My HOT conference weekend began Saturday morning with a gathering of leaders from the Bosque County congregations. Our frequent meetings have lead to plans for the first combined worship service for Reformation Sunday this year. This was a good meeting of worship planning.

After we finished in Cranfills Gap, the council members from Our Saviors in Norse met with me to discuss next steps as Pr. Bill Metting gets ready to commence his “Retirement 2.0”. Some pastors take more than one try to get the retirement thing right.

Sunday morning brought me to Killeen for Immanuel’s 6th annual Oktoberfest celebration and Polka worship.

But first I got to join Pr. Veronica Smith as she taught her confirmation class about the ELCA and church structure. It was such a joy to see a good sized class and a congregation full of kids. All kinds of young life here.

The rest of the day was just pure fun with entertainment by the Tubameisters, some dancing, and of course, German food and beer.

Who says being Lutheran can’t be fun?