Suomi Conference, USA/Russian Missions
Zion Lutheran continues to support their Friendship Congregation in Kemi.
On this page you will find:
Minutes from 22nd Annual meeting of the Suomi Conference, USA at which Pr. Judy was reelected as a member at large to the Suomi Conference Board.
EEVA AND OLAVI RAASSINA’S FRIENDSHIP LETTER
SEGEZA AND KEMI - JUNE 9, 2011
Please note: Offerings to support these Russian Missions can be sent to Zion Lutheran, PO Box 64, Skanee, MI 49962 and they will be forwarded or send directly to Suomi Conference, USA C/O Sandy Stephenson Nys, Treasurer, PO Box 1065, Proctor, MN 55810. If you would like to designate it to go to our friendship congregation in Kemi please make sure that is noted otherwise it will go to the Karelian Missions to be used as needed.
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MINUTES OF THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL MEETING
FINNISH (SUOMI) SPECIAL INTEREST CONFERENCE
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
FINLANDIA UNIVERSITY, HANCOCK, MICHIGAN
JULY 16, 2011
The meeting was called to order by President Antti Lepisto. Alice Leno accompanied the singing of “The Lord Now Sends Us Forth”. President Lepisto opened the meeting with prayer.
Moved, seconded and carried to accept the minutes of the 2009 annual meeting.
Moved, seconded and carried to accept the audited report of the treasurer. The Michigan Area Conference and its chair, Leslie Niemi, were thanked for fund-raising efforts to benefit the Ingrian Church.
Moved, seconded and carried to accept the report of the president. He was thanked for its excellence.
Moved, seconded and carried to have the secretary cast a unanimous ballot for the slate of nominees:
Vice President, one-year term Melvin Johnson*
Treasurer, one-year term Sandy Stephenson Nys*
Member at large, one-year term Veikko Malkamaki*
Member at large, one-year term Hannu Vepsalainen* *Because there was no annual meeting in 2010, these persons were appointed by the
Executive Board to serve until the 2011 meeting.
President, two-year term Antti Lepisto
Secretary, two-year term Gail Saari
Member at large, two-year term Judy Mattson
Member at large, two-year term A. Duane Westfield
Earlier in the day’s program, Nina-Tetri Mustonen was thanked for her faithful service to the Conference. She has accepted a call to serve in Lahti, Finland.
Leslie Niemi reported on the activity of the Michigan Area Suomi Conference. Other discussion included the cooperation the Conference has with the Northeastern Minnesota Synod in its companion synod relationship, the decline in membership of Lutheran and other mainline churches, and our continuing focus on our mission—making disciples.
Moved, seconded and carried to support Olga Onueva, Children’s Minister in the Petrozavodsk congregation, at $3000 per year for three years.
Fourteen persons were present at the meeting. During the day’s activities, 25 were attendance.
Leslie Niemi led in the prayer and pronounced the benediction.
President Lepisto adjourned the meeting.
Jane Lepisto, Secretary Pro tempore
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EEVA AND OLAVI RAASSINA’S FRIENDSHIP LETTER
SEGEZA AND KEMI - JUNE 9, 2011
WARM GREETINGS FROM SEGEZA!
Recently we took our colleague Tuulikki Vilhunen and her friend Kristiina from St. Petersburg to the bus to go to Kontupohja. When one lives here “far north” far from other colleagues, it is very fruitful at times to exchange ideas concerning work as well as other life issues. Because of our visa problems, we regularly have to return to Finland and we meet our work colleagues seldom. They were both at Segeza and Kemi for the first time.
Life and work continue “quietly.” The congregation now gathers in its own place, as we shared in our Easter greeting. On Easter Sunday, we also celebrated confirmation. We are pleased with this solution and, above all, Eeva and I rejoice that congregation members themselves are very satisfied having their own worship place. We often want this or that but God sees our need and our resources better than we.
INGRIAN CHURCH FESTIVAL YEAR
On Palm Sunday, the Kemi congregation members made a trip to visit as guests of the Segeza congregation and together we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the Ingrian Church. We began with worship, drank church coffee/chai, followed with speeches and finally ate a meal. The Kemi folks then returned to Kemi. These visits between us are very important and rewarding events, especially as the distances between congregations are long. The distance between Segeza and Kem is 112 miles, and yet we are neighbor congregations. I have sometimes mentioned that the 15 Karelian congregations cover an area half the size of Finland, so that one must have something important if one is to visit a neighbor congregation. We truly have a regular contact with Kemi involving the ministry arrangement. Currently, the work there is more regular with Raili Mäkitalo visiting monthly. Often she brings along a pastor or some layperson to conduct pastoral acts or to serve in some other way, such as in leading informal worship.
MIGRATORY BIRDS
In May, the migratory birds flew once again to their cottages, meaning that many retirees moved to their cottages for the summer to plant their vegetable root crops, to plant their potatoes and, above all, so that next winter they have food. At present, it may be that it is good to provide basic needs for oneself as it seems that the world has a wide variety of nutrition.
Congregational life continues in spite of the quietness. Those who have remained in the city come to worship Sunday after Sunday as well at to other meetings. It is important to serve if only one comes for spiritual food. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus speaks of the lost sheep:
Which of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it. When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:4-7
This example spoken by Jesus is a good lesson, that all ”sheep” are to be cared for. Home visits are also important work during summer. There are many members who are unable to get to church or to their cottages. The sigh of one of our members who is unable to move about outside and remains tied to her bed, although her mind is sharp, has remained in my thoughts. She said: “Lord, take away my spirit; my body is now partly in the grave.” Ida’s humor still blossoms in clear Finnish in spite of her life situation. Ida became 86 on May 29th. She has been unable to move for several years. Operations are not done for those of this age except at private clinics. There are no resources for such and she would have to go to Petrozavodsk or to St. Petersburg.
VOLUNTEERS
A large group of volunteers has come from Finland in various building projects. This has been a great reason for thanksgiving and a blessing for the Ingrian Church. One of them, Reino Väisänen from Kuhmo, was a significant help in Kemi about ten years ago when we remodeled an old drugstore for a church. This spring he has been in Segeza making a pulpit and other small changes in our new church home. His age is lengthening but his thoughts continue to burn to help his brothers and sisters and the related folks in this friendship church. We can be thankful, for they have been able and continue to build the Ingrian Church with their hands. They have “golden hands” as we say here.
CHILDREN’S RETREAT
An English language five-day language camp was arranged in Petrozavodsk by the deanery in which ten of our children participated (including children from Kemi). We met them at the bus station and the children returned home with their backpacks and bags with energy and activity. We exchanged news and, in leaving, called out “Goodbye”. Thus we spoke only English. Our own retreat will be held in August.
CARE HOME
We went to Nadvoiza, 12 ½ miles from Segeza to visit an over 70 year old member who in May was sent temporarily to a care home. She has been active for years in our congregation and in recent years our social ministry group has helped her come to worship. This elderly friend has become sight impaired and her neighbor has assisted her in daily movement in her home. As her neighbor had to go to her summer cottage for planting, she fortunately was able to go to this care home temporarily. The plan is that, when her neighbor returns to the city, she will return home. She lives in a small room with three others. All was in good order in the care home. It was clean, made pleasant and beautiful. For our visit we received a small, quiet room where we sang familiar hymns and received Holy Communion. She was deeply moved and said, “When I return home, I will come immediately to the congregation.” That was encouraging and touching.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Jesus Christ.”
I Cor. 1:3-4
Eeva and Olavi
