September 2007

From the Pastor:  Together Again, After the Bridge Tragedy

On July 17 we were honored to have the US ambassador visit Mindekirken. He spoke to about 240 people in a very hot Fellowship Hall, and answered questions from the audience. One of the things I noticed as he reported from his life in Norway, was that he took advantage of the nice nature around Oslo, e.g. that he went mountain hiking and cross country skiing in Nordmarka.

 I recognized this, as Karin and I have done the same here in Minneapolis, taken advantage of what this area can offer. It was especially nice for us to go biking this summer. Have you ever tried the Midtown Greenway (former railroad track), or biked along West River Parkway? It is just beautiful! Eventually I also found out that it was possible to bike from my home in St Anthony Village to church. That was an improvement in my life, I could exercise at the same time as going to work! And it takes me only about 35 minutes. After the freeway bridge collapse, many people now have to find alternative routes to work.

 Yes, it was shocking to hear and see the news from Minneapolis on TV in Norway, and realize that it was the very bridge that I used many times every week during this last year! We have been praying for Minneapolis and its inhabitants these days, and we are thinking, how does this tragedy influence all of us, and especially those who were in the middle of the tragedy or have relatives or friends that became part of it?

 As the September issue of the Communicator arrives in peoples’ mailboxes, I will have just returned from Norway. It was special to be in the old country, meeting with old friends and family members, smell the salty air by the Atlantic coast, go fishing, mountain hiking, biking (like in Minneapolis!) and simply live in our own Norwegian home for some weeks. For me it also was nice to stay a week at the Christian Retreat Center Sandom in Ottadalen, a branch of Gudbrandsdalen Valley.

 September is a month for gathering again after having been scattered around during the summer. Now I look forward to meeting with each one of you again and we can share how our summers have been. I look forward to the fall season with excitement. We are now focusing on the small cells that make up the big fellowship. We want to create meeting places where our faith can grow together.

We have welcomed a lot of new members this last year. I hope both the newcomers and you “older” members will use the opportunity to join a small group. Study the Bible together. Eat together (we are good at that already). Make new friendships. Visit each other’s homes. Share each other’s lives. We do not only need the big fellowship in the Sunday service. We need to connect closer to a smaller group of persons that we can relate more personally to.  So, welcome back to worship in Mindekirken, and feel welcome to join one of our small groups!

Pr. Per Inge Vik    vik@mindekirken.org

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716