Living Stones

I read with particular interest this week about the blessing of the new home for the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne church in Mission Woods. http://joco913.com/news/a-new-home-for-latin-mass-in-johnson-county/ This Catholic parish, which celebrates the Latin Mass, has purchased and moved into the building originally built and used by the Westwood Lutheran Church congregation. Last week, Archbishop Joseph Naumann led a blessing and solemn high mass to dedicate the building for its new occupants.

The reason for my interest is that on July 25, 1948, at 11:00 a.m., my great-grandfather, the Rev. Dr. N.C. Carlsen, officiated at the dedication of the newly constructed Westwood Lutheran Church. Dr. Carlsen was the President of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (the sad Danes).

Several years ago, a member of the Westwood congregation learned of my heritage and gave me a photograph of my great-grandfather presiding at the service, along with a copy of the service bulletin from the day. Out of curiosity, I pulled those out for a look. According to the worship bulletin, the congregation "was founded by the missionary endeavors of the Nebraska District of the Danish Lutheran Church in sending Rev. Carl Wilhelmsen [1906?] to preach the Word of God and gather the Danish immigrants who settled in the two Kansas Cities." The congregation was soon formed and they built their original church building at Seventh and Riverview Streets in Kansas City, Kansas. Over the years, congregation members moved south. The congregation decided to re-locate five miles south in order to be nearer to its congregants and the new housing developments that were being built in the post-WWII years.

The dedication service began this way:


The worshippers assemble near the Church. A procession is formed and proceeds in the following order: The Pastors bearing the Bible and the Sacramental Vessels; the Church Council and the Building Committee; the Members of the Congregation.

Arriving at the Church doors, the Officiant shall read Psalm 100.

Hymn: "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty."

A member of the Building Committee shall now deliver the keys to the Officiant who shall unlock the door saying: "By the grace of God this house of worship has been completed and may now be set apart for its proper use. I therefore open the door of Westwood Lutheran Church in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Peace be unto this house and all who enter therein.

Slowly entering, the Officiant shall read Psalm 122.

Having come to the Chancel, the Pastors enter it, and deposit the Bible and the Sacramental Vessels in their places.

Officiant: How amiable are thy tabernacles, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God! A day in thy courts is better than a thousand.

According to the service bulletin, there was a "Pot-Luck Dinner on the Premises" at one o'clock. I imagine scores of young families scattered across the lawn on a warm, summer Sunday; all of them dressed in their Sunday-best and enjoying great food and company.

I'll admit that I read the story of the church's "Re-dedication" with a bit of sadness. That first dedication service must have been filled with excitement, hope, and pride. (Though not too much pride, these were sad Danes after all!) The service bulletin speaks of the tremendous opportunity to reach the surrounding community and build the Kingdom of God. 65 years later, things have changed. I wonder what N.C. Carlsen would think of the change.

My great -grandfather's sermon that day was entitled "The Church of Living Stones," and was based on Ephesians 2:20-22. My hunch is that he spoke to the congregation gathered that day about the fact that the church is more than a building, it  is the people of God who have been claimed, forgiven, and equipped to bear witness to the love of God in the world. There really is nothing permanent in this life except God's promise shone forth in Jesus. We, as the people of God, are called to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in a rapidly changing world. Again, from the service bulletin: "Not in competition with other churches would we seek a place, but where the church is not, and where the people are not in church. There would we work."

The Danish Lutherans are no longer worshiping at Westwood, but a new congregation is. Blessing to the building's newest occupants.