Farewell party for seamans church pastor Jon Olav Berg Hjelde
For over two years, Pastor Jon Olav Berg Hjelde and Diaconal Worker Julie Berg Hjelde have been two prominent figures in the "Norwegian colony" of San Francisco, serving tirelessly as both leaders and dedicated workers at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church. Sadly, they will be leaving this November, and to honor their significant contributions, we’re hosting a well-deserved farewell party.
As part of the evening, Jon Olav has graciously offered to give a presentation on a topic that might seem a bit unorthodox coming from a pastor, but is sure to be fascinating: Norwegian Black Metal. For those unfamiliar with the genre, Norwegian black metal emerged in the early 1990s as a raw, intense subgenre known for its harsh sound, dark themes, and often anti-Christian sentiment. The genre gained international notoriety not only for its extreme music but also for the dramatic incidents surrounding it, including a wave of church burnings across Norway. These arsons were intended as a symbolic rejection of Christianity and its influence on Norwegian culture. Jon Olav personally witnessed a church arson as a child, and he will share his personal account as well as his thoughts on the genre’s unique cultural impact.
For dinner, we’ll be serving Norwegian meatballs with mashed peas, creamed cabbage, and potatoes, followed by "Norwegian riskrem" with red sauce for dessert. An intriguing appetizer inspired by the evening's topic will also be served.
PLEASE NOTE: This event takes place on a Wednesday, not a Thursday!
Dine-In: The bar will open for cocktails at 6:00pm,
Dinner served at 7:30pm.
Men's Dress Code: Jacket, Shirt, and Tie.
Ladies: Cocktail attire.
Registration is required by 9:00am on Tuesday, 11/5/24
Unable to attend? Please consider a donation in lieu of your presence.
