So here we are, at the end of another school year, and the end of another program year at the church. By the time you read this letter, the children and youth in your life will be done with classes and most of the graduation parties will be in the rearview mirror. Here at Vinje, we’ll be taking a break from many of our weekday activities and moving into the summer mode of Vacation Bible School, summer camps, mission trips, and more. Life will generally take on a different pace for all of us.
Hopefully you’ll be spending more time outside this summer, enjoying the warming weather with trips to the family lake, or on vacation to some exotic location, or maybe just enjoying life gardening or grilling in the back yard of your home. Most importantly, if you’re like me, you probably will be having some fun going fishing this summer, too.
As we move into this month of June, that’s where our focus will turn at Vinje, as we hear a few stories about going fishing with Jesus. One is a tale of Jesus meeting a few fishermen who had caught nothing all night, and he transforms their fishing expedition into a catch that is so big their nets begin to break. They are shocked, to say the least, that Jesus is able to do something remarkable with them when they couldn’t catch a single fish all night. And in that moment they are so amazed at what Jesus has done in their everyday life that, when he tells them he’s now going to make them fish for people, they drop everything to follow him.
We’ll hear another story of Jesus using these former fishermen to feed 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. And then we’ll hear yet another story of the resurrected Jesus meeting his old disciples on a shore, you guessed it, fishing. Jesus will, once again, fill their nets with fish and feed them again with something more than just food, but with the promise of new life and salvation.
As we enter into this season of summer, we hope these stories are a reminder that God will meet you wherever you go. God will meet you in something as ordinary as hooking a worm to your granddaughter’s fishing pole, or grilling out and playing games in the backyard. God will meet you as you serve others on a mission trip or as you do the daily work of caring for your neighbors in your daily vocations of your work life or in being a good dad, or grandma, or friend.
We invite you to come and hear some big fish stories on Sunday mornings with us. And we hope they are a reminder that God can use little old you and me to do some big things in this world, whoever we are and wherever we go… maybe even when we’re gone fishin’.
-Pastor Dane
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CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!
Over the last 18 years we have been blessed to watch our graduating seniors grow and mature in their faith. We have been able to share our many gifts with them and have received much back in return. As they celebrate this major milestone in their lives we are blessed to share yet another meaningful moment with them. We also know that God is sending them out into new and different places in the world as while we will certainly miss their presence we know God’s presence goes with them and is leading them to new things. God has been calling, gathering, and sending out
followers of Jesus for a long time and we send our prayers with our seniors as they are sent in the months ahead.
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. Luke 10:1-3
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SNOW MELT WINNER!
Congratulations to Roger Kingstrom for making the correct snow melt date guess of May 4th!
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VBS KICK OFF!
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 | 3-6 PM | SHORES OF ST ANDREW
This is an event for all students going to VBS, Pre-K through 5th Grade. Bring your whole family! We will have Hotdogs & S'mores on a bonfire and swim in the lake. (bring your swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen) You will also get the chance to play some games and meet the GLLM Counselors!
Remember that VBS officially runs from June 10-13 from 8:30-4 PM (Early Drop off is 8 AM). Pre-K students will participate in opening worship at Vinje with the older kids. And then grades
K-5 will take a bus to experience VBS at Shores of St. Andrew.
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LOVING ARMS UPDATE
SUMMER CARNIVAL FUN!
THURSDAY, JULY 18 | 3-5 PM | RICE CARE CENTER
Join us for pony rides, fairy garden creating, bounce house and more! Cotton candy, popcorn and donuts will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the Walk to End Alzheimers.
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GAMES AND CRAFTS NEEDED!
Loving Arms is in search of gently used games or crafts for their new summer school-age program! If you have any fun stuff cluttering up your basement or closets, we’d love to take it off your hands! Drop it by either the Loving Arms office or the church office at your convenience. Thanks!
Follow along with all of our fun on F
acebook!
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Denver youth will head out at 7:30 AM on June 21! Saint Louis youth and adult leaders will have a meeting with pizza on Wednesday, June 26 at 6 PM and leave for Saint Louis at 9:30 AM on July 13.
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VINJE COLUMBARIUM
A group of Vinje members are exploring the cost, design and location of a columbarium on Vinje property. Many have asked, “What is a columbarium?” A columbarium is described as a “wall, room or building used to store urns holding the ashes of people who have died and been cremated.” Columbariums may be located in church cemeteries (St. Mary’s) or on church property (Faith Lutheran in Spicer).
Being that our own Vinje Cemetery is full and cremation is a growing trend, a columbarium would provide an opportunity to continue our rich and long history of honoring Vinje loved ones.
The committee would like to gauge congregational interest in this project. Please call 320.235.1441 or
email
. if you’re interested in this possibility or would like to learn more.
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BASEBALL GAME FUN!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 | TAUNTON STADIUM | 7:05 PM
We’re joining with our friends from Bethel for a fun evening in a suite at the Stingers game! $10 will cover admission and all you can eat food and drink (this is a $20 value!). Children are welcome. Limited tickets available.
Email
ASAP to sign up.
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BLOODMOBILE AT VINJE
MONDAY, JULY 1| 1-6 PM | FELLOWSHIP HALL
30 minutes is all it takes to save lives! Plus, this month only, receive a free Red Cross t shirt! Please call Carol Schmiesing at 222.5048 or the church office at 235.1441 to schedule your appointment! Thanks
!
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VINJE QUILTERS UPDATE
Over the past year, Vinje Quilters have donated 43 quilts locally to Hope Pregnancy Center, Salvation Army, United Community Action, Home 2 Home Connection, and the Girls’ Group Home. 20 additional quilts will be displayed at Vinje on June 9th to be blessed and sent to Lutheran World Relief.
Thank you to Thrivent Financial for its continued generous support and to everyone who donated money to help finance these quilts.
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ARBORETUM TRIP-AUGUST 9TH
Join with our friends from Bethel for a fun day trip to the arboretum! Admission is free, there will be a fee to cover transportation. More information coming soon.
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The potatoes, onions, carrots and squash have been planted. The butterfly garden is growing each day. Go visit the garden next time you are at church!
Sibley State Park 100th Birthday Bash is taking place on Saturday, June 8th from 9 AM—4 PM!
Free park entry, canoe rides, community softball game, live music, kids activities and cake! Check out their website for more information on these fun activities!
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NAOMI - SARAH CIRCLE
TUESDAY, JUNE 4 | 2 PM | ROOM 102
ELIZABETH CIRCLE
THURSDAY, JUNE 6 | 8 AM | KRIS SWANSON’S
ESTHER CIRCLE
THURSDAY, JUNE 6 | 9 AM | MEET AT VINJE FOR FUN OUTING
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
NOT MEETING FOR THE SUMMER
ALL CIRCLE BIBLE STUDY
THURSDAY, JULY 11 | 11:30 AM | GATHERING AREA
We hope that you can join us for our annual all circle Bible study! We have a real treat in store as Pastors Justin and Seyward Ask and Pastors Dane and Ingrid Skilbred will be the leaders! Also, this year’s raffle quilt will be on display!
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6-12TH GRADE VALLEYFAIR!
WED, JUNE 19 | 8 AM-8:30 PM | COST: $35
6th-12th graders (2018-19 school year) are invited to join us for our annual Valleyfair trip! Please sign up in the church office or by emailing Melissa at [email protected] by June 1st.
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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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RECEIVING TWO NEWSLETTERS AND WOULD PREFER TO ONLY RECEIVE ONE?
In an effort to make sure that we are not missing anyone with our paper and email versions of our newsletters, we've begun sending the e-news version to all of our members. If you receive the paper version and would prefer not to also receive this monthly email, just
let us know
and we'll be happy to remove you from our email list. OR, if you are currently receiving the paper version of the newsletter and would like to move to only the email version,
let us know
that as well. Thanks so much!
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