31: The good shepherd

A photographic countdown to July 4th

In the basement of Stavanger Lutheran Church, this altar-like piece of furniture bears the inscription “Jeg er den gode hyrde”—Norwegian for “I am the good shepherd.” Surrounded by American and Christian flags, dried floral arrangements, and a painting of the Holy Family, the space reflects the deep blend of faith and heritage in this rural Illinois congregation. Even in this humble fellowship hall, the legacy of Norwegian immigrants and their devotion lives on.