After 151 years of ministry, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Butternut, Minnesota has closed its doors.
Our Saviour's was my home congregation, my first church. It was such a huge part of my life growing up and shaped me in many ways to the person I am today. I created life-long friendships, questioned and grew my faith, sang songs of praise, welcomed new members into families and said goodbye to loved ones. It's where it was ingrained in me to always volunteer to help clean up after events, clearing the plates of others and getting the dishes done. It taught me to lift high the cross.
The church has never been about the building. But I can't deny the many memories made inside this particular building. A small country church, surrounded by corn and soybean fields. It's completely true what they say - Once a Butter-nutter, Always a Butter-nutter. (I think we were going to get hats that said this one year... haha!)
Below are some of the memories that I never want to forget when it comes to Butternut. It will forever hold a very special place in my heart.
- This is the church I was baptized and confirmed my faith. It is also the place where Jacob was baptized. My siblings were baptized and confirmed here and my younger sister had her ordination service at Butternut. My mom grew up in the church as well, baptized, confirmed and then married my dad in this one place. It was where we said goodbye to my Grandma and across the road is where she and others rest with the saints.
- I grew up going to Sunday School, gathering before it started in the social hall. I remember that on your birthday you got to put a special offering in the little church piggy bank.
- I spent each summer going to Vacation Bible School (VBS). My Grandma and Aunt Missy often helping. And Barb a constant in anything related to youth.
- Thursday night of VBS we spent walking the ditch and eating supper. But Friday was always everyone's favorite day - water balloons and water guns to end the week.
- VBS was filled with music and crafts and of course snacks. We would get to climb the large tree out front when it was time to hear the story of Zacchaeus. And a tent would often get set up and moved around the grounds for other story times. I think I remember one time trying to rig a system so we could lower someone into the tent from above - can you name that Biblical story?
- Games of Red Rover and basketball took place outside.
- When we were little, we always sat in the back row of church, my siblings and cousins and Grandpa. He would always have gum for us. As we grew, we moved to the very front of the church. There was still gum. And one memory of Daniel when he was still very young standing up on the pew during a song, slipping and hitting his forehead on the pew in front of us.
- I remember the Halloween parties that took place in the social hall each year. Games and treats and fun! A "cake walk" near one end, one of the Sunday School rooms where I blindly put my hand in boxes to feel "eyeballs" and "brains". And the Big Kids who would set up a haunted house down in the basement. I'm going to be honest, I don't think I ever made it down there!
- The Christmas Program growing up was also a fond memory each year. The large tree up front, waiting excitingly to see which part you would have - sheep? Angel? Mary? A wise man? Singing our songs in front of the dress in our fancy Christmas outfits. But my favorite part, and I'm probably not the only one, would be when Barb brought out the large birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. And ate cake. And the goodie bags filled with peanuts and other treats.
- As we got older, monthly Luther League meetings, which always included needing to remind the bus driver that this Wednesday we needed to be dropped off at church please. Meetings were filled with fun and more snacks. These were by far some of my favorite times with friends at church. One Wednesday, they had just mopped and waxed the social hall, everything was cleared out. We held a game of sock hockey.
- And one Luther League Wednesday every year was spent decorating the entire church with all the many Christmas decorations. The large Christmas tree, the garland hung from the choir loft and up along the railing. Setting up the Manager, with its green grass roof and wooden figures.
- We would go to camp in the summer - Shores of St. Andrew and Green Lake Bible Camp. Spending a week away with strangers and away from our parents, swimming in the lake, worshiping in the beautiful chapel, sleeping in cabins, riding out some storms, playing games and singing songs (like Baby Shark...), doing skits and eating in the hall.
- And even before camp, the car ride there would just as much fun - often we were driven by volunteer members of the congregation and we knew how to make those rides entertaining. Gettin' Siggy with it!
- Easter Sunrise Services, led by the youth. Some of these services started in the cemetery across the road, which usually meant freezing in our Easter dresses and watching out for snakes. Then always the big pancake breakfast.
- Confirmation on Wednesday nights, switching between Our Saviour's and Faith in Madelia. Racing to get the big red pillows to sit on and filling out the Sunday sermon notes. Small groups with our leaders, sharing our highs and lows from the week. I can remember one week sharing my low of failing gym class. Yup. Or maybe it was just a test. Making our own stoles with felt and then standing in front of the congregation, on that Confirmation Sunday.
- As I got older, I joined the church choir, with Grandma directing and never taking any crap from anyone. She knew how to get the best out of all of us. I always felt like an adult when I was at choir practice, listening to all the real adults talk about whatever it was they talked about.
- Each summer we would do a week-long service trip. One year was always more local, a trip to cities to volunteer and help out at different nonprofits. Our regional trip included a week of white-water canoeing, which isn't something I ever thought I would enjoy, but had one of the best weeks ever. And even a trip to Guatemala, where we did various service projects and learned about the history of the church in Guatemala.
- And before we went anywhere, there was always a group picture in front of the church, around the sign. And many scrambling to climb to the top to sit for the picture.
- We started a praise band that sang praise songs once a month and my love of singing grew. One of my favorites will always include Shout to the Lord with Krista next to me and Lauren jamming out on the piano.
- It was in the church social hall that I had my first cup of coffee; where I ate many meals - including a full Seder Supper one Lenten season.
The church is definitely much more than just the building. It's the people, the memories, the service, the music, the Word of God, the connections, the love. And the vision of Our Saviour's was always much larger than just our small country church. And while Butternut may just be a place on a map, being a Butter-nutter will always be so much more.
