I am telling you a true story. It may seem impossible. But we experienced it. Within the last couple of weeks we drove by a pasture in which a half dozen horses were contently grazing and the scene brought back a vivid memory of an experience John and I had on one of our many trips to Montana to visit our son and family who lived there. 

We were driving on back roads in south eastern Montana, close to the South Dakota border. The landscape was low rolling hills and we came upon a group of 20 or so horses - most of them were Paints and Appaloosas - in a fenced pasture. The terrain was low by the road, but gently rose to a slight hill. We pulled over to the side of the road to watch the horses as they grazed and played in the field. (I have loved horses since I was a girl on a farm with a Shetland pony).

As we watched the horses, we realized a line of cars was coming very slowly towards us on the road. All of a sudden, the horses, led by a beautiful Paint, trotted in a line to the top of the hill and stood still and silent, watching the line of cars. As the cars got closer, we realized it was a funeral procession, with each car flying eagle feathers. Once the procession passed, the lead horse broke the line and all the horses went back to grazing and playing. We sat there awestruck! Something mysterious and wonderful had just happened and we got to witness it! 

Did the horses somehow know someone had died and was being carried to her or his resting place? Their actions were not random and they were definitely showing respect. We didn’t understand and still don’t, but I believe this was gift given to us - a glimpse into God’s creation of which we are all members. An encouragement to be open to all the ways our triune God speaks to us. “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the world is full of your creatures.” (Psalm 104:24).

Respect, honor, leadership, silent witness, standing guard - are all needed in our world. As God’s creation they should be just a natural part of our lives. These are also “gifts” of the Holy Spirit, given to us to share with all whom we come in contact in our daily lives.

As our world and our nation is hurting in so many, many, many ways - we are called to live as Jesus lived and taught. We can’t do this on our own, which is why the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Christ Jesus. In June we celebrated Pentecost (the giving of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’s followers) and the Holy Trinity (God in three persons). We confess we are followers of Christ Jesus in the words of the Apostle’s Creed. We share the bread and wine, hearing the words of forgiveness. We are called to LIVE as followers of Christ Jesus, to LIVE with the guidance of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. This is why we gather as a congregation, a community of believers. We gather to worship God, to pray, to praise, to love and support one another.

As my time as your interim pastor comes to a close, I thank you for your community of believers gathering in worship; for teaching and supporting your children and youth in the many ways you do - you are building the future of the community of believers; for caring and supporting those with health concerns, loneliness, and grief. I thank you for your outreach into your community and the world. And I thank you for your support to me as interim pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran. It has been a blessing to me. May God’s grace continue to guide you as you move into your next chapter of being Gethsemane in Virginia, MN.

In Jesus’ name

Pastor Marion Rova