THE FAITHFUL INNOVATIONS JOURNEY: DEEPENING OUR CONNECTION WITH GOD,
EACH OTHER AND OUR NEIGHBORS
Imagine that there was a way that you could feel more alive in your faith. Imagine that you could better understand God’s presence in the world, and in your life, and in the lives of your friends and family members. Maybe you could even see God’s presence in the lives of people in the whole community around you.
Many people are trying to make meaning of their lives these days. And fewer and fewer people are looking to the Church as a place where they can find that meaning. A recent study showed that only 20% of Americans find meaning in spirituality and faith.
What if we could increase that number? What if we could get people to see God alive and at work, giving purpose and meaning to their lives out in the world every day? What if there were some simple practices we could do to listen for people’s hopes and dreams, to listen for what God is up to in the world, and then trying some new things out to help people to connect their passions and dreams with what God might want us to do and be in the world?
This past year, your pastors have been working with Luther Seminary, your synod staff, and six different churches from our synod to listen and experiment so that we can better understand God’s calling for us. We have now formed a team of people from our congregation who will join us in this work: Steve Hoppe, John Hotek, Jen Hovland, Lynn Johnson, and Dan Kleven. They will help us more deeply listen to God’s story in the Bible, listen to the spiritual stories of our own members, listen to the needs of our community around, and try and get a sense of how God might be calling us to do church today.
We don’t know where all of this will lead us. We do know, however, that God is faithful and that God will be a part of this process with us. As we do this work, we believe that we will better hear God’s voice in our lives and community. And maybe, just maybe, at the end of it all we will be more connected with God, with each other, and with our community. We hope you enjoy this journey with us.
Where might God show up in your life if you were looking?
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VINJE COUNCIL MEETING RECAP
Here’s what was discussed at the August council meeting…
ELCA Trends
Renewable Energy Certification Program
Faithful Innovations update
Thanksgiving Service/Pie Celebration with St Mary’s
Stewardship Update
Importance of electronic giving
New Staff
Want to know more? Contact a member of council.
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LOVING ARMS UPDATE
NATURE CENTER FUN!
We are LOVING the newly completed nature center! Complete with an outdoor easel, slide, picnic area, lego table, xylophone, stepping stones and our favorite, the custom designed boat thanks to Roger Kingstrom! We are loving our fall outdoor fun in our new space! Head over and check it out someday after worship!
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PIZZA WITH PASTORS
SUNDAY, SEPT 29 | 11 AM | RM 102
New to Vinje in the last few years? Want to learn more about your congregation? Would you like a chance to get to know your pastors better? (Or...well, maybe you can tolerate some time with your pastors as long as there is a free lunch to get you through it?) On September 29, Pastors Justin and Dane will be hanging out in room 102 and welcome anyone who would like to learn more about Vinje, hear about opportunities to get involved, or would like to know more about becoming a member. Did we mention there will be pizza? There will be pizza. Please join us for some laid back conversation, fun, and food after worship. Pizza!
Contact the church office (235.1441) with any questions.
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We are excited to announce the Vinje Church Council has signed an agreement to participate in the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Program being offered by the Willmar Municipal Utilities! By participating in the program, Vinje has agreed to pay an additional $0.0033 per kilowatt hour of our energy consumed. The money generated by this program will be used to support the development of additional renewable energy. Participating in this program also allows us as a congregation to voice our support for clean and renewable energy.
This REC Program is open to all people being served by Willmar Municipal Utilities. The average cost per residential household about $2.31 per month. More information can be
found here
or by calling Michelle Marotzki at 320.441.2808.
Caring for God’s creation is one of the things we are charged with as Christians. We encourage eligible members to participate in the REC program and join us in supporting clean and renewable energy.
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MOVIE NIGHT AT VINJE
TUESDAY, OCT 22 | 7 PM | VINJE
Join us for a viewing of the National Geographic movie, “Paris to Pittsburgh.” From coastal cities to America’s heartland, Paris to Pittsburgh celebrates how Americans are demanding and developing real solutions in the face of climate change.
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SUNDAY VIDEO & SLIDE HELP NEEDED!
If you use a computer, you are more than qualified to help us out with video and/or slides! We could really, really, really use a few extra people to get on our schedule or even to just be willing to be a sub! It’s truly not a difficult job (some even consider it fun!) and you’d be helping to enhance the worship services for everyone as well as helping to continue streaming video of the service for our homebound members! If you can help, please call the church office or
email Melissa
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CAN YOU LEND A HAND?
We are looking for some help in a few areas...which one(s) can you help with?!
Altar Care (February, April and December).
Wednesday evening suppers (meal prep, serving, clean up).
Worship Assistants (Assisting Minister, Communion Servers, and Lectors).
We’ll take your help for a week, a month, as an occasional back-up...whenever you can!
Please call or
email Melissa
and let her know what you can help with!
MEALS ON WHEELS
Vinje will be delivering Meals on Wheels the weeks of September 30th and October 7th. If you are available to help deliver on any of these dates, please contact Janet in the church office 235.1441.
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DEMENTIA FRIENDS
OCT 7, 6:30 PM & OCT 17, 2 PM | WILLMAR PUBLIC LIBRARY
Learn how to become a Dementia Friend to someone struggling with memory loss. Learn communication tips and small ways in which you can make a difference for someone living with dementia. Contact Jody Loseth at 320.444.8027 with questions.
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CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
OCTOBER 30 | VINJE
If you were unable to have your photo taken in 2017, if you’ve had a new addition to your family in the past couple of years or if you’d just like to have a new photo taken, please call the church office to schedule an appointment.
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HARVEST MEAL
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | 5 PM VINJE
The Vinje Outreach Committee invites you (and your friends and neighbors) to a FREE harvest meal! We hope you are able to join us for this evening of good food and good company!
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MIDDLE SCHOOL 5TH QUARTER FUN!
FRIDAY, OCT 11 | 9-11 PM | VINJE
All 6th-8th graders are invited to join Willmar Area Churches on Friday, October 11 for pizza, games, prizes and fun! Cost is $2. Friends are welcome!
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BLOODMOBILE AT VINJE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 | 1-6 PM
30 minutes is all it takes to save lives! Please call Carol Schmiesing at 222.5048 or the church office at 235.1441 to schedule your appointment! Thanks!
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QUILTERS MEET THIS MONTH
The Vinje Quilters will meet on October 10th and October 24th.
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NAOMI - SARAH CIRCLE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 2:00 pm | HERITAGE ROOM
ELIZABETH CIRCLE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 | 8:00 AM | CAROL PARKER’S
ESTHER CIRCLE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 | 9:30 AM | ROOM 102
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
EVERY TUESDAY | 9:00 AM | ROOM 102
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VINJE COUNCIL MEETING RECAP
Here’s what was discussed at the August council meeting…
ELCA Trends
Renewable Energy Certification Program
Faithful Innovations update
Thanksgiving Service/Pie Celebration with St Mary’s
Stewardship Update
Importance of electronic giving
New Staff
Want to know more? Contact a member of council.
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VINJE ON THE GO!
Vinje’s service is broadcast live each Sunday on KWLM, 1340 AM. You can also watch each service
live on YouTube
(go to youtube.com and search Vinje Willmar).
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