AUGUST | 2019
MEANINGFUL MINISTRY
Do you ever wonder what happens in the church building during the week? Right now if you were to visit Vinje on a weekday you’d likely find the Vinje staff hard at work but you’d also find seventy-nine children at Loving Arms along with their dedicated teachers. We have several very successful and meaningful ministries at our congregation and this one is certainly among the best.
Right now Vinje’s preschool ministry is thriving. Our infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms are at or very near capacity and there is a waiting list in some cases. We are ready to welcome additional Pre-K students. Children are growing in their understanding of the world and their faith with weekly chapel times led by Vinje pastors. Our new Director of Music, Karen Wojahn, has found this aspect of our congregation so inspiring that she has already written a theme song for the children and plans to spend time in their classrooms on a regular basis. Loving Arms has also expanded this summer offering a summer program for school aged children and a revamped nature center in the southeast courtyard.
Not only does Loving Arms provide a much-needed service to families in our community but our preschool ministry also serves the congregation and others well. In the last year we have hosted intergenerational activities with the preschool kids, welcomed them at Wednesday worship for their Christmas program, been feed by them at Wednesday evening meals, and shared VBS together. Additionally, the ministry blesses the community through our relationship with Rice Care Center and the frequent visits the children make to the residents. And lastly the congregation’s budget is served well by Loving Arms, which provides a steady source of income totaling over $25,000 for the 2019 fiscal year.
Thanks to the teachers, staff, parents, and kids our building does not sit empty during the week but is home to a flourishing ministry of our congregation. Classrooms are filled with curious minds, playgrounds abound with energy, the hallways contain little smiling faces, and our sanctuary hosts a regular worship service for some of God’s smallest children who come to hear of Jesus’ love for them.  
 
-Pastor Justin
FAREWELL FROM PASTOR GARY
Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Vinje, 
Mange Tusen Takk. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as your part time visitation pastor the past twelve months. It has been a pleasure to serve with the congregational care team and Vinje’s fine staff. As you soon welcome a new director of worship and music to the mix, I trust that she, too, will feel as welcomed and valued as I have been in my role. 
Today I write to make you aware of a transition in my life. Vinje’s executive committee was made aware of this transition earlier in July.  Having given two weeks’ notice, I plan to begin a full time interim on August 1, 2019 at Celebration Lutheran in Sartell.  I can only hope that I will be as graciously received there as I have been at Vinje. Wherever we are, may the God of Hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that people may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13). 
Grateful for God’s ongoing surprises and ever-present grace,    
-Pastor Gary Mikkelson

Vinje’s Council wants to thank Pastor Gary for the services he provided in a caring and meaningful way. We wish him well in his new challenge at Celebration of Life in Sartell.
Our mission will be to continue the caring and loving service to a very special segment of our Congregation…the sick, injured, dying and those unable to be an active part of Vinje. How we achieve that goal will look different as we search for the right mix of congregational help and other pastoral assistance. The very dedicated Congregational Care Committee has and will continued to provide visits, meals and a listening ear.
Please keep us in your prayers as we navigate this new challenge.
SUMMER UPDATE! 
Summer fun is in full force at Loving Arms. We’ve enjoyed field trips to the pool and the Redwood County Fair! We’ve visited our friends at Rice Care Center and had a blast at our carnival! We’re loving the sunshine!
MANY THANKS...
COLUMBARIUM UPDATE
A few new Vinje members have expressed interest in the idea of a columbarium on the grounds of the church. The committee has decided to continue our informational gathering quest to determine the feasibility. A line item has been established for any donations to the Columbarium Project.
We will be meeting with Gary Lagerstad from Faith Lutheran to hear about their process and then shortly after that, a columbarium representative. Please continue to notify the office or one of our committee members with any questions.
Committee members are: Gretta Kray, Lorna Bahl, Justin Bos, Jan Dahl, Kevin Hanson, Joe Gatewood, Laurel Reickman, Bob Tinklenberg, Jeannette Buchanan, Pastor Justin
ARBORETUM TRIP
MONDAY, AUGUST 19 | DEPARTING AT 9 AM
Admission is free. There will be a fee to cover transportation. Sign up in the church office by August 9th.
Summer exhibit is a monumental stick sculpture made of sustainably-harvested local willow ranches. It was built by artist Patrick Dougherty and several volunteers over a three week period in May. It will be on display for the next two years and available for event rental.  In 2010, the artist created a smaller piece and called it the “Uff-Da Palace”. He has designed for arboretums throughout the world including, Japan, Denmark and Italy.
Photos taken by Myra Quale on June 22nd, 2019
SUMMER MOVIE: PHILOMENA
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14 | 1 PM | VINJE
What better way to spend a hot summer day than in a cool movie theater. And this summer Vinje has you covered. Of course no movie would be the same without popcorn and we’ve got that covered! Bring a beverage and join us!
 

WELCOME KAREN WOJAHN, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Karen Wojahn, our new part-time Director of Music, comes to us from Windom, Minnesota, where she has been an organist and the Worship & Music Coordinator at American Lutheran Church. Prior to focusing on church work, Karen was an Elementary and Early Childhood teacher in the Windom Schools for 25 years. Karen’s husband, Michael, is a farmer and school bus driver. They have three grown children and five grandchildren, including two sets of twins. (Stop in to see their pictures in her Vinje office!) Karen is a member of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Welsh Association and organist for the annual Minnesota Welsh Hymn Festival. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Welsh North American Association, and she is active in their annual North American Festival of Wales, serving as the pianist and leader of late night singing each evening of the event’s Labor Day gathering. In her spare time, Karen enjoys sewing and playing her harp. Please introduce yourself to Karen!
JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT MEETING
THURS, AUGUST 19 | 5:30 PM | GARDENS
I know that the Lord is great,
That our Lord is greater that all gods.
The Lord does whatever pleases him,
In the heavens and on earth,
In the seas and all their depths.
He makes clouds rise from the ends
Of the earth;
He sends lightning with the rain
And brings out the wind from
His store houses.
Psalm 135: 5-7 
Check out the pollinator garden (the round one by the garage) to see what treats we have for bees and other helpful insects. So far we have recognized yellow Stella D’oro day lilies around the border. There are also bee balm plants, purple coneflowers, ironweed, Joe-pye-weed, Black-eyed Susans, sunflowers, blanket flower, and swamp milkweed. If you can identify anything new, that is a bonus! If you would like to help with the garden, please leave your name and contact information with the office!
 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
SUNDAY, SEPT 8 | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM | GOD’S WORK, OUR HANDS
We’ll kick off the school year by working together on a service project here at Vinje. The service project will be family friendly and a great opportunity for people of all ages!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 | 8:30 AM | SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS!
Pre-K through 5th grade kids will gather to celebrate the start of another fun year of Sunday School!

STUFF THE BUS
We are once again partnering with United Way to ‘Stuff the Bus’ with school supplies for area kids in need! Donations will be received through Thursday, August 8. Items needed are: backpacks, calculators, ziplock bags, scissors, pencils, pencil boxes, markers, rulers, paper towels, glue sticks, and crayons.
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). 
To view/listen to past services, click here .