Healing at the River - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Healing at the River

Sorrow left by the flood washed away today as members of First Lutheran, Augustana, and Christ Lutheran churches gathered in a healing service.
Kelli Volk reports on the ceremony that took place by the riverside.

Songs of remembrance rang out along the river bank, as church congregations gathered on the 8th street walking bridge in Minot to close up wounds left by the 2011 flood.
Three churches gathered to sing songs, hold hands, and heal, with the help of each other.
Pastor Ken Nelson says after undergoing the devastation of the flood, water seems to carry a whole new meaning.
(Ken Nelson, Pastor at First Lutheran Church) "In the wake of last year's flood and in the gathering of our worship services, I think it dawned on a lot of us how many of our songs of faith involve water and rivers and that's a really important image in the Bible."
Although a year has gone by since the flood caused these churches to temporarily relocate their services, the images of devastation are still vivid to the congregations.
Pastor Kari Pancoast says this is a time to let emotions flow freely and to look forward to the future.
(Kari Pancoast, Pastor at First Lutheran Church) "Everyone puts up such a strong front for so long and when we have a chance to let our guard down and really thing about what we've been through and how God has been faithful to us.  I think it's an emotional time, but it's part of the healing too."
Pastor Nelson says coming together in groups will help to build one another up and restore lasting hope for the years to come.
(Ken Nelson, Pastor at First Lutheran Church) "Express how they're feeling, let it out, and we hope in the process of being together with a lot of other people and become strong again."
In Minot, Kelli Volk, KX News.

Following the ceremony, the youth of the three parishes folded paper boats and set them to sail down the river.