Lights On

Carolyn Nelson is a lifelong Lutheran. She grew up at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River, Michigan, the fourth of six children to Hjalmar and Edna Nelson.  

Carolyn’s career was as a nurse and many of her working years were spent in Kalamazoo, Michigan working in the PICU, and occasionally the NICU, then going all the way up to Geriatric Care in a Special Care/Step Down unit towards the end of her career. Carolyn is a nature lover at heart who finds a strong genetic connection and memory for plants and birds. Sometimes more so than for people! She is proudly retired these days.

When Carolyn moved back to the family home, she found herself nearly coerced into community at First Lutheran Church. Family connections, even old camp friends from her days at Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp continuously drew her in. Before she knew it, she was in the choir wearing a robe and a new member corsage. In particular, the lights always being on at First inspired her. Something was always happening even if it wasn’t a church event, there was life. First continues to be a place where people gather: scouts, Kiwanis, sewers, singers… The building is not a lonely place.

For Carolyn, community is important. She needed a place where she could be with people she knew and cared about, and she needed to know that they knew her and cared about her too. First, became that place. In Carolyn’s vocation she worked with people from cradle to grave. From hearing the first cries of babies, to the last breath of elders, she understands that there is a reason we are meant to be together. That might be why the hymn, “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” is one of her favorites and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 speaks to her.  Spring being her favorite season even makes sense for that is the time when our created world is “on the cusp of possibility.”

Carolyn sees the church changing. We are on the cusp of possibility. What exact season we as church are in isn’t clear, but Carolyn is an example for us. She doesn’t call herself an evangelist in words, but her actions speak louder.

It Just Makes Sense

Dirk Manson spent his career caring for young people in schools and school administration. It was through 30+ years of that work, mostly in the Chicago suburbs, that this Yooper thrived as a Bears fan! 

In Illinois, Dirk and his wife Sue (Ebbesen) Manson became active members of All Saints Lutheran Church, an (eventually) independent Lutheran Congregation. Dirk was very active in congregation life there and served until his retirement in 1995 when he and Sue moved to be closer to family here in Gladstone. Back in their old Yooper stomping ground, Dirk and Sue joined Sue’s family church, First Lutheran Church, the one they were married in in 1962. First Lutheran seemed like a natural fit and both Dirk and Sue jumped into congregational life with a quickness.  

First Lutheran offered Dirk the opportunity to study scripture more deeply. Through Bible Study and Lay School, (now Lifelong Faith Formation), he was able to better understand what God expects of us. Course by course, Dirk’s faith deepened. Serving on the Candidacy committee was one of his biggest eye openers for how the church works. The wide and varied backgrounds of the candidates were interesting and watching them grow through the process had an impact on Dirk. 

Dirk stated that, “Before I came here I wouldn’t have had any way to describe what it means to be a Lutheran. Now I can, especially the grace part and the response to God’s love. There had always been this feeling that there needs to be good deeds and service. I’m more comfortable knowing the grace is right there meeting us. You cannot earn it. Our good stewardship is a response to God’s love. It just makes sense and when it fails to make sense, we look to our faith knowing that’s what it is all about.” Dirk’s ability to clearly articulate his faith came from working within First Lutheran Church and our Northern Great Lakes Synod.

Dirk has given his time to First Lutheran through serving in the Choir, the Stewardship Committee, Personnel Committee, Internship Committee, Congregational Council, Welcome and Outreach Committee among others, and he has worked with several synod committees. Dirk argues that he has gotten more out of it than he contributes and is so thankful for his church family which he and Sue thank God for every morning during their morning prayers. First Lutheran Church is thankful for Dirk.