Vinje Lutheran Church, Willmar, Minnesota

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Sunday, January 4
Second Week of Christmas Epiphany means to shine a light on something, to reveal its true meaning. On this day we celebrate the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles—that is, to all nations. The word and sacraments are for us the great epiphany of God’s grace and mercy. We go forth to witness to the light that shines brightly in our midst. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship with Communion 9:40 am -- Education Hour 10:00 am -- Joy School Epiphany Party 10:45 am -- Contemporary Worship with Communion 11:45 am -- Potluck Lunch 12:45 pm -- Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 11
Baptism of Our Lord God’s Spirit is at work in baptism. The Spirit descends upon Jesus at Baptism. Our re-creation in baptism is an image of the Genesis creation, where the Spirit/wind moved over the waters. The Spirit comes upon us as upon Jesus and the Ephesians, calling us God’s beloved children and setting us on Jesus’ mission to re-create the world in the image of God’s vision of justice and peace. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship with Communion 9:40 am -- Education Hour 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship with Communion
Sunday, January 18
Second Week of Epiphany All the baptized have a calling in God's world. God calls not just the clergy but also the youngest child, like Samuel. The story of the calling of Nathanael plays with the idea of place. Nathanael initially dismisses Jesus because he comes from Nazareth. But where we come from isn't important; it's where—or rather whom—we come to. Jesus says he himself is the place where Nathanael will meet God. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship (Service of the Word) 9:40 -- Congregational Meeting 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship (Service of the Word)
Sunday, January 25
Third Week of Epiphany Stories of the call to discipleship continue as the Time after Epiphany plays out the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. Jesus begins proclaiming the good news and calling people to repentance right after John the Baptist is arrested for preaching in a similar way. Knowing that John was later executed, we see at the very outset the cost of discipleship. Still, two sets of fisherman brothers leave everything they have known and worked for to follow Jesus and fish for people. 8:30 am -- First Communion Service (Traditional Worship with Communion) 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship with Communion
Sunday, February 1
Fourth Week of Epiphany In Deuteronomy God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, who will speak for God. For the church the unique authority of Jesus is revealed through his actions and words. Today, we encounter that authority in God's word around which we gather, the word that trumps any lesser spirit that would claim power over us, freeing us to follow Jesus. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship
Sunday, February 8
Fifth Week of Epiphany Luther Seminary Sunday In Isaiah, it is that God who strengthens the powerless. So in Jesus' healing work we see the hand of the creator God, lifting up the sick woman to health and service. Like Simon's mother-in-law, we are lifted up to health and service to others. Following Jesus, we strengthen the powerless; like Jesus, we seek to renew our own strength in quiet times of prayer. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship
Sunday, February 15
Sixth Week of Epiphany Healing Sunday In the Gospel, the leper is confident in Jesus' power to heal. How different from the Old Testament sotry of Naaman. Naaman is comically hard to convince that he can be healed by such an unlikely foreigner as Elisha, who directs him to wash in such a sorry excuse for a river as the Jordan. Jesus' healing power is here among us in the ordinary water of the font, in the ordinary bread, in the ordinary people who make up the body of Christ. We would be well-advised to take the advice of the least powerful among us (like the servant girl in Naaman's household) if we want to find the one who will heal us. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship
Sunday, February 22
Transfiguration Sunday The Sundays after Epiphany began with Jesus' baptism and end with three disciples' vision of his transfiguration. In Mark's story of Jesus' baptism, apparently only Jesus sees the Spirit descending and hears the words from heaven. But now Jesus' three closest friends hear the same words naming him God's beloved son. As believers, Paul writes, we are enabled to see the God-light in Jesus' face, because the same God who created light in the first place has shone in our hearts to give us that vision. The light of God's glory in Jesus has enlightened us through baptism and shines in us also for others to see. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship
Sunday, March 1
First Sunday of Lent On Ash Wednesday the church began its journey towards baptismal immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ. The baptismal covenant is made with us individually, but the new life we are given in baptism is for the sake of the whole world. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship
Sunday, March 8
Second Sunday of Lent The second covenant in this year's Lenten readings is the one made with Abraham and Sarah: God's promise to make them the ancestors of many, with whom God will remain in everlasting covenant. Sarah and Abraham receive new names as a sign of the covenant, and we too get new identities in baptism, as we put on Christ. 8:30 am -- Traditional Worship 10:45 -- Contemporary Worship