FEBRUARY | 2021

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY: AN INVITATION FOR LENT The season of Lent is coming soon, and this year we’re focusing on the theme “I Love to Tell the Story”. For the whole season of Lent we’ll be hearing lots of stories from Jesus. On Sunday mornings, we’ll be hearing the stories of an unlikely stranger who helps a man in desperate need, and the story of two squabbling sisters who are fighting for Jesus’ affection. We’ll hear about a rich man and a poor beggar, a withering fig tree, and a tax collector who climbs up a tree. We’ll also hear stories of lost sheep, lost coins, and a lost son. We hope that as you hear these stories told, that you will imagine what these old and somewhat familiar stories have to say to us in our lives and world today. We are also planning on hearing stories from everyday people like you who will share what God has been up to in their lives this last year. We know that 2020 was a difficult year, and that 2021 hasn’t exactly started off as well as we’d hoped, but in the midst of it all, many of you have experienced the love of God in unique ways. For our Wednesday services, we’re inviting everyday Vinje members to share their stories of hope and love, and God’s faithfulness that has continued to be with them every day. Lent will look a bit different this year. Many of you will not feel comfortable joining us for in-person worship just yet, and that’s okay. But we are hoping to provide opportunities that make this season just as meaningful. Though things can change, at this point we are planning on in-person Wednesday services starting with Ash Wednesday on February 17. The next week we’ll be offering our traditional Holden Evening Prayer services for the next five weeks. And don’t worry, our plan is to live stream all of these services so that even if you can’t join us in-person, you can participate safely from the comfort of your own home. Whatever comes our way these next weeks and months, we know that God will be with us. We hope you’ll join us in whatever way you can to hear the old old story of God’s love for us that meets us right here. We hope this season helps you to prepare for the great story of God’s good news at Easter. And we hope that this season is for you a reminder of the God we have who meets us wherever we are.

SUNDAY SCHOOL UPDATE! We have been trying to make the best of COVID times, and Vinje kids have been busy doing at-home faith formation devotions and activities this month. We had a Zoom bedtime story, popcorn and a movie, a couple of crafts, and a sledding event at Green Lake. We appreciate how families have taken the opportunity to share the faith in their own homes during this strange time for all of us. We have missed seeing the kids of our congregation, and we're discussing the possibility of having in-person Sunday School in the coming weeks. While we don't have any information just yet, and we have to take it one day at a time, and we’ll share more as we figure out how to safely provide meaningful opportunities.

BIBLE CAMP & VBS/DAYCAMP OPPORTUNITIES Registration for Green Lake Lutheran Ministry opened on January 25 and we want all Vinje kids to have the chance to go! Early bird registration discount is available until March 1. We encourage campers to register now and if cost is any issue, we don't want that to be a barrier for anyone. As every year, Vinje will continue to provide scholarship money to help with the cost so that everyone has a chance to go! In addition to encouraging our children to attend summer camp, Green Lake is partnering with us to offer a VBS/Day Camp experience. Vinje will again be partnering with Calvary and Bethel Lutheran Churches. There will be more details in the months ahead, but this Day Camp experience will be the week of July 17, so mark your calendars!a

Information from West Central Sanitation, your County Recycling Center: Between 15 and 16,000 bins have been distributed to each eligible households in the county. The best plastics to recycle are labeled #1, #2, and #5. Cardboard and metals are very valuable, recycling commodities. The volume that has been collected has increased each month. Garbage volumes have decreased per the Willmar trash route driver. Collected recyclables go from their transfer station, loaded on a semi and driven to DemCon in Shakopee that processes the material for further use. DemCon prioritizes Minnesota based product manufactures when selling the recyclables. Recycling service is free, paid by Kandiyohi County.

CONFIRMATION UDPATE Confirmation students are back in the building and have started off the new year by learning about sin. Sounds fun doesn't it? Don't worry, the youth are still having a good time and they are reminded that despite the reality that we are all sinners, God meets us with grace, love, and forgiveness.

VINJE PHOTO DIRECTORIES If your family’s photo is in the Vinje directory, updated copies have arrived. Call the church office to make arrangements to pick up your directory.

Director of Music, Karen Wojahn Are there specific hymns or praise songs that pop into your head once in awhile? For me, when I see a beautiful sunrise with streaks of color in a blue sky, I think of “When Morning Gilds the Skies,” ELW 853. When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised! What song speaks to your heart? Is there a theme song to your faith life? Most likely, that is a special song for you because of the words. Each week in our online worship broadcasts, I try to make sure there is at least one song that we can provide the lyrics for you to sing along with at home. In worship, songs are chosen, not so much for the melody or harmonies, but for the words and their message. It is said that when we sing, we pray twice. “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” (Psalm 104:33) As we resume in-person worship services, we cannot yet safely sing together in the sanctuary. Each week, however, we’ll have singers who will share hymns of faith. As you worship in person or online, use that time to meditate on the words and let them resonate in your heart.

LOVING ARMS UPDATE Loving Arms Childcare Center is currently seeking a full time and a part time classroom aide. No special certifications required. Know someone that might be a great addition to our team? Have them contact Chris at 320.235.7271 or [email protected].

COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Reviewed the latest PPP loan opportunities and decided that Vinje did not qualify. Agreed to apply for another pastoral intern for 2021-22. Proposed an amendment to the 2021 budget to accommodate intern costs. This amendment will be presented to the congregation at the annual meeting. Agreed to negotiate an extension to the staff sharing agreement with St John’s and asked Personnel Committee to propose amendments to job descriptions to reflect changes.

EXPLORING VINJE'S HISTORY: VINJE’S BAPTISMAL FONT Pastor Andrés is digging into Vinje’s unique history. This month, he tracks down Vinje’s old baptismal font. St. John’s Lutheran Church in Raymond had an eight-sided baptismal font of white marble, but for some reason that I cannot explain, they wanted another one. It had to be octagonal, so that it could serve, as the one they had, as a reminder of “the eighth day.” In seven days, God created the heavens and the earth, the “seven days” that represent the course of the present life. The following day is then “the eighth day,” the everlasting day of the new creation, the day when Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. He rose again on the third day, the day we call the Lord’s day, the day after the Sabbath, and therefore the eighth day. When we are baptized, we die and are raised with Christ to an everlasting eighth day in which nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The opportunity for St. John’s to get a new eight-sided baptismal font came when Vinje left the downtown location and moved to our current building. Our old eight-sided baptismal font was donated to St. John’s in Raymond together with two chairs for the altar area. The carved design on the chairs and the font are the same and the three pieces match the wooden altar and pulpit that the church already had. They are there to this day. St. John’s marble font was in-turn donated to the Green Lake Bible Camp. It was used at the Bible Camp Chapel for many years until someone made a wooden one that fit the sanctuary décor better. The marble font was put in storage for a while and then was used as a baptismal reminder near the entrance to the main lodge for several years. Thank you to Merle Berkeland, Debi Brandt, Bev Winkelman, Dave Eliason, and Steph Holme for helping me put this story together.

FEBRUARY 7TH | 11:00 AM | ON-LINE  All confirmed members of the congregation will have voice and vote at this meeting. We will vote on new council members and a budget proposal for 2021. This meeting will take place via Zoom. Find the meeting link along with the annual report on our website. Copies of the annual report are also available in the little pick-up box outside of the main entrance and on the welcome desk on Sunday mornings.

Make a one-time contribution or set up reoccurring giving here. Need help? Call the church office!

VINJE ON THE GO! RADIO Listen on Sundays at 9:30 am on KWLM, 1340 AM. INTERNET Watch anytime! (go to YouTube and search Vinje Willmar).  TV Watch local access channel, WRAC 8/180, Sundays at 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm, Tuesdays at 8 am and 5 pm or Saturdays at 6 pm.