A Day Steeped in Texas History, The Oldest Seventh Day Adventist Church In Texas

Very early this morning Emery and I headed off towards Clifton Texas, to a tiny tiny church in Norse. The hills were filled with sunshine and wind. The sky, the very blue of heaven. People arrived on horseback, in car and even in helicopter for this once a year service at the oldest Seventh Day Adventist Church in Texas. This tiny church, has not had weekly services since the late 1920's but it has been lovingly cared for through the years. The grand-daughter of one of this churches pioneers, welcomed the church-goers this morning. Sharing some of the history and reading from a secretaries report taken in Oct 1927. The words written, so uplifting, so filled with a love of God. So detailed and all for a congregation of 4 by that time. Most of the old Scandinavian settlers had passed on on by that time.

We sang old hymns, voices filling the countryside. I smiled when the song leader said, turn to page 611 in the hymnal, my favorite hymn of all time, the one I requested so many times in school.

The wind blew in off the hills and filled the room with cool air. The pews creaked with age.

It was a day of stepping back in time, a day of revisiting the rich yet difficult times of the early pioneers. One of the founding pioneers of this church, Ole T Nystel wrote an amazing account of his capture by the Comanche Indians in 1867, a boy of 14 at the time. You can read his book about his capture at http://nabo.nb.no/trip?_b=EMITEKST&urn="URN:NBN:no-nb_emidata_1034" This same Ole Nystels grand-daughter was the dear woman who put on this wonderful event today. Ole is the man in the last photo, with his wife.

There was a fellowship dinner following church which was so good, all vegetarian and delicious. Emery and I had a great time and plan on going back next year.

The way home took us over the low bridge, just above the waters edge and down the winding road and back into the 21st century once again.

Just a side note here, Norse is now considered a Ghost Town