June 2007
|
|
|
|
The green timeWhen I teach confirmands about the Church Year, I usually say that it consists of two halves: First the Half Year of Festivals (Christmas, Easter and Pentecost), and then the Half Year of Growth. We have now just finished the third of the annual Christian festivals, which concludes the Half Year of Festivals. Holy Trinity Sunday (June 3rd) marks the transition to the Half Year of Growth. The symbol of growth is the green color. We see it in the church textiles, as on the pastor’s stole, the pulpit cloth and the lectern cloth. The green textiles are there now, every Sunday (with a very few exceptions) all the way towards next Advent. We also enjoy the same color outside the church walls during the same period. The green color is a nice and preaching symbol. In our faith fellowship, this color depicts that our faith is being nurtured, can grow and mature. This miracle of growth happens as we hear God’s word and receive his sacraments. The summer months are a bit special in the life of Mindekirken. Most activities have a break. But in the May issue of Communicator, we wrote about "Nordic summer" in the Twin Cities, with several cultural activities, among them the exhibit Polar Norway at Minnesota History Center, opening on June 1st, and a terrific art exhibit of landscape paintings, “A Mirror of Nature” at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Please find more at www.minneapolis.org/nordicsummer As mentioned, in Mindekirken, the activity slows during the summer, with one important exception: the Sunday services. So it is even more crucial than in any other period of the year to come together for Sunday worship in these weeks! It is always encouraging to enjoy the fellowship in Mindekirken! A special feature is being offered to our congregation this summer, on Sunday July 22nd. On that day we both have an English service at 9, as usual, and then Mindekirken’s congregation will gather for an outdoor service at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave in Minneapolis. at 11:30 (not 11:00)! Come and join us, worshipping in surroundings that Jesus and his disciples were quite familiar with, in the middle of creation. Our worship will be accompanied by birds singing, smelling the scent of flowers and watching the blue waters of a lake. In Norway, outdoor worship has become more and more popular in recent decades. I have had the pleasure of leading services both at lake shores, on small islands, on mountain tops and on mountain farms (in Norwegian called “seter”). It is encouraging to come together as Christian brothers and sisters. Do not let your faith be drought-stricken during these wonderful green weeks of the year. I wish all of you welcome to worship with us, both in the “Cathedral of Nature” and in Mindekirken’s sanctuary during these weeks. I wish you a nice and blessed summer. Enjoy this green time of the year! Per Inge Vik |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |