December 2024 Witness

DECEMBER | 2024

WHAT IF WE GAVE THE GIFTS THAT MONEY CAN’T BUY?

Christmas invites us on a journey—a journey through time, from ancient Bethlehem to our modern living rooms warmly lit by festive Christmas trees. The holiday has meant many different things over the years as numerous cultures have found ways to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But when you unwrap Christmas from all the glitz and glamour, when you take away the accents of time, geography, and culture, one thing remains: the simple yet profound truth that God came to dwell among us. No matter how Christmas is celebrated, this truth remains timeless: Jesus’ birth is a gift of hope, peace, joy, and love for all—a gift we are called to share with others.

Our journey begins over 2,000 years ago in a small, crowded town where Jesus was born. The story tells us there was no room in the inn, leaving Mary and Joseph to welcome their child in a humble stable. Born among animals and laid in a manger, Jesus’ birth reminds us that God’s love reaches into the most ordinary and overlooked places. Without the fancy wrapping paper and decorations, Christmas begs us to ask: How can we make room for Christ in our lives?

Thousands of years later, that was the question Martin Luther asked his congregation on Christmas of 1543. Reflecting on the story, Luther remarked, “There was no room in the inn. Of course there was! There was all the room in the inn! But nobody would give up a room!” He challenged his listeners to stop imagining themselves as better than the original residents of Bethlehem. Instead, he said, “Why don’t you do it now? You ought to serve your neighbor, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ himself.” Luther unwrapped Christmas to reveal that it isn’t just about remembering Jesus’ birth but about living out his love and compassion every day.

Now, let’s step into the White House on Christmas Day, 1864. In the middle of a nation torn apart by civil war, President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Tad, brought a few unexpected guests to their holiday dinner. Tad ventured into the freezing streets of Washington, D.C., and found a group of newsboys—children selling newspapers—and invited them into the warmth and grandeur of the White House. Despite the surprise, President Lincoln welcomed these boys to the family table. That act of generosity, in the midst of such great hardship, reflected the true spirit of Christmas: opening our hearts and homes to those in need.

As we journey toward Christmas this year, these stories urge us to reflect on how we celebrate. It’s wonderful that we give gifts to honor Jesus’ birth. Yet, we should ponder: How can a product from a store fully express the hope and peace this season promises? What if we gave gifts that money can’t buy—the gift of hospitality to a stranger, time spent laughing and playing together, or something made with our God-given talents?

How will your celebration add to the history of Christmas? This year, we can choose to unwrap Christmas from all the trite things that often cling to it and instead give the gifts of love and hope, reflecting the joy of Christ’s coming to a world in need.

-Merry Christmas, Pastor Justin

LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

We invite you to make a donation to our Light of Christmas fund which will once again be used to provide gifts and meals for families in our community. Donations are also welcomed for poinsettias, trees, wreaths, and other Christmas decorations. If you know of specific needs in our community please speak with Melissa Hansen or another member of the staff. Thank you for your generosity and sharing the joy of Christmas with others.

Contribution forms can be found in the church office or can be made online (by the December 16). Please be sure to include who your gift is in memory of or thanksgiving for in the "Memo" section.

Requests for assistance with gifts have been great this year, so your contributions are needed and very much appreciated. Thank you!

VINJE QUILTERS

Thank you to all who participated in the Quilt Raffle and Quilt Sale. The beautiful quilt donated by Jeanette Buchanan was won by Kris Swanson. Proceeds of $778 will be donated to Bible Camp Scholarships.

Vinje Quilters will meet this month on December 12. All are welcome! Please join us!

FALL FUN

We’ve been fitting in all kinds of fall and Thanksgiving fun! Speaking of Thanksgiving, we are thankful for good weather, great coworkers and, of course, for all of these adorable kids!

We are all pretty much aware of the four R’s of recycling - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Today I am going to touch on the 5th R - Repurpose. Over 10 years ago we took cedar boards from Rick Loseth’s old deck and repurposed them to make raised garden beds that are located on the west side of the parking lot. To date, we have harvested over a ton of food from these beds. Over the years we have purchased some lumber to build additional beds as well as repurposing part of Bruce Porttiin’s brother-in-law’s deck for some repair work. Next summer we are looking to add some additional beds. If anyone has a deck project planned and is looking to get rid of some cedar boards, let the office know.

On the subject of recycling, to avoid cluttering up the west entryway we will be moving the collection site for bag and plastic film recycling to the hallway off of the kitchen. Keep binging this material in, we want to keep it out of our landfills.

SOLAR LIGHTS FOR UKRAINE

We are so grateful for all the contributions towards the purchase of solar lights for Ukraine! We hope you’ll plan to join us to assemble them on December 3 at 6:30.

Here’s what happened at the November 25th meeting:

Discussed preliminary items for the 2025 budget proposal.
Reviewed the town hall forums on the strategic plan.
Received a report from the nominating committee.
Distributed $50,000 from the endowment per policy to: Bethel Lutheran Church, Family Promise, Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, the Vinje building fund and to the Heritage Room.

EXPLORING VINJE'S HISTORY

This month, pastor Andrés asked Joanne Jimenez to share some of her Christmas memories associated with Vinje.

Christmas at Vinje is a beautiful, multifaceted event that brightens the long winter. We are gladdened by the poinsettias by the altar, the lighted trees, the traditional music from the organ and choir, the joyful singing of the Wednesday Live! children and the decorations that line the entrance halls to the sanctuary. All these guide us to the joy of receiving the baby Jesus into our world and our lives. In turn, especially at Christmas, we give time and talents and energies, flowers, baked goods and gifts. We enjoy sharing our blessings with those around us, and those who can’t attend worship in their church.

The Christmas weather was cold and snowy, but the rented bus was warm. The singers, mostly Vinje choir members, gathered, and we drove to an apartment in Raymond where a Vinje member welcomed us. Some of the carolers went inside to greet the man who sat wrapped in a blanket. He smiled as we sang, and his wife softly joined us. We went to several homes that evening. One home I remember was Earl Olson’s. Someone told me there was an elevator just beyond the large foyer where we sang. I’d never heard of a home with an elevator.

Many of my Christmas memories center around the Bethesda Nursing Home and Sarah Circle (now Ruth Circle). The members of the Circle throw a Christmas party for residents at Bethesda who are members of Vinje. Some years we also prepare for a little bit of caroling. I remember one year when the ladies were quiet and excited as we entered the Vinje fellowship hall. As the group gathered around the piano in the corner, I handed them the song sheets and we talked about the Christmas music we were to present at Bethesda. Then we practiced. A few days later, we arrived at Bethesda to find a large room filled with women and a few men. After Pastor Mary Hovland introduced us, we sang. The residents listened intently to the familiar songs and some of them sang along. Then, a woman in her 80’s who had taken piano lessons as a child, came to the piano and stumbled through “Away in a Manger.” The audience came alive, applauding with sincere awe and gratitude. One year, when the room we found ourselves in didn’t have a piano, we sang acapella, made a joyful noise, and had a good time.

I feel blessed to receive so many treasured memories as gifts each Christmas.

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 Catch worship or our podcasts anytime right here.

TV Watch local access channel, 180 Sundays at 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm and Tuesdays at 8 am and 5 pm.