Pastoral Visitation & Home Communion Vinje has nearly 100 members who are unable to participate in worship regularly due to special needs or illness. Pastor Steve Knudson and Pastor Barbara Johnson provide communion monthly for members who are residents in long term care centers in Willmar and New London. In addition, Parish NurseGretta Kray visits homebound members as a Synodically Authorized Lay Minister. Pastor Kerry Selseth also does part-time pastoral visitation for people living in multi-resident homes.

Parish Nurse Ministry Parish Nurses Gretta Kray and Susan Krogstad offer their time and expertise currently as “unpaid staff” at Vinje. RNs Carolyn Jorgenson and Barb Roe assist Parish Nurses to help people find resources in the church and community that can provide care, assistance, and at times, medical intervention. (download the brochure for more information)

Befrienders walk with people in distress through life transitions or times of crisis. After several hours of volunteer training, Befrienders continue to build on their skills for listening, discernment and healthy care-giving. Coordinators are Barb Orr and Cheryl Iverson.

Bereavement Team members write notes of care to those who are grieving after the death of a loved one. At times, they will deliver a book about grief or a rose on the first anniversary of death of a close loved one. Team coordinators are Phyllis Coleman, Cordy Jeremiason and Sonja Westre.

Friendly Visitors provide caring conversation and companionship to nearly 50 Vinje members at home or in care facilities. Coordinators are Myra Quale and Sharon Olson.

Helping Hands provide assistance for short-term or one-time needs. Volunteers respond to requests for rides to appointments & shopping, home cooked meals, and occasional minor home repairs for the elderly. Coordinator Sharon Deitschman.

Hospital Visitation Ministers visit Rice Hospital daily to bring a greeting and a flower to hospitalized members. They also deliver bulletins to members living in nursing homes. Over 40 women and men volunteer for one or two weeks a year. Coordinators are Penny Selseth and Kerry Selseth.

Lay Communion Visitors bring the sacrament of Holy Communion following Sunday worship each month to homebound members.

Prayer Chain participants pray daily for those who request to be on the prayer chain list. Coordinators are Mary Jo Patton and Ruth Sanders.

Prayer Shawl Ministry More than 20 people knit and crochet their prayers into beautiful shawls and scarves that are given to people who are bereaved, ill, homebound or simply in need of care and prayer. Karen Rousseau and Kay McLane are coordinators.

Prayers of the Congregation Every Vinje household is prayed for on a specific day of the year. They are identified alphabetically, and listed in the monthly newsletter Prayer Calendar.