November 2007
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Two big news items with opposite effects have just been released as I write these lines. The bad news is that the Norwegian Government has proposed taking the Norwegian General Consulate in Minneapolis out of the national budget starting in 2008. Now I am amazed by the engagement this threat has triggered among persons and organizations that see both the value and the need to keep our Consul General in Minneapolis. Mindekirken’s congregation council has, along with many Norway lovers in Minneapolis and the upper Midwest, protested the plan. Mindekirken has excellent cooperation with the general consulate. We indeed hope that the Norwegian parliament members, who are the final decision makers, share our understanding that the very “Norwegian” Upper Midwest still needs this active link between our two countries. The good news that I just now have read, was an interview in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten with former US Vice President Al Gore, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his fight for a healthier environmental development. He wants America to be the new leadership for reduced pollution and more sustainable use of the earth’s resources. As the mass media is full of alarming information about the escalating results of global warming, we as humans get the understanding that we have to act quickly. Not in the least can we who believe in God our Creator, remain passive. At the time this issue of the Communicator is released, we will have had our first Harvest Celebration Sunday service (in Norwegian, “Høsttakkegudstjeneste”) at Mindekirken. With our church decorated with fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, wheat sheaves and autumn colors, we have through prayers, hymns and through our offering, shown our gratitude and thanked God for his bountiful gifts. November is Stewardship month. We have a lot of fun fundraising events in the following weeks, first the Treasure Chest Sale, then the Lutefisk Dinner followed by the Christmas Cookie Bake Sale. It makes my heart warm to think about all donations, and all the volunteer work done by people who care for our church! Not that we shall forget about stewardship the rest of the year, but in November we have a special focus on it. Back to what I started with, the news: The Christian church administers the best news on the globe. In our Creed it is named in this way, “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting”. Let us share this good news, both by our words and by acts of love and generosity.
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The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |