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Fortieth Anniversary Historical Vignettes

vignette (vin-yet’), n. 1. short literary essay; sketch

vignettist (vin-yet’ist), n. a maker of vignettes, painter, photographer, or writer

Dateline: Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

PASTOR ROLLIN A. REIM, VIGNETTIST

A short anecdote:

A year after the CLC was organized, the Minnesota Valley congregations had a joint Reformation service in a rented hall in Sleepy Eye. A fine spirit prevailed. After it was over I heard two men–Rombergs, I believe–reviewing the event.

One of them commented, “I think these pastors are preaching better than they used to.”

“Maybe our circumstances have made us better listeners,” replied the other, after a moment of thought.

Then they looked at each other in a silence that was weighted with significance.