Faces
hanks to Craig and Nancy Kirchhoff, members of St. John Lutheran Church, Sacramento, Calif., have more than a spiritual connection to the sacramental
wine. They have a sense of ownership. That’s because the Kirchhoff family donated parts of its
vineyard’s yield to make the wine used for communion at St. John, and they invited worshipers to join them in pick- ing the grapes and stomping them. The idea for the wine offering grew organically. “We’ve always been active at church, and most everyone
knows we grow grapes,” Nancy said. “So, periodically, we tell people if they want to come help that we have this or that going on.” Earlier this year, several people came out for the spring
session, tending to the vines, in part, as a way for the con- gregation’s youth to do something different. It turned out the Kirchhoffs figured they had more wine
than they needed, so their son Clayton, who owns part of the land, allowed several rows to be used for St. John’s wine. The ministry became known as “Vine to Chalice.” Members take ownership of the grapes, Nancy said.
“They will ask, ‘How is my vine doing?’ or “How is the one I took care of?’ ” she added. “It’s so cool to see how much a part of the process they have become.” For Craig, the impact of what they have accomplished
hits him every communion. “I think about it a lot,” he said. “We’re producing wine for enjoyment, but we’re also pro- ducing it to be used during worship. It’s special to me to see something that is from my barn that is going to be used as sacramental wine. I’m just adjusting to it now, how impor- tant that is.” Nancy added, “There were 5-year-olds out here and
60-year-olds. Their hands were on those vines. Everyone in our church had a little piece of doing that, or making that, I think it’s really cool.” The Kirchhoffs are open to making wine for the congre-
STEVE MERCER
Leslie Welton, a pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Sacramento, Calif., blesses the harvest with Craig Kirchhoff, owner of the vineyard. With the help of volunteers like Peter Brostrom (inset), crew coordinator, members pick and stomp grapes for communion wine.
gation in the future, or to at least keep offering the land for member agricultural outings. For now, each communion has extra meaning for the
members who helped grow, pick and stomp the grapes being used. “People may not think
wine can be nourishing, but I know I’m nourished by it at every commu- nion,” Nancy said.
Author bio: Favre is an assistant professor at Pierce College in Los Angeles and a freelance theater critic.
By Jeff Favre
Family grapes flow from vine to chalice T
100 + birthdays
109: Ida Steiner, St. John, Hicksville, Ohio. 102: Ann Matson, Blair, Blair, Wis.; Mary Moore, St. Paul, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Bernice Stenberg, French Creek, Ettrick, Wis. 101: Eldora Clark, Calvary, Alexandria, Minn.; Monroe Hall, St. John, Bloomington, Ill.; Evelyn Walter, Ascension, Towson, Md. 100: Ruth Gore, Ascension, Towson, Md.; Josephine (Jo) Morrison, Trinity, New Hampton, Iowa; Vivian Mueller, St. Timo- thy, Menasha, Wis.; Catherine Stringer, Zion, Johnstown, Pa.; Opal Turbenson, Our Savior, Spring Valley, Minn.
Send stories Share your stories of ELCA Lutherans and your 100+ members in “Faces.” Send to
lutheran@thelutheran.org or “Faces,” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Hig gins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631.
November 2014 59
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68