Halvvägs till himlen

Love and happiness thrive in Östra Nöbberup. The priest Albin and the deaconess Fanny are getting married. But Fanny is offered a new exciting job abroad and Albin is forced to hire the work-shy Ylva.

Since Albin took office, the number of churchgoers has decreased catastrophically and something must be done. Albin and Fanny set out to knock on the door in an attempt to lure the villagers back to the church.

Easter is approaching and Jan is planning for this year's Golgotha hike, where he and the staff drag a cross through the village. But when Albin announces that he intends to take over Good Friday's service, Jan is upset.

Due to the church's poor finances, Albin is commissioned by Bengt-Åke to dismiss someone from the staff. Something that rhymes badly with his sermon on putting human value before the pursuit of money.

Lund diocese's contract rector visits the parish and it turns out that the rector is Albin's former wife Karin. Albin's hope is lit that it can sort out its problems.

It's soon time for this year's big church bazaars and Albin visits the sewing workshop. Its Conservative chairman Evy does not have much left over for Albin's modern methods and the two have a hard time pulling together.

Albin encounters a bachelor party and one of the women, Maggan, flirts shamelessly with him. It all ends with Albin waking up the next morning with Maggan in bed. Later that day, Albin and Jan will hold the church's marriage counseling.

The principal of a school wants to have the graduation in the church with a condition, the ceremony must not contain any religious elements. Something Albin has a hard time accepting.