Although midsummer sounds like July or August in the US, it is celebrated in Scandinavia on the weekend closest to June 24th, the feast day of John the Baptist. It is the time when the days are long and the colors of the sea and forest are vibrant. According to scripture, John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus, and just as John said that he would become lesser as Jesus became greater, so the summer days begin to grow shorter; while in winter, at the time of Jesus’ birth, the days grow brighter and longer. Traditional fiddlers in costume from the American Swedish Institute Spelmanslag will perform at LOTI for our 9:30 Worship Service on June 22nd. They will perform traditional fiddle tunes and accompany the congregation in singing favorite Swedish hymns, including Children of the Heavenly Father and How Great Thou Art.