Spring is sprung, the grass is ris’; I wonder where the flowers is? Answer: the flowers were in church on Easter Sunday. Easter flowers call to mind the color and new growth of spring. They remind us of Easter’s promise that God’s grace in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brings hope not only for beyond the grave, but for this life as well. Christ’s resurrection offers us new beginnings and new growth after seasons of barrenness where fear and the forces of death may seem to have won the day. Easter declares that, no matter what, God gets the last word!

Here at Mindekirken we’ve enjoyed some wonderful worship and special events during the first half of April. The presence of the Jentekor from Trondheim here on Sunday, April 2 was truly inspiring. (I thought they sounded like angels singing!) During the lunch afterwards they continued to offer their gift of song. Holy Week began with the reading of the Passion story from Mark’s Gospel on Palm Sunday where many readers participated at both the English service and the Norwegian one. A wonderful Seder ceremony and meal was prepared, led and served on Maundy Thursday. The bi-lingual, Good Friday service included the reading of Jesus’ Seven Last Words in both Norwegian and English. Each word read was followed by silence and then song. Joyful, well-attended Easter services were accompanied by another of Mindekirken’s delicious Easter breakfasts. A special highlight at the 11:00 Easter service was the baptism of Maks Aleksander Schjoelberg Seorum, newborn son of Lena Schjoelberg and Stuart Seorum. Thanks to all who offered their time and talents to make these worship services and food/fellowship events special for so many. Thanks to those who gave Easter flowers ‘in memory of’, ‘in honor of’ or ‘with love’. Thanks to those who began delivering Easter flowers immediately after services Easter Sunday to selected individuals, most of whom are homebound.

On Friday, April 28 and Saturday 29, Jim and Susan Hoseth and I will represent Mindekirken as voting delegates at our Mpls. Area Synod’s annual Assembly. This year’s assembly will be held at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights. (Sorry to miss the Rømmegrøt Luncheon. Hope someone saves me a bowl!)

On Sunday, May 14, Mindekirken will celebrate syttende mai. Our guest preacher will be Pr. Marit Rong from Bergen. We have enjoyed getting to know Pr. Marit and her husband, Stig Holter, these past few months. May 14 will be their last Sunday with us before they return to Norway.

The Planning Team is currently conducting about 40 interviews of Mindekirken members representing a cross-section of the congregation. They will then sort through the volume of responses, look for common themes and seek to identify some key strengths to build on and problems to address as part of a long range planning process for the congregation. The Council took a look at Mindekirken’s mission statement (which appears to be rather outdated) at its April meeting and spent some time discussing the congregation’s mission. My thought is that a long-range planning group might work hand-in-hand with the Council to continue taking a ‘big picture’ look at the congregation, clearly articulate Mindekirken’s mission in some fresh language and do some intentional planning for the congregation’s future. Such a process would continue well beyond my departure and welcome the participation of your new Norwegian pastor.

Remember, Easter is a seven week season, so… God påske! Interim Pastor Bruce Arnevik

arnevik@mindekirken.org