Mindekirken COMMUNICATOR No. 154 November 2016 Newsletter of the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church - ELCA A Norwegian Christmas A Scandinavian Treasure Chest with Jardar Johansen Sale and Cafeteria at Mindekirken Sat., Nov. 5 10 a.m.—2 p.m. Sunday, Nov.27 at 5:00 pm Norwegian Outfits for American Girl Dolls Hardanger Embroidery Hand-knit Items Norwegian Chocolates Nordic Foods & Gifts Home-baked Cakes, Breads, and Lefse Silent Auction Lutefisk dinner tickets for Nov 19 Take a break at the cafeteria: a la carte lunch opening 10:30 a.m. Jardar Johansen is one of Northern Make lunch reservation when you enter. Norway’s foremost performers, known Smørbrød (Open-faced sandwiches) from concerts, albums, TV and theatre. Bløtkake (Cream cake) For more than 15 years, Jardar has Coffee/Tea/Soft drinks done a Christmas tour that has developed Credit cards accepted. This annual event into the most popular series of concerts for is a fundraiser for the General Operating Fund of Mindekirken. the holidays in the region of Northern Norway. He often creates his concerts as Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner stories, where he combines the music with anecdotes and tales of Christmas. Sat., November 19 Jardar’s wish is to share what he feels is 12:30 — 2:30 — 4:30 pm the true message of Christmas, while also $21 per adult $7 child 12 and under giving the audience a glimpse of the Nor- Tickets are available by mail order, at the church office wegian traditions of this holiday. during the week, by phone or website (to pay with credit card) Seating is limited. This traditional dinner includes lutefisk with Here are some of the Carols you will hear: drawn butter or white sauce, lefse, boiled potatoes, meatballs in I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve gravy, cole slaw, flatbread, coffee, and assorted cakes. This is a (Jeg er så glad hver julekveld), fundraiser for the General Operating Fund. Beautiful Is The Earth (Deilig er jorden), For mail order tickets: mail check made payable to Minde O Holy Night (O helga natt) and -kirken for the full amount for your tickets, with self-addressed A Christmas Dream (Romjulsdrøm). stamped envelope by Sat. Nov. 12 to the church address at the Suggested donation $10 bottom of the page. On the memo line, write the time of the seating you request, and a phone number. After Nov. 12, This special musical event is presented by please call the office for ticket availability. Tickets are not re- Mindekirken fundable. Volunteer help will be welcome — contact the office. & Norway House The Communicator is published monthly (except for August) by the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church 924 East 21st Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 www.mindekirken.org Office (612) 874-0716 2 From the Pastor: Giving Thanks I spent an aca- Since then I have had the to give God thanks and we dedi- demic year in the good fortune to celebrate cate ourselves and all we have to US as a graduate Thanksgiving in various places God. We have truly been blessed. student in the early across the US. My mother-in- Jesus teaches us to be gener- eighties. A Danish law used to have big family ous people who share the re- foreign student & I gatherings at her house as long sources we have been given with had no place to go as she lived out East. She spent the church, and with people who over the Thanksgiv- hours in the kitchen preparing a need our help. I invite you to join Kristin Sundt ing Holiday so my bountiful table for her many us in doing God’s work through roommate invited us both to spend guests. the congregation here at Min- the holiday with her family. I expe- It is great having a month dekirken. In doing so, please rienced my first Thanksgiving like November when we gather prayerfully make a decision to meal and was introduced to many together to give thanks as a na- join me in making a pledge for American Thanksgiving traditions. tion and as a people. November the coming year on Sun, Nov. 13. is also a month when we gather Kristin Sundt, pastor From the President: Giving Back — Blessings from God “Give, and it will be given to shared what they had. They work in our you. They will pour into your lap tithed regularly to their church. lives. While it a good measure, pressed down, Yet, I never heard stories that the can be scary at shaken together, and running family went hungry. They gave times to step out over. For by your standard of away what little they had and yet in faith and give measure it will be measured to they still had more to give. While when we think you in return." ~ Luke 6:38 they may never have had a large we can’t afford bank account, they had some- to, God meets “I do not believe one can settle thing much more important; the all our needs. Jana Aune Deach how much we ought to give. I am gift of generosity. What they The more we afraid the only safe rule is to give gave away, God gave back to trust Him and give, the more we more than we can spare.” them over and over and over receive. ~ C. S. Lewis again in blessings that my family Jesus said, “Where your still counts to this day. treasure is, there will your heart When I was young my dad At Mindekirken, November be also” (Matt. 6:21). Your heart would say about his childhood is the month in which we specifi- follows your treasure. If we want that his family was so poor they cally emphasize stewardship. our hearts concerned with the envied the needy. Being one of Each one of us is a steward, as- things of God, then we must in- twelve children growing up on a signed different talents from God vest in His work. Giving of our farm (with no electricity or run- which we are tasked to manage. financial gifts to church is a fun- ning water) in west central Min- As a steward, what does it mean damental part of tithing and of- nesota with Norwegian immi- to give? Why is it important that ferings. This money is used to grant parents, my dad and his we do it? Giving is inspired by advance God’s Kingdom on earth family certainly knew what it grace. God gave his only Son to through the ministry of the meant to face financial hardship. die for us so we might experi- church. Yet, despite his family’s lack of ence the greatest gift of all. Eve- We ask that you prayerfully material wealth, they gave what rything we have comes from God consider what gifts you can give little they had freely and without and rightfully belongs to him. to Mindekirken. Pledge cards hesitation to whoever was in We cannot out-give God. Our will be sent out and a special need. If someone needed a place giving promotes generosity. Stewardship Sunday will be held to stay, my grandparents took Generosity is developed within on Nov. 13th. Mindekirken is a them in despite the fact they al- us as we align our hearts with very special place to so many of ready had a house full of fourteen God. It is one of the primary us. Mindekirken is a place to call people. If someone needed food, ways in which Christians evi- our spiritual home and have a they took them in for a meal or dence the fruit of the Spirit at time of “President” cont. on p.3 3 From the Treasurer Mission of the Month — Lutheran World Relief I would like to send a huge Lutheran World Relief is the organization featured as our Novem- "Thank you" to everyone who ber mission. LWR exists so that U.S. Lutherans may serve their neigh- contributes to the ministry here at bors overseas who face poverty, injustice and human suffering. Luther- Mindekirken. We are truly an World Relief is responding to the immediate needs of people in Hai- blessed. Because of the regular ti affected by Hurricane Matthew. giving and undesignated memori- The Deacons will host a fundraiser for LWR on Sun., Nov. 20, al giving, we were able to cover a 2016 following services. There will be a Fair Trade tea tasting event. couple of huge and un-budgeted These organic teas come from LWR’s small farmer partners in India, expenses this summer - a major Sri Lanka and South Africa. Enjoy a spot of tea and help us to raise furnace/air conditioner repair and money for the Lutheran World Relief disaster fund for Haiti. a new roof for the admin building You may also donate on our website or earmark part of your week- - without having to come to our ly offering to the Mission Fund. Please members and friends with a spe- make checks out to Mindekirken so that cial appeal. we may make a collective donation from As we approach the busiest our church community. time of the year, I want to thank www.lwr.org everyone for their gifts, whether they are gifts of time, talent, or Stewardship Sunday November 13 money. This month, in conjunction with our stewardship campaign, Min- We, as a church, would not dekirken will mail pledge cards to members and associates, along with be able to exist or offer the min- a letter encouraging each to consider what constitutes balance in one’s istries we do, without all of these life.