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Inside Nora Store, walls are veined as the back of an old woman’s hands, floorboards creak like aging bones.


A delightful musty perfume from being closed shut, holding her breath through spring, summer, fall until now, when she lets out a long joyful sigh.


At Nora Store, an invisible dot in the middle of somewhere in Southeast South Dakota, there is absolutely nothing for sale; yet, free for the taking an abundance of comfort, joy, grace and a cookie or two.


Here tonight, I finally found where I can locate Christmas. A place where I am set free.


(What place are you set free?)


Verse 1, Hymn 266, ELW
"All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last!
Furrows lie open for God's creative task:
this, the labor of people who struggle to see
how God's truth and justice set everybody free."