A Christmas Gift to Mindekirken
by Pr. Jens Dale

It has been wonderful to experience God’s faithfulness through this last year. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam. 3:22-23

Through the worship life and the many activities at Mindekirken, God’s grace has been conveyed to us. God’s grace also comes to us through our fellowship and our stewardship. As I write these lines, I envision how I have seen God’s love through your dear faces. Your faithful, hopeful and loving dedication to the work of God through Mindekirken has really made a difference in the lives of a lot of people.

I’m also sending a special greeting to those of you who feel exhausted. Sometimes we need to learn to say “no” in order to maintain a good balance between receiving and giving in our lives.

There are also times when we should consider responding to a special challenge. Right now, the congregation is working hard to make ends meet. The Treasure Chest Sale, Lutefisk Dinner, Bake Sale, etc. are big fundraisers near the end of the year. But we’re still in a position where we’re dependent on generous support from all of you to avoid a deficit for 2004. 

I challenge you to prayerfully consider a special Christmas gift to the church. A return envelope for a donation is provided in this issue of the Communicator. Giving puts you closer to God’s work through the church. It is indeed a way in which his blessing is conveyed to us. As Paul would have expressed it: God loves a cheerful giver.

Christmas is coming up. We’ll celebrate the greatest gift of all: how God became one of us to give us life and hope. May the Christmas season be a renewing experience of God’s love for all of us.

Jens A. Dale, Pastor
jens@mindekirken.org