Going to Church

 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 

(Acts 14:27 New International Version)

Touring Calumet, Michigan, earlier this month, I was once again amazed by how many churches this community supported in its prime. Every religion was represented and each nationality had a church in each religion. The Calumet & Hecla Mining Company, the life-blood of the town, encouraged this spirituality, feeling that men who went to church were less likely to carouse and thus be more dependable employees.

 Too bad employers don’t have those same thoughts in this day and age. Or are the morals of church attendees today no better than non-believers? Can strangers tell if you are a Christian or not by your actions? A few things to think about this week. 

The Calumet Arts Center, in I don't know which old church. 

St. Anne's Catholic Church, now the Keweenaw Heritage Center

Inside the Heritage Center

Norwegian Lutheran Church, established in 1898, currently being renovated by the Sons of Norway Ulseth Lodge  

National Lutheran Church, which served the Finnish population  

Originally this was St Joseph's Church, but when the numbers started dwindling at the six  Catholic parishes in the town, several churches combined and this one became St Paul the Apostle Church. 

A large sign outside St Paul the Apostle announced that it was "open", so I got this far, but I had Dino with me. This kindly lady told me that if he was a well-behaved dog I could tie him to the stair railing and come in. I regrettably declined. 

St John the Baptist Croatian Church 

Not in Calumet, but a few miles up the road near Eagle River, this is the church of  the Society of St John, the monastery of the monks who run the Jampot. Yummy. (If you click here, see the picture of the five monks? The one on the far right with the longest beard is the one who always waits on us Jampot. He is a sweetheart.)