Midvale Community Lutheran Church

SUPPORT FOR THE CAREGIVER: WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS
Are you caring for a loved one with mental illness and are perhaps in need of support, a listening ear, or searching for coping strategies? A new support group at Midvale, facilitated by member Rachael Gehlbach, will begin an 8-week session on Thursdays from 10 -11 AM. The group will meet from October 8 through December 3 (no meeting on November 26 due to Thanksgiving holiday). Register using the link in the comments or contact the church office.

Midvale Italy group had a walking tour across Rome today and ended with a lovely group dinner. Wednesday is a free day to explore on your own and our flight home is Thursday.

Midvale Italy Group traveled to the countryside outside of Rome to trace the Apostle Paul’s journey. Paul was arrested i. Jerusalem and taken to Rome to contest his death sentence, as he was allowed to do as a Roman citizen. He lived in Rome u see house arrest for a period of time
- during which he still shared about Jesus and formed the Christian community in Rome. It is believed he was beheaded after his appeal ran out. We visited the papal basilica believed to be over his grave as well as the monastery built where he was in jail and killed. Finally we visited one of the Roman catacombs- underground cemeteries used by the early Christians (no photos allowed inside).

Midvale Italy group toured the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel (no pictures allowed - Michelangelo’s ceiling is stunning) and St. Peter’s Basilica (the largest church in the world).

Midvale Italy group arrived in Rome. We toured the ancient center of the city, including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The day concluded with an Italian cooking class where we made fettuccine, ravioli and tiramisu- it was delicious!

Midvale Italy group began with a solemn visit to the Florence American Cemetery where soldiers from WWII are buried. Pastor Katie visited the grave of her great uncle Alvin Borseth and the staff shared a ceremony and played taps. Our guide shared a phrase all Italians celebrate from that troubled time - “Then the Americans came…”.

We went on to have a w**e tasting and lunch in Chianti and concluded the day with a meaningful visit to Assisi - learning about the life and impact of St. Francis. In the evening we shared worship in a chapel at our hotel (a former monestery).

Midvale Italy group experienced the art and inspiration of the Renaissance (1450-1500) today in Florence. We were awed by Brunelleschi’s dome of the cathedral (duomo) - which was the architectural wonder of the age. We were amazed at Michelangelo’s sculpture David. We also visited the church with many historic tombs of world changers including Galileo and Michelangelo. It was the second day with some rain, but it didn’t last long and didn’t deter us from the sites of the city. Free time included options for gelato, seeing the Uffizi museum with Botticelli’s masterpiece “Birth of Venus,” the Palazzo Vecchio (seat of political power) and the lovely Arno River.