April 2007
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God påske! Pr. Per Inge Vik April is the month of Easter, and I am looking forward to it! Even if I also enjoy the other church festivals (especially Christmas), we have to admit that Easter day is definitely the highlight of the church year. After a long and cold winter at our latitude, Easter coincides with the spring season, which makes this time of the year even more joyful. That we celebrate Easter at the same time as nature re-awakens after the winter lethargy, just underlines our cause for celebration. Jesus has shown us that life is stronger than death. Love is more powerful than hatred. The light has overcome the darkness. As a Christian community we have every reason to celebrate that our Lord conquered the evil power, even death itself! In a way, every Sunday morning throughout the year is a ”small Easter day”, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. I enjoy the way we start every 9 o’clock English service at Mindekirken, by singing ”This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia!” So it is correct to say that throughout the year, we have one big Easter day, and fifty-one small ones! While in the American society (outside the churches), this big Christian festival perhaps is more invisible, as not even all schools are closed, it is quite different in Norway. During the Holy Week there are so many ”red days” on the calendar (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and also 2nd Easter day, of course in addition to Palm Sunday and Easter day) that most industrial plants and government offices close their gates and have a spring break during the 9 days from the Saturday before Palm Sunday and through 2nd Easter day. Each of these ”red days” has its own “flavor”. For the first time I will be part of the celebration in Mindekirken, which I am excited about! Both on Palm Sunday and on Easter Day we plan to start with a procession with young and old people carrying respectively palm branches and flowers. On Maundy Thursday night, we will have a special gathering in the Fellowship Hall, where we can learn more about the Jewish roots of Easter, celebrating the Passover meal. On Good Friday we plan to meet for a Passion Service at Jesus’ hour of death, around 3 p.m. We are going to read Christ’s passion story according to Luke. On Easter morning, I want us in Mindekirken to greet each other at the beginning of the service in the same way as the orthodox Christians have done through generations, by saying (pastor:)”Kristus har stått opp (Christ is risen)!” – (congregation:) ”Ja, han har sannelig stått opp” (Yes, He surely is risen)! So, welcome to celebrating Easter at Mindekirken. I wish all of you GOD PÅSKE (Happy Easter)! Pr Per Inge
Vik |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |