Sermon: Deep roots and a blooming tree.

25 years ago, the world looked so much different.

In 1995 a bombing in Oklahoma shook the US, and OJ Simpson was acquitted.

In 1995 a gallon of gas was $ 1.09, and eBay was introduced.

The World leaders in 1995 were Mitterrand, Kohl, Jeltsin, Clinton, Berlusconi and Nyrup Rasmussen. Popular music in 1995 was "Rage against the Machine, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Smashing Pumpkins.”

25 years. It is a long time ago and yet it is not in the larger scheme of things.

The church is an old house built by living stones as we sing in Grundtvig’s old Danish hymn.

The Church, as house and home of the Christian faith, this building tells the story about way back when Jesus walked the dusty roads and how the dramatic days of Easter unfolded, and it tells us about how the disciples found strength and faith in a God they believed were even stronger than death and grave.

The church is an old house, built by living present stones, like you and me, like the ones before us, and the ones that we come after us. The church is an old house and yet a living place, built by living stones, built by fellowship among living humans, who gather in faith, hope and joy.

Christianity is 2000 years old in our World History. Danish Christianity is marked and remember so beautifully here at the entrance as you pass the Rune stone. A living proof of Danish history, brighter and more beautiful these days as it has just been restored and repainted. The Rune stone is the bragging stone of King Harald Bluetooth. He did not show a humble modest Christian attitude when he erected this stone – instead it is a visible mark of a mighty Viking King who wants to tell the world how strong he is. I, Harald Bluetooth, have united the Northern Kingdoms and have made the Danes Christian.

The Runestone is called the Baptismal Certificate of Denmark and marks the change from Old Norse Gods like Thor, Odin and Freja to the Triune God: Father, son and holy spirit.

From this Runestone, from this baptismal of the Danes, we can follow a living thread through history: a story that also has threads here to California, to the most beautiful church in US.

Since the days of Bluetooth in 960, Christianity has marked the history of Denmark. The beautiful white churches are spread all the countryside, village and cities of Denmark. We recognize them so easily: these white massive churches with a red roof. And thus, we feel at home here in this white church with red roof.

I remember some years ago when we visited Denmark and we had one of Kristian’s friends along. It was his first visit to Denmark and to Europe. He was used to visiting us here and had visited and seen our church many many times. After we landed in Kastrup and picked up a rental car and started driving from Kastrup to lovely Fyn, we quickly passed a Danish white and red Church in the landscape and Nick exclaimed: “Oh, look! It looks just like your church! “We said nothing but waited. Within a couple of minutes, Nick spotted another white and red church and said: “Look this also looks like your church!” As he for the third times saw a red and white church, he said: “Oh, they all look like that??”

Of course we laughed and it has become one of those repeated stories, and then I have to admit that I was the laughing stock when I in a meeting some years ago, in a meeting with my fellow Lutheran American pastors, was sharing that our church has just been painted inside and out: “ – and as a contempory female Bluetooth I bragged: “ We now wave the whitest church in California!” I think I turned as red as a Danish mailbox, when I understood what I had said and what they heard in my words.

Well, we are a Danish church, founded by Danish immigrant, we have many blond, fair and tall members, but that is not what define us! I am so very proud that this red and white church has deep deep roots in traditions, but even more in tolerance, acceptance, openness, humanity and a deep rejection of any discrimination or bigotry.

This church is not built in the 12th century, but it was built in 1995 as the finest expression of tradition, danish design and craftmanship. It showcases our history and tradition, our church and our faith. And thus, there is a living thread all the way from the dusty roads of Jerusalem, to Rome, to Runestone, to Reformation, To Grundtvig and to danish immigrants to America.

114 years ago, in 1906 a few Danish Immigrants founded the first Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in LA. It was a humble beginning but with a typical Danish will and zest and with time the church and congregation grew.

You can still visit the beautiful Danish church on the corner of 43rd Street and 3 Ave as a fine witness about another time before this church. From 43rd Street to Bastanchury.

When times change and conditions require change, it was time to move, to rethink, to rebuilt and make roots a new place. Yorba Linda it was to be the Land of Gracious living.

The church was relocated, beautiful built and inaugurated 25 years ago this month. With an impressive will and great support from members and Tom & Valley Knudsen Foundation, this beautiful church became a dream come true in March 1995. Yorba Linda, the Land of Gracious living – has been a gracious place to be planted and make roots. A gracious, generous, beautiful, safe and supportive place. Here the Danish church has settled and set roots and now it is a fine blooming tree with so many branches: Summer Camp, Confirmand classes, Scouts, dinners, lunches, services on Sundays and Thursdays, new activities for young and old and in between.

Through the last 25 yeas the church has grown, and this building of church and center is being used like never. We are no longer talked about as this secret society, this Danish country club, where they drink snaps and talk in tongues: no, we are an open and well-respected church in our community. We just hosted a 4 days Voter Polling station and more than 1700 local people came in our doors.

Statistics and numbers speak volumes too even if the language of the church is and should be the language of the heart. But numbers speak volumes about a living church: These past 25 years has hosted:

1700 services, 320 baptism, 145 confirmands, 260 weddings and 220 memorials. On the paper we have 750 members and about 450 are active members that hold this church close to their heart and use is.

The church is not only for Danes, but it is built by Danes on Danish traditions and culture, for Danish Lutheran Worship, with Danish joy of food, singing and fellowship, based on Danish hygge that truly makes us who we are. We greet each one welcome – all who wants to share that kind of joy and faith with us.

This is our beautiful church which is like a song from Paradise that has been planted, set roots and now is a blooming tree among us.

The church is an old house, but also a living house built by living stones – or we can only be such a living house if we do not stagnate in traditions and status quo, in costumes and what we have always done….

As a church we are not a museum for the past, but a living place for the future and the the present. We must be a present in the present time with a respect for the past and with hope for the future.

Faith hope and love.” God so much loved the world….” that he gave his son and gave this beautiful church, so we can worship, and we can love God and the world back again. Keep the doors open for high and low, young and old, male or female, gay or straight, be a congregation with the heart in the right place. As the beautiful poem by Chapman Wyoming says:

“Out where the sky is a little bluer. Our where the hands clasp is a little stronger

Our where the smile dwells a little longer That were the west begins.

Out where the sky is a little bluer out where the friendship is a little truer That where the west begins…”

The Danish church is planted here in the west, where the sun shines from a blue blue sky always every day, where handshakes, greetings and hugs are warm and many.

25 years. That is a silver anniversary. As any silver anniversary this s a marriage between Yorba Linda and the Danish Church filled with joy and love, but also with quarrels and adversity. 25 years

At the banquet of Tom and Susan’s 25th wedding anniversary, Tom was asked to give his friends a brief account of the benefits of a marriage of such long duration. “Tell us, Tom, just what is it you have learned from all those wonderful years with your wife? Tom responded, “Well, I’ve learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, forbearance, meekness, self-restraint, forgiveness — and a great many other qualities you wouldn’t have needed if you’d stayed single.”

It is good to be married and it is good to be depending on each other for better and for worse.

To hold on and to endure together. We need those qualities in our marriage and in our relations with others in communities, societies, countries and world wide.

Congratulations with 25 years relations between YL and the Danish Church

Congratulations with 114 years of Danish church in CA. As our old Danish neighbor would say: “It could be worse!” Dear congregation: congratulations and let us always hold this church close to our hearts and alive with our presence!

Amen

Tillykke med vores kirke og lad os derfor rejse os og sige tillykke til hinanden!