I’VE ATTENDED CAR SHOWS in parks, along city streets and at a fairgrounds. But never at a church or in the country.
Saturday morning I wheeled to a country church northeast of Faribault for St. John’s United Church of Christ, Wheeling Township’s first-ever Cruise-In Car Show. It’s a peaceful rural setting among farm fields and farm sites near Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.
This congregation knows how to draw folks in for events ranging from the annual The Last Supper Drama on Palm Sunday to Lenten soup luncheons to an ice cream social to a September Germanfest to the Big Woods Run and more. Many times I’ve gone to St. John’s activities, where I always feel welcomed by a friendly group of people like 90-year-old historian Elsie, Lynn (who’s usually in the kitchen) and the Rev. Lora Sturm.
On this Saturday morning, the reverend leads attendees in prayer. As I stand between a row of vintage cars in the church parking lot, I consider how wonderful to hear this prayer of blessing upon the vehicles and upon those in attendance.
While visiting with others, I note that most either belong to this congregation or grew up in this church. There’s a special closeness in country churches that comes from living in the same geographical area and gathering here to socialize, to celebrate, to mourn, to grow in the faith (although some admittedly have drifted away).
Roots run deep through generations of families. German immigrants founded this congregation in 1856 as Minnesota’s first German Evangelical Church. They worshiped, nonagenarian Elsie tells me, in a log cabin before that burned and the current church was built in 1870 by German farmers from locally-quarried limestone.
The “Old Stone Church,” as it is known, stands strong on the corner of a paved county and gravel road next to the church cemetery. A 4-year-old boy points to a gravestone and tells me God is buried there. I lead him to the stone, read the name thereon and explain to him that God is not buried here nor is He dead.
I love that these kids have been together for hours—romping on the mini playground, playing hide-and-seek, searching for a geo-cache stashed in a treeline behind the cemetery… This setting invites such play, reminding me of my own upbringing in a small town Lutheran church.
On this Saturday, this cruise-in is not just a gathering of car, truck and tractor enthusiasts showing off their vehicles. This event is about memories and socializing, about slowing down and appreciating the beauty and quiet of this reverent country place. It’s about being neighborly.
And it’s also about the food, this time delicious BBQ pulled pork sandwiches from the Rice County Pork Producers.
St. John’s, from my experience, has always nourished the body, soul and spirit. And on this late July morning, this cruise-in accomplishes that mission in food, setting and friendly conversation.
FYI: Check back tomorrow and the day after for more photos from the St. John’s Cruise-In Car Show.
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Best picture is the last one. 🙂 Gotta love that license plate.
I know. It’s great.
2SMILES…I like that. Conversations…it is what is lacking across our country and in our communities. The connection with your friends, neighbors, etc. Fast-paced, tech’d out and too much going on in my opinion. I’ve always been a proponent of technology, but I’ve seen things differently over the 5 or so years. There is a price to pay for speed and convenience at times.
I agree with your assessment, Dan.
My favorite photo is of your husband’s cleaned up “working hands”. Those are the hands of men I grew up with and respected. I love these car shows. We see a lot of them around here this time of year… lots of fun and great people!
Randy’s hands never quite come clean with grease tracing his fingernails. When we were at the car show, he spotted a customer, who didn’t recognize him. Randy was cleaned up and out of uniform. Happens quite often.
That’s a lotta beans on that plate!
It was a lot of everything. But I ate it all, except for several bites of pork, which the husband finished.
Great pictures. Now I know what I’m making g for dinner tomorrow night
BBQed pulled pork has to be one of my favorite meats. Sounds like a good meal coming at your house.