I can barely imagine that a year has gone since I arrived in Minneapolis together with Karin and Andreas, in late August 2006. This has been a special year in our lives. So different from the other years, so far.

As the pastor in Mindekirken I try to be a link to Norway, its language, its church and its culture. We have felt at home with you from the very beginning, and little by little I also feel “at home” with the English language.

At the start the biggest challenge was to lead the nine o’clock service in English, and preach there. Also to prepare the sermon and give it as a hand-out every week has been a time-consuming task (and it still is). But I like it very much, it is meaningful to share the Good News from God, in two languages every week! Kaia (the church secretary) has been very supportive in correcting my written English. To be fluent in English is even more important for the pastor of Mindekirken than I had thought before I came here. A year of experience has helped a lot, and I thank you for your patience with me. 

What a privilege it is to serve this congregation! So many warm-hearted people. So many talented members in music, in cooking, in culture, in quilting, in finance, in management etc. So many committed members that share of their time, talent and treasure, not only to keep this church maintained, but developing it and making it grow. 

Now I want to extend a special “tusen takk” to two groups.

1. I want to thank the kitchen committee for the good job they are doing, not only cooking, but also projecting the new kitchen in our church! And I will congratulate the committee that their kitchen plans were approved by the congregation meeting on Sunday July 15^th. As I have written earlier in this column, we at Mindekirken are an eating congregation. I have gained weight this year, and my wife is concerned about that... I have not found as good coffee at any restaurants or cafés anywhere in The Twin Cities as in Mindekirken! And the food is of excellent quality. Therefore the people that volunteer in our kitchen deserve better working conditions than the present kitchen can provide.

2. I also want to thank Klubb 500 for your hard and faithful effort to secure the economic foundation and future of our church! This issue of Communicator is a Klubb 500 issue. You have through the years connected many people to Mindekirken that have gained a warm engagement for our church. You really are important people for Mindekirken. Without your generous contributions our congregation would have been much weaker and more insecure. May God richly bless you!

Pastor Per Inge Vik
vik@mindekirken.org