Be a Sitka Lutheran volunteer

Sitka is an historical site for many reasons. The city was the first capital of Alaska, a site of Russian and Alaska Native conflict, and the site of the "handover" when Alaska was transfered from Russia to the United States. The city (and the National Parks service) has preserved much of this history in buildings and museums. And the tourists love it.

So since Sitka is a tourist destination, the Lutherans play along too. Sitka Lutheran was established in 1839/40 by the Russian-American Company for their Lutheran workers. Imagine: a government/commercial enterprise building a church and hiring a pastor for their employees!

The Russian-American company hired (in those days) a pastor from Finland. So the Sitka Lutheran church has strong Finnish ties. It also has an antique Kessler organ that is still used at services today. Visitors to Sitka Lutheran can view historic displays, read the history of the church, play the organ AND use the bathrooms, all for free.

So who hosts these tourists? The summer volunteers. Those interested can volunteer for several weeks during the summer. They must buy their own plane ticket to Sitka, but housing is free in an apartment during the stay.

Sound interesting? You might check out the church Web site for more information:

http://www.sitkalutheranchurch.org/