The Tuscarora Staff on Their Favorite Christmas Tradition

Traditions are an essential part of our lives. While we move into the future and grow and change, traditions are a way for us to remember who we have been and where we came from. This week on Tales of Tuscarora, the Tuscarora staff wants to tell you about some of their favorite Christmas Traditions.

“I like singing Silent Night on Christmas Eve. It’s a special moment holding a candle and knowing the light of the world has been born. ”

— Sara Pensyl, Program Manager

“My Uncle Pete and Aunt Jo-Jo throw a giant Christmas Eve feast every year. His food is amazing, and a ton of family come over. We have all the Italian fish, things wrapped in bacon, prime rib, chicken Parmesan, and giant King crab legs.”

— Paul DiQuattro, Operations Manager

“There’s nothing as an adult that sticks out - but as a kid I loved the fact that we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve. I would look forward to it all day and all my friends would be jealous that I got my presents a day early.”

— Scot Hansen, Conference Coordinator

“In my house we don’t put baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Day. It was something we started with my kids that they still remember. When they purchased their own nativity scenes they made sure to buy ones with a Jesus they could place on Christmas Day. We also have a birthday cake for Jesus!”

— Darci Hakvaag, Business Assistant

“I still have a lot of the homemade ornaments that I made from when I was a kid - and I love hanging them on the tree each year. They look great displayed with my grandmother’s old nativity set.”

— Karl Samuelson, Housekeeping Supervisor

“Sleeping under the tree with all of my cousins on Christmas Eve.”

— Danika Adderley, Program and Marketing Coordinator

“It is the baking and decorating as a family. I’m very boring! My family is going to be baking Monday through Friday next week when my daughter comes home.”

— Siv Daly, Registrar

“There’s an old German tradition where you take a fake pickle and you hide it on the tree. The person who finds it the quickest gets an extra special gift. That’s my favorite Christmas tradition.”

— Marc Pensyl, Maintenance

“I’m trying to start the tradition of having my family wear matching pajamas the night before Christmas. Not everyone is enthusiastic about the idea - but I think it makes the day start in a fun and festive way!”

— Lindsay Rosado, Manager of Ministry Advancement

8 Things You'll Find at Tuscarora's Juletrefest

Traditions are an essential part of our lives. While we move into the future and grow and change, traditions are a way for us to remember who we have been and where we came from. If you are a frequent visitor of the Tuscarora grounds you may be aware that much of Tuscarora's history has been tied to the Scandinavian heritage.

As an affiliate organization of the Lutheran Brethren Church, and a home away from home for many members of the denomination, this connection continues to exist today. If you've ever wondered why we sell Norwegian items in our book and gift store, or puzzled at hearing a Norwegian conversation in the dining room, you are not alone.

But for many, Tuscarora may be the only chance to experience a culture which is difficult to find in our area of the United States, and for those who come from a Scandinavian bloodline - Tuscarora is one of the few places they can continue to experience family traditions from their childhood.

Around Christmas, these traditions are an integral part of our Christmas Weekend. This is most evident in our Juletrefest dessert party on Friday night. Below, is a list of things you would be likely to find there!

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1. Norwegian Sweaters

Due to cold winters, it may not surprise you that Norwegians are fond of warm clothing! Traditional Norwegian sweaters are made of thick wool that are perfect attire for Christmastime! They are warm, comfortable, and have a cozy charm that's perfect for this time of year.

2. Caroling

Christmas Carols are the center point of any Christmas party - and Juletrefest is no exception. But at this party - you may hear a few songs that you're unfamiliar with. We like to give our guests the rare opportunity to sing some classic Norwegian Christmas songs amidst the classic tunes! You can be sure to hear "O Jul Med Din Glede," "Jeg Er Sa Glad," as well as a Norwegian verse of "Silent Night."

Some of the Norwegian words may be a challenge, but everyone has such a good time singing together that you'll hardly notice!

3. Circling the Christmas Tree

One Christmas custom from Scandinavia is the dance around the Christmas tree. No matter who you are you will want to grasp hands with the other guests and circle the tree while caroling. This particular tradition is a reminder of times past for many of our guests and we are so thankful to be able to continue it here at Tuscarora.

4. Coffee

No matter the time of day - Norwegian's love their coffee! So a dessert party is the perfect setting for a relaxing bedtime shot of caffeine. It also goes perfectly with Ris Krem!

5. Ris Krem

Ris Krem is a traditional Norwegian Christmas dessert. In Norway, it's made from a leftover porridge which is then mixed with whipped cream, sugar, and vanilla.

6. Lot's of 'kake

If there's something Norwegians love more than coffee it's dessert! And at this party you will find plenty of Kake (or cake!) One particular dessert you'll find is Kransekake - which is an almond based cake reserved for special occasions such as weddings and Christmas. It's always a treat to see it served!

7. Lutefisk

Just kidding! Lutefisk is a traditional fish dish in Norway. It's aged fish which has been soaked in lye and is often eaten as a delicacy. Many people have a love/hate relationship with this particular dish - but we do not serve it at our Christmas party!

8. Koselig

Koselig, the Norwegian word for cozy, is the last important part of our Christmas celebration. Koselig is the feeling you get from a hug, a warm greeting, and all the fuzzy  happy feelings that go along with Christmas time. Our koselig comes specifically from the warmth that comes from remembering why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place - the miracle of Christ's birth.

God Jul and Merry Christmas everyone!

#GivingTUSCday - November 28, 2017

November 28th was a big day for Tuscarora.

On the nationally celebrated Giving Tuesday, Tuscarora decided to hold its own one day fundraising campaign called #GivingTUSCday. On this day, the Tuscarora family pulled together and achieved the biggest single day of fundraising in our history.

"We were excited to realize we were going to be successful in reaching two of our three goals," said Brian Abrahamsen. "We raised $36,520 from 106 different donors. Even more excitingly we gained 10 new Friends of Tuscarora - those individuals who give to Tuscarora on a recurring basis. I am so humbled by how blessed we are by our guests, donors, and volunteers who used this day to express how much they love Tuscarora."

In Matthew 6:21 Jesus states, "Where your treasure is there your heart will be also." We know that the success of this day is only possible because Tuscarora has had the privilege over the last 40+ years of being a place where God changes hearts. Thank you for lending your support to the work we do each and every day.

Below, watch the stories of Brian Abrahamsen, Lindsay Rosado, and Carol Anderson who want to tell you about some of the recent work happening on the grounds, and the impact of current programs.

"It's a blessing and a privilege for me to be able to serve at a place where my life was changed for eternity."

"It was the summer of 2002. The first summer that Senum-Thompson Center was open and I was struck by how personal the gospel was made to me."

"So much has changed and yet so much has remained the same where God meets people here and He has changed lives and legacies for eternity."

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To learn more about this year’s Giving Tuesday event, click here!

Give Thanks to the Lord: Olsen Activity Center

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!

-Psalm 107:1
 

In this season of giving thanks, Tales of Tuscarora will be dedicated during the month of November to highlighting and celebrating some of the most special parts of our history and our ministry that have been made possible because of the Tuscarora family.

There is possibly no building on the grounds of Tuscarora that has housed more significant moments than what is currently known as the Olsen Activity Center. Construction on the Olav B. Olsen Auditorium was completed by Olsen and Lawson in 1975 and was used for a main meeting area for our guests for more than 30 years until the Senum Thompson Center was built.

Sara Pensyl, Program Manager at Tuscarora, tells you her favorite story of this special place below.

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The date was July 7, 1994. I was a first time Junior Week camper. The speaker was Pastor John Blikstad. Serendipitously, my counselor was Janice Olsen - Olav B. Olsen's granddaughter.

I remember sitting in the old yellow plastic chairs that used to be set up on the volleyball court for sessions. As a fidgeting young girl, I remember how loudly they would scrape on the floor when I moved. The Lord had been working on my heart all week, and by Thursday evening I was ready to step into a new adventure.

When the speaker made the invitation to come forward, everyone was praying and our heads were down, until suddenly my body just rose and started heading toward the stage. Since then I've always felt like in that moment Jesus moved my legs.

At the time, the bottom part of the stage in the gymnasium would pull out when more space was needed. I remember stepping up onto the lower platform and thinking, "What am I doing up here?" The Pastor looked down at us all and walked us through the sinner's prayer and I walked back to my seat forgiven and accepted by Christ.

It's been a huge part of my husband Marc's story as well, coming to know Christ in February of 2000 at Senior High Winter Weekend. We've kept coming back to Tuscarora, coming back permanently when I began my job as Program Manager last August. I don't know of many people who get to see their story come entirely full circle - but I know my story will be book ended by the Olsen Activity Center.

I can still tell you exactly where my seat was that day, when God grasped my heart and didn't let go. My Tuscarora story started right there in that square of floor. Today, I have the blessing of working at Tuscarora, and the gym is currently under construction as it finds it's new identity for the generations ahead. It's so exciting to see it evolve, but there is a part of me that hopes it doesn't change too much so that my son Michael can have his own special moments in the years ahead.

Give Thanks to the Lord: Pastor's School

While it is Tuscarora's mission to serve the entirety of the Christian Community we are an affiliate organization of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. Founded in 1971 with the intention of serving as a retreat center for the denomination - we still host programs specifically designed for the Eastern Region of churches.

Because of this relationship, Tuscarora sees it as an important part of it's ministry to care for the men and women who care for these churches. We are thankful for a week out of every summer where our pastors and their families come to Tuscarora for refreshment and encouragement.

We are thankful that God allows us to minister in this way. Below, Pastor Ryan Nilsen tells the story of his family's experience at Pastor's School.

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Ryan Nilsen

Lead Pastor of Praise Christian Fellowship, a CLB congregation in northwest Connecticut, and Executive Director of Fifth Act Church Planting. He and his wife Kjirsti have five children and have served at Praise for ten years. Ryan has participated in Tuscarora ministries since he was a kid.

One of the things that I am thankful for as a pastor is that my kids actually love being pastors’ kids! My church deserves a lot of credit for not placing unrealistic expectations on my children or treating them differently from other kids, but one of the things that my kids love the most about being a “PK” is the chance to go to Pastors’ School every summer. In fact, they start looking forward to it about a day after the previous one wraps up! My wife Kjirsti and I feel the same way—we look forward to the chance to get away to Pastors’ School each year.

What is Pastors’ School? If you attend a congregation that is part of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB)—Tuscarora’s “home denomination,” you may have heard about it in passing. Before I attended, I had no idea what it was. It sounded either like a really tedious ordeal or a cover name for a vacation. It isn’t either of those things. It’s become an important part of the well-being of my pastoral ministry, and it is a huge blessing for my entire family. Let me tell you about Pastors’ School—one of Tuscarora’s most high-impact, far-reaching ministries in terms of its investments in the kingdom of God.

For five days every August, Tuscarora hosts Eastern Region CLB pastors and their families for a week of continuing education, rest, recreation, and bonding. While the CLB Eastern Region funds the educational expenses, Tuscarora quietly underwrites the bulk of the cost, providing lodging, meals, and meeting spaces for pastors, their wives, and their children—and at no charge to pastors or their congregations!

Here’s what a typical day at Pastors’ School looks like: Pastors and wives spend the morning in educational sessions together, deepening biblical knowledge or gaining ministry skills. In the afternoons, families spend time together at the pool, canoeing, tubing, playing volleyball, and more. In the evenings, pastors and wives gather together for times of worship and often receive more training. Through the course of each day at Pastors’ School, pastors engage in several renewing experiences that are crucial for resilient, enduring ministry: 1) continuing education, 2) peer support, 3) sabbath, and 4) recreation. Tuscarora provides the setting for these experiences that are not easy for pastors to schedule on their own.

It is vital for pastors to continue to hone their ministry skills through continuing education, yet it can be challenging amidst the daily demands of ministry to find the time to invest in training. Through Pastors’ School, clergy and their wives have opportunities to develop their biblical knowledge and ministry skills so they can return to their congregations better-equipped for their ministry calling.

Pastoral ministry tends to be a high-stress, sedentary vocation that places great demands on pastors and their families. To compound the problem, few pastors have the financial resources to cope with those stresses. Through Pastors’ School, pastors have a chance to find renewal and rest. They can recharge their batteries and along with their spouses enjoy fellowship with other clergy couples who can relate to the challenges and demands of vocational ministry.

“Tuscarora makes it possible for those families to get away from the everyday demands of ministry and experience sabbath rest, the support of their peers, and a chance to relax and have fun with their families—all in a setting where they don’t have to worry about anything! No meal prep and no dishes! No meetings, phone calls or emails!”

Through Pastors’ School, Tuscarora comes alongside every CLB congregation in the Eastern Region to help them care for and develop their pastors. You may already value Tuscarora for its dynamic summer youth camps, weekend retreats, or their Christmas concerts, and now I hope you will appreciate how much Tuscarora does to ensure the health of pastors and their families as they serve congregations along the east coast. Thank you, Tuscarora!