July 2006
|
|
|
|
NEW NORWEGIAN PASTOR CALLED! Pentecost Sunday, June 4 (Pinsedag)
was a great day at Mindekirken as the congregation voted unanimously to call
Pastor Per Inge Vik from Norway! Special
thanks to the Call Committee for all their excellent work.
Thanks to the Council for their support of the Call Committee.
Congratulations to the congregation for extending the call.
Congratulations to Pastor Vik for receiving and accepting the call.
He is planning to serve Mindekirken for three years.
When will he arrive? It
depends on how long the visa process takes.
Let’s say ‘late summer/early fall’ and leave it at that for now. Pentecost
Sunday also held a pleasant surprise for me as Mindekirken honored the 25th
anniversary of my ordination with special cake and the gift of a beautiful
wooden cross, handmade by an artist using Norwegian ‘chip carving’.
As an interim pastor having only served this congregation for six months,
it was a surprise that meant a lot. I’m
glad Mindekirken likes to throw parties! Thank
you so much! Planning Team Update: The Planning Team conducted representative congregational
surveys/interviews as part of their process of listening to the congregation.
At the June Council meeting, Erik Pratt of the Planning Team reported to
the Council. He listed some of the
forces, challenges and issues facing the congregation from without (from the
culture), as well as from within. (Copies
of this report are available at the church if you would like to pick one up.)
The Planning Team will continue working with the Council as a kind of
‘catalyst’ to help the Council and congregation look at some of these things
over the course of the next year or so. Pastor
Vik will soon be able to be a part of this process.
Each month the Council will spend some time reflecting on a particular
challenge or issue. The goal is for
Mindekirken to become clearer about who it is today, who it wants to be in the
future, and what its mission is. Thanks
to those who have invested time on the Planning Team.
Since a few members of the team have needed to step down, two or three
‘replacements’ may be in order. Interested?
Speak with Jennifer Thue or Lynn Tesch. Summers
fly by fast in Minnesota. Enjoy it.
Make the effort to gather with others to worship – if possible, even
when you’re away from home. While
you eagerly await your new Norwegian pastor, don’t forget that Mindekirken is
an American church – not
supported by Norwegian tax dollars! Please
keep your tithes and offerings coming in all summer!
Thank you very much. Interim Pastor Bruce Arnevik
|
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |
