Mindekirken
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (Norwegian Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke), better known as Mindekirken, is a Lutheran church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is one of two American churches still using Norwegian as a primary liturgical language.
History
The congregation of Mindekirken was formed in 1922 as a response to the rapid abandonment of Norwegian in favor of English among Norwegian Lutheran churches at that time.
The Norse-American Centennial Celebration that was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1925 to commemorate the 1825 arrival of the Norwegian immigrant ship Restaurationen helped provide the impetus for a "memorial" church to be built. Mindekirken was dedicated on May 4, 1930.
Mission
Mindekirken's mission statement reads: "To serve as a spiritual center for the Scandinavian American Community, worshiping in both Norwegian and English.
To be a warm and inviting place for visitors and members alike, where people join in fellowship across different ages and cultural backgrounds.
To encourage activities such as Leiv Eriksson International Festival, Syttende Mai Celebration, concerts, festive dinners and language classes."
External links
- Mindekirken
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Minnekirken Lutheran church in Chicago also using Norwegian
- Sjømannskirken Website of The Norwegian Church Abroad, which operates churches in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans, Miami and New York