus Borg: "Truth-telling and the Church" call (805)688-4637 or http://bethanialutheran.net/

The Danish Lutheran Church and Cultural Center, Yorba Linda, CA

February 26^th--Service 11 am & Lunch

Fastelavn --dress up and hit the barrel to crown the Cat King and the Cat Queen. Co-sponsored by Danish American Club of Orange County. 09. reservations@danishchurchsocal.com

Danebod Campus, Tyler, Minnesota,

August 15-19, 2012 66th Annual Danebod Folk Meeting. Contact r.bly@mchsi.com or call 507-247-3000, to be included in the registration materials mailing.

Editorial Deadlines

Send stories, essays, photos, artwork, "Dates to Remember," obituaries, "In Their Own Words" and other special features to the editor. The deadline is the 20^th of the month prior to publication. Letters to the editor are always welcome. Poetry submissions should be sent to the poetry editor. Electronic submissions are preferred but hand-written or typed material is also acceptable.

Check our Website

www.churchandlife.org

Note of Interest

In response to January’s Post Script on the need for a proposed amendment to the constitution, Hans and Wilma Nelson sent an e-mail referring to an excellent website. If interested, go to Amend2012.org and watch a short video by Robert Reich, chairman of Common Cause and former Secretary of Labor.