Earlier this month I drove up to southeast South Dakota for the annual family reunion on my father’s side of the family. It was fun, connecting with my cousin and his family and an aunt and uncle and met many other relatives. The day of the reunion it is tradition to attend the services at Sioux Valley Baptist Church, a small country church on a dirt road on land donated by my great great grandfather, Nels Norgaard, back in 1888.
It usually has about six or seven people attend but on Norgaard Sunday it was full. Quite a testament to the church and its people that they have kept it going for 131 years.
My uncle said that the interior is just like it was when he was a kid, the furnishings, paintings on the wall, and the decorations and he is in his 80’s now.
The high point of the service has always been the singing. There was a family member who was really talented but he passed away. It was hard to replace him on piano but hey youtube was at the ready and so we sang “It is Well with my Soul”, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”, and everybody’s favorite “The King is Coming” a great song about redemption. It starts out slow and builds to a climax. The lyrics include:
"Happy faces line the hallways
Those whose lives have been redeemed
Broken homes that He has mended
Those from prison He has freed
Little children and the aged
Hand in hand stand all aglow
Who were crippled, broken, ruined
Clad in garments white as snow"
Every stanza ends with, “Praise God, He is coming for me!”
I don’t care whether you are believer or not, the idea and the imagery is wonderful!!
Later on we had a picnic in Del Rapids with everybody. Here is a photo of some of us. Can you spot me? Or at least the top of my head?
I am linking with Our World Tuesday
I love family reunions but haven’t been to one in a while. It looks like you and your family had a great time and I love that you start with church!
I love small older churches and that is a beauty inside and outside! I love the steeple and the detail on the pews! My favorite song is I Can Only Imagine, but I also love the older songs… Ain’t No Grave by Betty Jean Robinson, Down to the River to Pray, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, It Is Well With My Soul, I’ll Fly Away, well I could keep going but I’ll stop 🙂
I hope you have a great week!
That’s really neat about the family connection to the founding of that church.
Congratulations on your successful family reunion each year. Love the church – it’s history makes it especially precious.
How wonderful to have historical church full on your family’s special heritage day ~ Neat photos too!
Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
The church is very charming. The facade looks inviting.
Beautiful Church.
Thanks for the post and pics.
What a great place!
That looks a very special family reunion with all that history surrounding you in the church. Hope they continue for many decades to come.
Hello, the family reunion is a fun time. The church is beautiful! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!
How delightful! I can feel the love that has gone into that church over the years.
From the name you mentioned it seems that you have some viking ancestry there in your family. Loving how old the church is though.
Beautiful furnishing inside