Koinonia Is.....

… Grace – We wonder about the meaning of grace. Perhaps the best way to define it is a visit to Koinonia, Hennepin’s hospitality ministry on Lake Sylvia, about an hour’s drive west of the Twin Cities. God’s grace provided Koinonia’s beautiful setting. The grace of many Hennepin families made possible the quality buildings and other facilities. And the grace of a talented and committed staff enables Koinonia to function as a loving retreat and conference center, not just for the church but for the whole region.

… Sanctuary – There’s a certain feeling when you’re at Koinonia. About the time you drive through Annandale and enter the grounds, you experience a feeling of calm – that you can rest and be at peace. We have established sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife. Koinonia is a people sanctuary – a welcome respite from today’s stressful living. Koinonia follows the instruction in the Gospel of Mark, sixth chapter – “Now come away to a quiet place and rest a while.”

… Fellowship – With our on-the-go schedules, are we any less nomadic than the shepherds of Christ’s day? No wonder that our need for connection to one another has never been greater. Hennepin fills that need at Koinonia. Koinonia is a place where the whole Hennepin community can renew through fellowship. Whether enjoying a meal together in the dining hall or a walk by the lake, Koinonia helps us connect.

… Family – The world tries to pull families apart, with all its tribulations. For more than 46 years, Koinonia has been helping the Hennepin family knit together. At youth camps, nature weekends or family reunions Koinonia ministers to all kinds of families, in a way all its own. Our retreat and conference center is close enough to the Twin Cites to be easily accessible, yet far enough away to let us leave our cares behind and learn to love again.

… Fun – When Jesus tells us to come to him as a child, he must have Koinonia in mind. With more than 100 acres to offer, Koinonia is a gift from God and meant for play. Lots of learning goes on there to be sure but in a setting that offers hiking, fishing, swimming, sailing in summer and skiing, skating and smores by the fireplace in winter. Then there are the quiet times, reading a book or enjoying a great meal. All these are opportunities to create ourselves again – to re-create.

… Study – Many adults don’t find the time to study. We get so busy earning a living and caring for our families that we don’t renew our minds. Koinonia is a pleasant way to avoid that pitfall. Koinonia is a place for learning, a place where we deepen our relationships with ourselves, with others, with the earth and with God. Study can be a personal retreat or a public seminar. You can choose how you want to grow -- a morning on a nature walk or an afternoon in the well-stocked library. Koinonia is a great place for study.

… Worship – Praising, praying, proclaiming the word and putting it into action all take place at Koinonia, with as many worship settings as there are ways to worship. Morning vespers in the newly renovated chapel, a prayer walk on the outdoor labyrinth, a scripture reading around a campfire or a multitude of service projects all enable us to worship God and God’s beautiful creation.

Jeff Smith