About Us
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"The Light at Third and Vine," seeking to bring people closer to Jesus so we can become more like him.
A hello to all who access our online website! Having been pastor here for 15 years and in the interest of full disclosure, I'd be the first to say I'm far from perfect. The church isn't perfect either. (But I think it's closer to perfect that I am!) If you think churches in "the good old days" were perfect, read Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth! It had its challenges, believe me. In fact, if and when you drive, bike, or walk by what we like to call "The Light @ 3rd and Vine," you'll see our sign which reads, "IMPERFECT?" "WELCOME!" Despite the no-longer-deserved reputation of all Baptists as hard-nosed, rigid, anti-fun people, we are in touch with the spirit of Nehemiah 8:10: "the joy of the Lord is our strength." Laughter is a gift from God. We're not a big operation. So maybe we can relate to people who are tired of all things big. We're close to and concerned for each other, enough that we could be called the "Cheers" church. Friendly, I think, fairly describes us. (God has befriended us in Jesus, so shouldn't we be making friends with each other?) We have an A+ praise band. They're a joyful and lively crew - lots of vocals, percussion, acoustic and electric keyboards, flute, acoustic bass. We're blessed, too, with a beautiful Jardine tracker (ask our organist) organ. We have a 20+ member choir, too. After visiting us a while back, the retired pastor of a much bigger church in town told us, "You've got the best choir in town." We work with other churches in town, especially on youth stuff. "Carpenter's Kids" in the fall and spring is open to all kids ages 4 through grade 5; there's fun, food, crafts, teaching, music ... and an opportunity for a break for parents on Wednesdays between 5 and 7 PM. For over 20 years we have also shared open-to-all middle high and senior high ministries/outreach/missions & backpacking trips with First Presbyterian and St. Paul's Episcopal. It's called NETworks Youth Ministries, and its director, Elliot Krizek, does a great job! You can reach him at 386-1446. Besides hosting senior high NETworks and some of our Sunday teaching ministries, our other building, the Crossing Point, at 3rd & Vine, is used by a Narcotics Anonymous group "Young People in Recovery," during the cold months at 7 p.m. on Fridays and year round by "Day Away," a respite-for-families care program for on Mondays and Thursdays for folks with dementia and other serious medical problems. We give regularly to missions and have a number of feed-the-hungry programs through the church, at the Hudson Food Shelf at St. Pat's Church, at H(udson) O(utreach) M(eals) for E(veryone) at Bethel Lutheran, and food deliveries to two inner-city churches, 1st Baptist , St. Paul, and Calvary Baptist, Minneapolis. Of course, we have year-round worship at 10:15 and during the fall, winter, and spring months there are teaching ministries (aka, Sunday School), both at the "it-looks-like-a-church"" building and the Crossing Point. That's enough for now, but if you want to know more, call me at the church, (715)386-9589, or my cell, (715)441-9314. In the Spirit, Randy Fredrikson, pastor |