Before worship services on a Sunday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church, North Morristown.
“THERE’S ONE MORE THING to do,” said the Rev. Merle Lebahn, vacancy pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, North Morristown, before dismissing his congregation. “Give ‘em heaven!”
And so concluded one of the most dynamic worship services I’ve attended in a long time. Pastor Lebahn didn’t deliver a fire-and-brimstone sermon in this country church. But he shared a message memorable both in content and method of presentation.
Pastor Lebahn gets front and center when he gives the children's lesson, just as he does during the sermon.
He’s not a preach-from-the-pulpit style of preacher, but rather an up-close, center-of-the aisle, close-to-his-flock kind of clergyman. His voice rises to a near shout when he wants to emphasize a point and then drops to a quiet, gentle cadence to drive home the message.
And that message last Sunday reflected on the gospel lesson from Luke 10 and the story of the Good Samaritan. Remember that bible story about the beaten man lying at the side of the road, passed by many until, finally, a Samaritan stopped to help?
Rev. Lebahn told us we were the beaten ones lying in the ditch until we received Christ.
He talked, too, about crossroads in our lives and about the people God brings into those crossroads.
I could go on and on about that sermon. But I think you get the main point delivered by this 78-year-old clergyman who looks, and acts, considerably younger than a near octogenarian. Consider his foot stomping and arm flailing and constant motion. I got tired just watching from my end-pew position in this sanctuary that holds 26 six-person pews on the lower level and a few more in the balcony.
A view of the balcony in this 1938 rural church.
It’s the type of snug church where you won’t get away with napping during the sermon, like you could anyway under Pastor Lebahn’s watch.
There’s something about worshipping in a small country church like this that you can’t replicate in a modern, large-scale church, even if you incorporate stained glass windows or other elements from an historic building.
I felt a sense of connection, of closeness, on Sunday as the congregation joined in prayer—for those celebrating anniversaries and birthdays and for those in need—and sang old favorite hymns like “Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways.”
Looking from the entry into the sanctuary during worship services.
In the back of the church are pews for families with little ones.
Farm boy, 6-year-old Jonathan, after services in the basement.
You can’t help but feel close when you’re tucked into tightly-jammed pews in a place where a comfortable pair of jeans is as common as a suit and tie and where farm kids like 6-year-old Jonathan bring a mini toy John Deere haybinder to church to keep his little hands busy.
Because just outside the church doors lie fields of corn and alfalfa and soybeans…
To the right of the cornerstone, in the distance, you can see corn fields.
Looking heavenward...
The Last Supper art on the lower part of the altar.
In my next post about this church, I'll take you into the basement where this sign is located.
CHECK BACK FOR A POST about the harvest dinner at this country church following the worship service.
© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Oh the memories…it has been a LOOONG time since I have been there! My favorite memories are Christmas Eve services where there was standing room only to see the Sunday School program! Thanks 🙂
You’re welcome, Amy.
You know, they are looking for a pastor and, well, won’t your husband graduate from seminary soon? Yeah, I know, he likely would not get called to serve in your home area.
As for the Christmas Eve service, I think many of us have such fond memories.
You are right, they ARE looking for a pastor and you are also correct that my husband WILL BE graduating from the seminary this coming May (one more move before we can quit for a while…). We are able to rate all of the church districts in the country on a scale of 1 to 5 with five being the worst and we put the Southern Minnesota district at a 3, but the northern district at a 2 (or 1, I can’t recall) mostly for the reason of serving in my home area. He knows too many people and it would be to large of a conflict of interest on both parts. My question is, are they actively searching for and calling a pastor or simply allowing the vacancy to be filled? There are plenty of candidates from the seminary that will need a church! And I can’t think of a better place to start off a ministry! (The parsonage is beautiful!)
If I remember correctly, a current call has been extended to a pastor for his consideration.
This was the church my father attended before he married my Catholic mother. He had many friends who attended this church . And our family would always go to the various dinners and especially 4 th of July. Dad became a Catholic when I was seven years old.
There is something so special in the small worship community. You tell the story well. Both in pictures and words.
Thank you, Jim. I’m glad you mentioned the Fourth of July. Readers unfamiliar with Trinity Lutheran, North Morristown should know that this church and its Christian day school host an annual parade and festival each Fourth of July. It’s complete with homemade pies and other food, old-fashioned “carnival” style rides for kids, music, fireworks and more.
I stumbled upon your website from a Facebook/high school friend. My grandma goes to this church and we were just there for the Harvest Dinner last weekend. I moved to Texas 14 years ago but all of my family is still in MN. Reading through all your posts makes me really miss home (though I DON’T miss the winters!!) I can’t wait to follow your blog and see what small towns you visit =)
Renee, thanks for stopping by Minnesota Prairie Roots to tour your grandma’s church. Wasn’t that harvest dinner meal at Trinity the best? I’ll be posting about that, too, probably next Sunday.
I’m happy to give you a glimpse of life back home here in Minnesota.
Thank you for capturing the wonderful moments in our church Audrey! We are blessed to have Pastor Lebahn, he is amazing!
You’re welcome, Holly. Pastor Lebahn’s preaching and people skills are quite impressive. When I complimented him on his sermon, he said something like it is God working through him. And I guess he’s right on that. He’s definitely using his God-given talents.
In addition to the worship service, we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of your country church.
Check back for my harvest dinner post on Sunday.
I love this church…I only got to attend from ages 1 to 7…but it’s where I learned how to sing, how to love to sing. I got to attend grade school there as well and have many fond memories…it has been over a decade since I have visited, would you happen to know if the playground is still there?
Well, Matthew, I think it’s time you return for a visit to Trinity, North Morristown. Perhaps for the Fourth of July celebration? Sounds like you have some pretty sweet memories of worshiping there and attending classes at the Christian day school.
As for the playground, I honestly did not notice so I can’t tell you if it’s still there. But my husband just told me he thinks some of it is. Whether it would be original to your time, I don’t know.
Can anyone out there answer Matthew’s question about the playground? Holly perhaps?
Oh, yes, the playground is there! A number of years ago a scout was earning his Eagle Scout badge/award and painted all of it. It’s a very nice playground and ball field.