GROW WITH GOD
Welcome to summer! We made it. Months and months of snow and cold followed by a strange spring, but here we are, and we can safely assume that the weeks ahead will come with at least 70-degree weather. Summer brings a season of outdoor enjoyment for many of us. Trips to the lake, grilling, relaxing outside in the cool breeze as we soak in some sun. Gardens grow, flowers blossom, crops fill the fields, trees turn green, and we get to add weekly lawn mowing to our household chores. Summer is a season of growth.
God’s creation is made to grow. In one of his more well-known parables, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. The growth of the tiny seed into a magnificent shrub is only the beginning of the growth that takes place. Because mustard seeds aren’t something that farmers were planting when Jesus told this parable. No, mustard was a weed. Imagine if Jesus told us today, “The kingdom of God is like creeping Charlie” or thistle or dandelions, buckthorn, and crabgrass. It turns out that the kingdom of God is like a weed that grows and grows and grows. It’s invasive, it takes over and will not be easily contained, which I think is the point that Jesus was trying to make in his parable: you can’t control the kingdom of God. Like a mustard seed or like the farmer who scatters seed, which then sprouts and grows without any effort, the kingdom cannot be controlled; it is wild and unruly, it takes over and transforms our lives and our world.
God’s creation is made to grow. As you look outside your window, you’ll notice that creation is in step with God’s intentions. As part of God’s creation, we are made to grow with God as well. God’s activity in our lives is all around us. Do we notice the new things that God is doing? Do we take advantages of the opportunities that God gives us to deepen our faith and trust in all that God does? This summer we will be exploring how we can grow with God during Sunday worship. We will explore stories from the Bible of how God brings growth to all of creation and how God can bring growth to us. Like a good gardener, God helps us grow into the lives we have been called to live. As we hear stories from scripture about seeds, trees, vineyards, farms, and other aspects of nature, we will learn about God’s grace and mercy. We will grow deeper into the servants we are called to be as we pursue justice and care for all of creation. So come grow your faith this summer. Come and grow with God.
Pastor Justin
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MAY 22 CONGREGATIONAL FORUM
Council leaders shared their vision for the future of Vinje with those gathered after worship On May 22. In response to a significant decline in national church membership and attendance across all denominations council leaders have prioritized Vinje’s welcome, worship, and community engagement. Some of the changes planed include a redesigned gathering space with a coffee bar and new welcome center. Council shared that a modern style of worship will also be a priority for our congregation. They are currently searching for an additional staff member who can lead the congregation in song. Some of the language used in worship and the preaching themes will also be updated to be more engaging in the days ahead. The importance of our traditions and Lutheran identity will continue to be a part of all that Vinje does. Council also shared the success we have had in meeting the county’s childcare crisis with our two centers: Loving Arms and Praise and Play. However, there are still over 700 children in need of childcare in Kandiyohi County. Vinje leaders shared their belief that in the coming years there will be further ministry opportunities similar to these centers and our partnership with Saint John’s in Raymond. While the larger societal trends for churches are not good, Vinje is well positioned and prepared to continue our legacy of creative and innovative ministry that meets the real needs of our community.
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LANDSCAPING HELP NEEDED!
We are looking for a few individuals to help out with some small landscaping needs around the building and within our courtyards. Specifically, we are in need of leaf removal, weeding and possibly planting a few new plants. Speaking of new plants, if anyone has any hostas or other plants that they’d be interested in splitting and donating to the church, please let us know!
Please call or email Melissa (320.235.1441 or [email protected]) if you or your family or friends are willing and able to spare an hour or two to help spruce up our outdoor spaces. Thanks!
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By Director of Music, Karen Wojahn
On Sunday, June 5, we will celebrate Pentecost, the birth of the Church. Remembering the tongues of fire that appeared over the heads of the assembled crowd, you are invited to wear red that day. The Vinje Choir will share two anthems at the Pentecost worship service and we will all sing, “Holy Spirit, Come to Us.”
Continuing Vinje’s singing tradition, we will have Prelude Hymn Sings on the second and fourth Sundays in June, July, and August. Request a verse of your favorite hymn before worship begins.
Help enrich our summer worship by sharing your musical talents! If you are willing to sing a solo, play an instrumental piece, or sing in a small group, please give me a call or send an email to Karen!
See you at church!
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VINJE QUILTER UPDATE
& RAFFLE WINNER!
Vinje Quilters donated 40 quilts locally this year to Home to Home Project, Hope Pregnancy Center, Safe Avenues, Presbyterian Family Foundation, Girls Group Home, Heartland Community Action, and Scandia House. 14 quilts have also been donated to Lutheran World Relief. Thank you to Thrivent Financial for their continued generous support and to tall the women who have cut, sewed, pinned and tied quilts!
Thank you to all who supported the quilt raffle and to Shirley Sundlee for donating the beautiful quilt! The drawing brought in $378 which will go to bible camp scholarships. The winner of the quilt was Dee Rosenbrook!
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UPDATE FROM YOUR CREATION CARE COMMITTEE
All the trees and bushes distributed after church on Earth Day Sunday have been planted by our congregational members.
The vegetables seeds are planted in the eight raised beds by the garage. Soon you will see the potatoes, onions, squash, and beets plants emerging.
On Sunday, June 4, after services and coffee, we will edge and clean out the butterfly garden. Everyone come help us!
The “Creation Season” will be the theme for the last three Sundays in June, including meaningful hymns and songs, scripture and sermons.
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SUMMER FUN HAS BEGUN!
We are loving all the outside fun that we are finally being able to have! We are excited to welcome our school age friends to the summer program that begins June 6th! Summer is a great time for exploring, water fun, special guests, etc. We are looking forward to many combined summer field trips with out friends at Praise & Play in Spicer as well as many special on-site activities too!
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EXPLORING VINJE'S HISTORY
Pastor Andrés has been digging into the history of stained glass, the meaning behind Vinje’s stained glass and William Saltzman, the artist that designed it. This is part one of a two-part series.
Builders of religious buildings have always tried to enhance the windows and how they let the light in because light is a central symbol in many faith traditions. Light represents purity, the heavens, spirituality, and genesis.
The use of stained glass for religious buildings can be documented back to the 7th century. Stained glass has the advantage that it provides a certain level of privacy that ordinary windows do not without blocking light transmission. Stained glass windows have tellingly been described as “illuminated wall decorations.”
The design of a stained-glass window may be abstract or figurative. Traditionally they have depicted stories from the Bible and religious teachings and have been used to educate people who could not read.
We have our own stained glass surrounding the Vinje sanctuary that was dedicated in 1979. It was designed by William Saltzman (1916-2006), born in Minneapolis, who happened to be Jewish and was a painter, sculptor, muralist, designer, and teacher. He designed stained glass windows, fashioned copper reliefs, and worked in a variety of two-dimensional media. During World War II, he was a member of the U.S. Army Camouflage Unit in Europe. And when he returned from the war, he held many different positions, among others he was the Director of the Rochester Art Center from 1948 to 1964, and he was professor at Macalester College in St. Paul from 1966 to 1983.
Saltzman’s artistic subject matter included landscapes, figures, and abstractions, in oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, sculpture, and mixed media. He was fascinated by the interplay of light, color, shape, and texture, and he was without parallel in the mastery of these elements. “The principles of art apply to all media,” he used to say, “and when followed, an artist can transcend any physical limitations of a particular medium.”
Rolf Peterson remembers that he was the president of the Vinje church council when he and other members of the council went to the Twin Cities and visited two synagogues in St. Paul with stained glass windows designed by Saltzman, the Temple of Aaron and Mount Zion Temple. They liked so much what they saw that it was not hard for them to agree on commissioning our stained glass to Saltzman.
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COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
At their May 23rd meeting the Vinje Council…
- Received the April Treasurer’s Report
- Agreed to join the Calvary Partner Network for a period of two years. Calvary Lutheran Church (Alexandria, MN) provides resources and connects congregations seeking to participate in modern Lutheran worship.
- Accepted a bid to install new flooring in Loving Arms classrooms.
- Formed an interview committee to evaluate candidates for the Director of Engagement and Worship Life.
- Reviewed the May 22nd congregational forum.
- Received updates to bids on a new welcome center & coffee bar, columbarium, and solar panel.
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Make a one-time contribution or set up reoccurring giving here. Need help? Call the church office!
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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, 180 Sundays at 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm and Tuesdays at 8 am and 5 pm.
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