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Missionary Newsletter (Update Mar 10 '10)
March 2010 Newsletter from Matthew Heise (Moscow, Russia). (top)
Update from Rev. Boychenko, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, February 2010 (Update Mar 10 '10)
At a seminar for Sunday school teachers February 21-22, young members of the Nizhniy Novgorod Lutheran Church who were led by youth worker Miina Viitanen shared some of their methods of reaching out to children, namely, through puppet theater performances. They presented puppet plays about Christmas and Easter.
In February, the church held two outreach concerts of sacred music. The concert on February 21 included Bach music: Benedictus from the H-Moll Mass, tenor aria “Das Blut, so meine Schuld durchstreicht” from Cantata BWV 78 “Jesu, der du meine Seele.” Other works included the A-Moll Sonata for the flute by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the tenor aria from Stabat Mater, and one of the most famous songs of Franz Schubert, “An die Musik” D. 547. The works were performed by guest musicians Vasiliy Arkhipov (tenor), Anna Lopyrina (flute), and Irina Denisova (organ and piano). Pastor Yaroslav Boychenko provided an oral introduction before each of the program items explaining their spiritual meaning.
On February 28, using the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann, the church presented his best-known song cycle “Dichterliebe,” based on poems by Heinrich Heine. The songs were performed by Vasiliy Arkhipov (tenor) and Irina Denisova (piano). Pastor Yaroslav spoke a word of introduction about the songs and romantic music on the whole.
Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on Pastor Yaroslav's outreach ministry in Feb 04, May 04, May 05, Feb-Apr 06, Apr-May 06, June 06, July-Sept 06, Oct-Nov 06, Dec 06-Jan 07, Feb-Mar 07, April-May 07, June 07, Aug-Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan-Mar 08, Apr-Jun 08, Jul-Oct 08, Oct-Nov 08, Nov-Dec 08, Dec 08-Feb 09, Mar-May 09, Jun-Sept 09, Oct-Nov 09, Jan 31, 2010 Anniversary, Dec 09 - Feb 10. (top)
February 2010 Update from Rev. Alexander Burtsev, Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Almaty, Kazakhstan (Update Mar 10 '10)
In February, Pastor Burtsev and his outreach puppet theater team showed 11 performances based on stories from the Old and New Testament covering such topics as creation, Cain and Abel, Jesus, and even a more complex play about Noah and the Flood. For the past month, the shows were attended by 130-160 children and adults in Almaty. They also traveled to the town called Kapchagay to share the Gospel through a puppet performance at an orphanage where 100 to 120 children and adults attended the show. Besides, Sts. Peter and Paul’s church in Almaty has a correspondence team who answered 40 children who had sent their letters and drawings to the church in February. The church plans to hold a display of the drawings in March. 50 to 80 children, youth, and adults came to the church’s sports ground last month. In February, Pastor Alexander and his evangelistic team reached out with Gospel proclamation in different forms to 270-290 adults and children and answered 40 letters. He continues to lead a confirmation class for 10 teenagers, Bible studies which have been attended by 100 children, as well as outdoor sports and game activities. The Photos show a summer camp held by the church last year. Pastor Burtsev plans to gather part of the youth again and conduct a contest and a short-term camp at Peter and Paul's church. Other photos represent the church’s puppet theater troupe which travels to country-side locations such as the orphanage in Kapchagay. Earlier updates: Jan 10. (top)
Music Ministry in November 2009--February 2010, Moscow/Rzhev/Vyborg, Russia (Update Mar 9 '10)
From November 4-7, 2009, Darya Shkurlyatyeva taught the basic principles of psalmody in the Lutheran Church at a cantor course of the Theological Institute of The Church of Ingria. The course gathered leaders of congregational choirs from 12 Ingrian congregations in Gatchina, Jukki, Koltushi, Birsk, St. Petersburg, Cheboksary, Moscow, Petrozavodsk, Kazan, and Vyborg. Darya taught. She prepared 150-page handouts for each of the course participants who found the topic very interesting although new and complex. Darya spoke about different ways to sings the psalms ranging from ancient Gregorian chants to American chants with accompaniment. She also told the participants how to get different age groups interested in singing the psalms. Since the topics is relevant but there are practically no Russian materials on it, she plans to write a short handbook for church cantors and prays that the Lord will help find money to fund its printing. The handbook would be interesting for Christians of other faiths as well as for non-believers.
On January 9, 2010, led a Christmas concert at the Lutheran church in Rzhev, which included antique music, Celtic Christmas melodies, and Taizé songs. The congregation's cantor Elena Baranova was active in organizing the concert. She invited her friends, her former fellow-students at the Rzhev music college, to play the part of guitar, cello, organ, and sing in the choir. This was their first visit to a Lutheran church. Elena also invited her own pupils from the school where she teaches music. Rev. Valeriy Antipov served as compere for the concert by reading selected Bible passages as a foreword to each of the music works and explained the meaning of Christmas. After the concert, the Lutherans organized tea and snacks for the guests who came to the Lutheran church for the first time. In an informal conversation, they had a chance to ask any questions, sometimes tricky ones, about Lutheranism, and Pastor Valeriy took more than an hour answering the questions.
Darya and Elena conducted a similar concert in Vyborg on January 16. They were joined by Marina Lebedeva, a teacher at a music school in Vyborg. The concert was attended by many teachers and students from the music school. Tea and snacks were offered after this concert as well. The concert participants, church members, and guests discussed Lutheran doctrine. It was offered to study the Book of Concord in greater depth as the church members usually only know the Apostles’ Creed and the Small Catechism. A short distance course will be offered for the members of Lutheran congregations in Vyborg, Rzhev, and Moscow. Deacon Dmitry Rozet, M.Div., from Vyborg agreed to lead the course. The group chose Getting into the Story of Concord: a History of the Book of Concord by David P. Scaer as the study guide for the course. Its Russian translation was made by LCMS World Mission.
In January, Darya translated into Russian the book Worship, Liturgy and Children by Carl Schalk. She thinks this book would be useful for many in Russia. She offered to a professional artist for children to draw illustrations for the book. Darya prays she is able to find funding to buy the copyright from Morning Star Music Publishers in order to publish the book in Russia.
Darya continues to update her website www.lutheran-music.org with daily portions from a Luther sermon and materials on the history of Lutheran music. She also contributes regular music ministry news to the website of The Church of Ingria and The Church of Ingria Magazine and continues to coordinate the work on the new hymnbook.
Darya plans to teach cantors again at the Theological Institute during March 24-27 and participate in a Bach anniversary concert at the Glinka Musical Culture Museum on March 31 organized by the Moscow Conservatory.
Photo Gallery. Earlier updates: Mar 03, Nov 03, Dec 03, Mar 04, Apr 04, May 04, Nov 04, Jan 05, Jan 05, Mar 05, Apr 06, May 06, July 06, Sept 06, Oct 06, Nov 06, Dec 06, Dec 06*, Jan-Feb 07, Mar 07, Oct-Nov 07, Feb 08, Oct 08, Nov 08-Jan 09, Mar-May 09, May-Jun 09, Aug 09, Aug-Oct 09. (top)
February 2010 Update from Rev. Alexander Furs, St. John the Evangelist Lutheran in Saratov, Russia (Update Mar 4 '10)
From January 24 through 30, Rev. Furs conducted a meeting of the congregational youth club under the title Epiphany Readings which was attended by 11 young people of the 14 personally invited by Pastor Alexander. The group learned about different aspects of the Christian teaching.
He also participated in a colloquium on religions where he presented a report on the paradigm of Protestant confessionalism, telling the 28 attendees about the genesis of the post-Protestant period of the Lutheran Church. As he took questions, he spoke more about aspects of Lutheran doctrine and invited everybody to his Lutheran congregation.
5 unchurched guests earlier invited by Pastor Furs joined the worshipers at St. John’s church on January 31.
From February 1 to 5, Pastor Alexander organized and conducted an outreach event at the German section of an Ethnic Cultures Club in a town in the Saratov Oblast. The meeting on February 5 was for the descendants of ethnic Germans who live in that area. The original idea was proposed by the founding fathers of the club. Pastor Alexander made a presentation about the traditions of the Lutheran church in Russia before the October 1917 Revolution and explained the Lutheran doctrinal attitude to the Passion time. He also answered question about the meaning of Lent for the Lutheran Christian and invited everybody to the church in Saratov. In Alexander’s estimate, the meeting was attended by 35-40 people.
From February 6 to 19 as Pastor Alexander traveled to St. Petersburg and back, he witnessed to his faith for 6 fellow-travelers. In St. Petersburg, he attended the defense of diplomas by the ELCIR Theological Institute graduates (in the picture on the left).
On February 20, Pastor Furs made a report at a trade school where he was invited the college administration. In his speech about the history and teachings of Protestantism, he told the audience of 115 about the basic teachings of Lutheranism and spend 30 minutes answering students’ and teachers’ questions.
4 unchurched guests joined the worshipers at the divine service on Sunday, February 21. The pastors of the congregation answered their questions during tea after church.
From February 22 to 26, Pastor Alexander answered 17 emails that came from people who responded to the website of The Church of Ingria and St. John’s church in Saratov as Rev. Furs serves as webmaster for both sites. As usual, he contributed his regular update about the season’s traditions and activities of the Lutheran Church for the newsletter of the regional government.
Earlier updates on outreach in the Saratov region: Aug 01, Sept 01, Oct 01, Nov 01, Feb 03, Aug 03, Nov 04, Jan 05, Feb 05, Mar 05, May 05, Mar 06, Aug 06, Sept 06, Oct 06, Nov 06, Dec 06, Jan 07, Feb 07, Mar 07, Mar-Apr 07, Apr-May 07, May-June 07, July 07, Aug 07, Sept 07, Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan 08, Feb 08, Mar 08, Apr 08, May 08, May-Jun 08, Jul 08, Aug 08, Sept 08, Oct 08, Nov 08, Dec 08, Jan 09, Feb 09, Mar 09, Apr 09, May 09, Jun 09, Jul 09, Aug 09, Sept 09, Oct 09, Nov 09, Dec 09, Jan 10. (top)
February 2010 Update from Rev. Mikhail Starilov, Borisoglebsk, Russia (Update Mar 4 '10)
Earlier updates on the outreach in Borisoglebsk: Nov 02, Feb-Mar 06, Jun-Aug 06, Sept 06, Oct 06, Nov 06, Dec 06, Jan 07, Feb 07, Mar 07, Apr 07, May 07, Jun 07, Jul 07, Aug 07, Sept 07, Oct 07, Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan 08, Feb 08, Mar 08, Apr 08, May 08, Jun 08, Jul 08, Aug 08, AIDS Awareness Seminars '08, Sept 08, Oct 08, Nov 08, Nov 08 AIDS seminar, Jan 09, Feb 09, Mar 09, Apr 09, May 09, Jun 09, Jul 09, Sept 09, Oct 09, Nov 09, Dec 09, Jan 10. (top)
February 2010 Update from Rev. Igor Alisov, Moscow, Russia, on HIV/AIDS Prevention Project (Update Mar 3 '10)
From February 12 to 13, 2010, Rev. Sergey Shanin, president of the Moscow District of ELCIR, and Rev. Igor Alisov of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Moscow, traveled to Rzhev, Russia. There, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church they presented a HIV/AIDS awareness lecture with the help of a special PowerPoint presentation developed by Rev. Alisov. The meeting was attended by around 20 people of different ages. The meeting was opened by the congregation's pastor, Rev. Valeriy Antipov, who introduced the guests and said a prayer. After the lecture, the pastors Alisov and Shanin answered the audience’s questions. Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on outreach through HIV/AIDS prevention supported or coordinated by LCMS World Mission and/or LCMS World Relief: May 05, May 05 (2), June 05, Feb 06, Feb-Apr 06, May 06, Sept 06, Oct 06, Nov 06, Dec 06, Feb 07, Mar 07, July 07, Dec 07, Apr 08, Jun 08. (top)
Update from Rev. Boychenko, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, December 2009 - February 2010 (Update Mar 3 '10)
On December 17, youth worker Miina Viitanen led a congregational festival, “A Little Finnish Christmas” where she told church members and 4 unchurched guests about the traditions of celebrating Christmas in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
From December 19-20, pastor and missionary Leif Camp from St. Petersburg led a seminar on the topic “What is Love? A Biblical Perspective.” The participants of the discussion brought up many questions and offered interesting answers. More than 25 people, including 17 or more unchurched young people, attended the seminar.
8 unchurched people attended the Christmas liturgy on December 25. After church, children presented a Christmas play, sang carols, and read poems for the church members and guests. the pastor’s son Leonid sang a famous Polish carol, Lulajże Jezuniu, in the Russian translation made by church member Olga Krutikova. The Christmas celebration by the children was prepared by youth worker Miina Viitanen.
On January 8, Pastor Yaroslav met with visiting schoolchildren and their parents from Saransk, Rep. of Mordovia, Russian Federation. He told them about the Gospel, the church year of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and Christmas traditions. He also performed several Christmas hymns on the organ. He shared the Gospel in verbal and musical form with 35 children and adults.
On January 16, Rev. Boychenko led the viewing and discussion of the documentary “The Secrets of Death” (2009) at the Mission Education Center. The film addresses such topics as God, death, life, and love. The pastor and the group of 13, including 6 unchurched people, discussed the spiritual aspects and biblical motifs of the film.
Pastor Yaroslav has continued discussions of Bach cantatas at the Bible studies on Wednesdays. It is a blessing that most of the topics of the cantatas written 300 years ago are the same as Sunday sermon topics in today’s church. The spiritual content of the cantatas which are now available in Russian translation by the Orthodox priest Fr. Pyotr Meshcherinov, are a great opportunity to reach out with biblical truths to lovers of music. Rev. Boychenko’s meetings around God’s Word expressed in sacred music have been attended by students from the Nizhniy Novgorod Conservatory. Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on Pastor Yaroslav's outreach ministry in Feb 04, May 04, May 05, Feb-Apr 06, Apr-May 06, June 06, July-Sept 06, Oct-Nov 06, Dec 06-Jan 07, Feb-Mar 07, April-May 07, June 07, Aug-Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan-Mar 08, Apr-Jun 08, Jul-Oct 08, Oct-Nov 08, Nov-Dec 08, Dec 08-Feb 09, Mar-May 09, Jun-Sept 09, Oct-Nov 09, Jan 31, 2010 Anniversary. (top)
January-February 2010 - HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Lectures. Deacon Ostanin and Deacon Moskalev, Novosibirsk, Russia (Update Mar 2 '10)
The deacons Vyacheslav (Slava) Ostanin and Gennadiy Moskalev of Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in Novosibirsk, Russia, continued their HIV/AIDS prevention & awareness lectures in children’s institutions in Novosibirsk region. Their 2-hour presentations consist of two parts. Part 1 covers the basic vital information about HIV and AIDS, preventive measures, ways of contraction, tests, and treatment. The spiritual dimension of the activity is covered in Part 2 by Deacon Moskalev who explained the position of the Lutheran Church with regard to the HIV pandemic, the Christian attitude to HIV+ people, the Christian nurturing of the person’s character and faith-motivated moral behavior as the basis of safer living.
The outreach locations and audiences were as follows:
January 28 -- Regional Tuberculosis Hospital for Children in Mochishche, Novosibirsk Oblast. Attendance: around 43 people: 15-18 year-olds + doctors and counselors. Deacon Ostanin: “These teenagers were surprisingly well-behaved and attentive as we talked about the HIV infection. They are sick with tuberculosis as they have sick parents or come from troubled families with relatives who have been served a term in jail. They listened especially attentively as we proclaimed the Gospel of Christ and explained the commandments and spoke about the Christian life. They were amazed at some of the aspects of the Christian life and godly behavior as in these modern time all values are turned upside down and young people consider things normal which are condemned by God as sin. We pray that the word we sowed is not in vain and we pray that it grows and bears fruit.”
February 1 -- Middle School #121 in Zheleznodorozhnyy, Novosibirsk Oblast. Attendance: 78 people: students from grades 6 to 11 as well as children from School #10 in a nearby village, Bykovo, plus the principal, teachers and other staff. Ostanin: “The children were gathered from two villages. Everybody was very thankful that we came so far because the place is around 100 km from the city. Not many people visit them and conduct such activities for them.”
February 4 -- Middle School #12 in Berezovskoye, Novosibirsk Oblast. Attendance: around 60 including teaching staff. The children did know fairly much about HIV/AIDS as they had been educated about that locally, but they were very interested in various aspects of Christian life and asked Pastor Gennadiy many questions. The meeting went more as a dialogue.
February 5 -- Middle School in Sokur, Novosibirsk Oblast. Attendance: 60 students of the 8th to 11th grade and teaching staff. Deacon Ostanin: “It’s amazing how responsive people are in the country. They are so attentive to everything that is important for their lives and they are hungry for knowledge. They took as important the need to proclaim the Gospel to people ”
February 8 -- Middle School in Oktyabrskiy, Novosibirsk Oblast. Attendance: 70 students (8th to 12th grade) and teaching staff. Ostanin: “The youth had surprisingly no knowledge of HIV/AIDS and didn’t even know what that first-letter abbreviation meant. Sadly, the teachers weren’t much better. Everybody asked tons of questions. Especially many questions came when Deacon Moskalev proclaimed Christ and the commandments of God. The youth and teachers listened especially attentively to the explanation of the 4th commandment about honoring one’s parents. They were surprised this concerned the teachers also because they were responsible to God for teaching the children, just as it concerns the children who must respect their parents and God-given teachers. After the meeting, Pastor Gennadiy talked to the students individually for a long time as they had many questions about troubles in their families. We promise we would keep them in our prayers and especially would pray that God in His grace would give them all faith and forgiveness in Christ.”
More than 310 middle school students and teachers attended the five activities conducted from January 28 through February 8, 2010.
Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on HIV/AIDS lectures in Novosibirsk: Apr-May 09, May-Jun 09, Jun-Jul 09, Aug 8-18 '09, Aug-Oct 09, Nov-Dec 09. (top)
Outreach Ministry of Rev. Alexander Burtsev of Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Almaty, Kazakhstan (Update Mar 2 '10)
Pastor Alexander Burtsev is the pastor of Sts. Apostles Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Almaty, Kazakhstan. His church is a young church, but is active in evangelistic outreach. It keeps a sports ground where the church reaches out to many children from the neighborhood who spend much time there every day. There is an arts and crafts class at the church where boys and girls make things out of wood, cardboard, and plywood. The church also has a Christian puppet theater. The puppet theater team which includes the pastor tell people about God through puppet shows at hospitals, orphanages, kindergartens, schools, and churches in rural Kazakhstan. Their repertory includes 250 performances for which the pastor and his team construct all of the set. In January 2010, they showed 10 different performances about God, good and evil, Christmas, baptism, etc. Rev. Burtsev and his team regularly invite new children, teenagers, and adults to their outreach shows. Their activities in January 2010 were attended by 240-280 adults and children. Also, the outreach team correspond with the children my mail. The children send them many drawings and letters which the church displays for the public on and outside the congregational premises. The pastor and his team answer the children’s letters, send them Bible lessons and prizes. They answered 60 letters in January although there were twice as many drawings and crafts sent by the children. Photo Gallery. (top)
Update from Deacon Ostanin on Prison Ministry in Novosibirsk, Russia. January-February 2010 (Update Mar 2 '10)
Vyacheslav Ostanin serves the Lutheran church in Novosibirsk by reaching out with the love of Christ to prisoners, many sick with the tuberculosis that often runs rampant in the penal colonies as well as HIV. Through the support of the LCMS, he distributes Bibles, food, used clothes, and other humanitarian aid to them, and conducts discussions about the Christian faith with the inmates. He also assists those released from prison by helping them find work and a place to live. Vyacheslav leads Bible classes and Sunday services for the former prisoners so that their new lives will find meaning in Jesus Christ.
Download a full translation of Deacon Ostanin's January-February 2010 report.
Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on Slava Ostanin's ministry in March 04, April 05, June 05 , December 05, January 06, February 06, March-April 06, May 06, June 06, July-August 2006, Sept 06, Oct-Nov 06, Dec 06-Feb 07, Mar-Apr 07, Apr-May 07, May-June 07, July 07, July-Aug 07, Aug-Sept 07, Sept-Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Nov-Dec 07, Dec-Jan 07, Jan-Feb 08, Feb-Mar 08, Mar-Apr 08, Apr-May 08, May-June 08, Jun-Jul 08, Jul-Aug 08, Aug-Sept 08, Sept-Oct 08, Oct-Nov 08, Nov-Dec 08, Dec 08 - Jan 09, Jan-Feb 09, Feb-Mar 09, Mar-Apr 09, Apr-May 09, May-Jun 09, Jun-Jul 09, Jul-Aug 09, Aug-Sep 09, Sept-Oct 09, Oct-Nov 09, Nov-Dec 09, Dec 09-Jan 10. (top)
Missionary Newsletter (Update Feb 24 '10)
February 2010 Newsletter (PDF) from Mark and Rose Krause in Riga, Latvia. A short note from the Krauses: "Greetings from cold and snowy Riga. We have been experiencing the coldest and snowiest winter in 15-20 years. The snow keeps coming down and piling up as the temperatures have stayed below freezing since the first part of December. The Daugava River is even frozen which has made it possible for people to walk across it. Last weekend we had 100s of fisherman trying to catch some fish. Attached is our February 2010 news letter that has been in process for the past six months. It will give you a glimpse of what God is doing in the Baltics. We want to thank everyone through your prayers and financial support that makes it possible for us to serve here. The economic situation in the Baltics is very severe. It has presented great challenges for the church. Please keep the Lutheran Churches in the Baltics in your prayers." (top).
Missionary Newsletter (Update Feb 15 '10)
The Muhly Monthly February 12, 2010 (in PDF format) from Jon and Julie Muhly (Moscow, Russia) (top)
The 15th Anniversary of the Renascence of the Lutheran Congregation in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia (Update Feb 09 '10)
On January 31, the Lutheran Congregation in Nizhniy Novgorod (The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, ELCIR) celebrated the 15th anniversary of its re-establishment. The first Lutheran congregation in NN was founded in 1580 and was the second earliest Lutheran congregation in Russia (the first one was in Moscow). Its members were foreign merchants who traveled with their goods up and down the Volga as well as the military. Ethnically they were Germans, Swedes, Dutchmen, and Lithuanians. In the 1820’s the czarist authorities allowed the congregation to build a church building out of stone in the city’s central street. Up until 1917 the congregation’s membership was around 1000 Lutherans. In 1931, the Soviet authorities stopped the congregation’s work and confiscated its church building. In 1961-63, it was demolished. By God’s grace, however, on January 30, 1995 the Lutheran congregation in Nizhniy was re-established and duly registered with the justice directorate of the Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast. Instrumental in the revival of the church in the 90’s were members of the Ingrian-Finnish and German cultural societies. The congregation would like to thank all the people who have been helping their church in its renascence and growth, in particular the episcopate of the Church of Ingria and the volunteers and missionary pastors of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for their invaluable assistance. During these 15 years, the public pastoral ministry to the congregation has been carried out by Pastors Alexander Prilutskiy from 1995 to 1997, Rev. Douglas Reinders (LCMS) from 1998-2000, and Rev. Yaroslav Boychenko from 2000 to present time.
The congregation has 70 communicant members. It is ethnically mixed as it has ethnic Finns, Germans, Estonians, students from Tanzania, and of course Russkiye (Russians). The missionary from Finland Miina Viitanen is active in youth work. The congregation’s baroque & romantic organ built by Hoffrichter Orgel GmbH is a gift from fellow-Lutherans in Essen, a sister city of Nizhniy.
On January 31, the anniversary worship service gathered almost all of the congregation members as well as guests including Rev. Prilutskiy (the congregation’s first pastor, now academic dean of the Theological Institute of ELCIR in Koltushi), Rev. Leif Camp, the first missionary who worked with the group in the 1990’s, Rev. Sergey Shanin, president of the Moscow District of ELCIR, Rev. Jon Muhly, Area Facilitator of LCMS World Mission in Russia, and Rev. Kai Lappalainen, Finnish missionary to Narva, Estonia. The Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated by Pastors Shanin and Prilutskiy. The musical accompaniment on the organ was kindly provided by Yulia Lotova, organist of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Moscow. “They were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). Please pray for God’s continued blessing upon this church in its efforts to proclaim the faith in Jesus to more people.
Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on Pastor Yaroslav's outreach ministry in Feb 04, May 04, May 05, Feb-Apr 06, Apr-May 06, June 06, July-Sept 06, Oct-Nov 06, Dec 06-Jan 07, Feb-Mar 07, April-May 07, June 07, Aug-Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan-Mar 08, Apr-Jun 08, Jul-Oct 08, Oct-Nov 08, Nov-Dec 08, Dec 08-Feb 09, Mar-May 09, Jun-Sept 09, Oct-Nov 09. (top)
January 2010 Update from Rev. Alexander Furs, St. John the Evangelist Lutheran in Saratov, Russia (Update Feb 09 '10)
On December 26, the clergymen of St. John’s church together with the Sunday school teachers led a children’s Christmas camp in the church. Children of some of the church members as well as those of unchurched people heard the Bible story of Christ’s birth, learned about Bethlehem, and about the meaning of the nativity scene.
On December 28 and 29, Rev, Furs met with the church’s partners from higher education institutions in Saratov to discuss plans of working together in 2010. Pastor Furs was offered to read a lecture series about today’s situation in Lutheranism in Russia, the USA, and the European Union at one of the city’s educational institutions. They also developed a tentative program of activities that could be conducted at the congregation and involve unchurched young people.
On January 8, Pastor Alexander visited a meeting of the Volga Germans Club in Engels where he extended season’s greetings to the club members and explained to the audience the meaning of the feasts of the Lord’s Baptism and Epiphany.
From January 18 through 22, Pastor Furs participated in two Christmas recollection meetings at two higher education institutions in the city. Alexander had a chance to extend season’s greetings in behalf of the church to the audiences and present short reports about Lutheranism and the Church of Ingria in particular, its Gospel teaching, history, and chief festivals. Pastor Alexander shared this information with around 110-130 people.
From January 11 to 16, Rev. Furs continued his regular media work. He wrote an article about Christmas and related Lutheran traditions for the newsletter of the Saratov Oblast government updated the websites of the Church of Ingria and St. John’s church, and answered the questions that came by email from 4 respondents to the web pages.
In the meantime, new people continued to come to the worship services at St. John’s conducted by Rev. Furs. 25 to 30 guests were in the audience at the Christmas liturgy (9 of them having been invited by Pastor Alexander personally beforehand). 6 guests joined the worshipers on December 27 when the theme of the service was St. John the Evangelist. During tea after the service, Pastor Alexander told the guests about the Apostle John and answered their questions about how the Lutheran church views veneration of the saints in the light of the Gospel. The church members were joined by 9 guests at the service on January 3, 14 on January 10, and 5 on January 17 who were invited by Pastor Alexander. After church, he fellowshipped with the newcomers and answered their questions about Lutheran theology, the history and traditions of the Lutheran faith.
Earlier updates on outreach in the Saratov region: Aug 01, Sept 01, Oct 01, Nov 01, Feb 03, Aug 03, Nov 04, Jan 05, Feb 05, Mar 05, May 05, Mar 06, Aug 06, Sept 06, Oct 06, Nov 06, Dec 06, Jan 07, Feb 07, Mar 07, Mar-Apr 07, Apr-May 07, May-June 07, July 07, Aug 07, Sept 07, Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan 08, Feb 08, Mar 08, Apr 08, May 08, May-Jun 08, Jul 08, Aug 08, Sept 08, Oct 08, Nov 08, Dec 08, Jan 09, Feb 09, Mar 09, Apr 09, May 09, Jun 09, Jul 09, Aug 09, Sept 09, Oct 09, Nov 09, Dec 09. (top)
Missionary Newsletter (Update Feb 01 '10)
January 2010 Newsletter from Matthew Heise (Moscow, Russia). (top)
Missionary Newsletter (Update Feb 01 '10)
January 2010 Newsletter from Jim and Mabelle Bloker (Czech Republic). (top)
Warm Boots for Kyrgyzstan. Update from Lutheran Church Concordia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Update Jan 26 '10)
In December 2009, about 130 needy members of the Lutheran Church Concordia in Kyrgyzstan and 70 children from 2 orphanages received warm footwear from the Warm Boots fund, a program sponsored by the Christian volunteer network Orphan Grain Train, church groups, and individuals. This help was timely because the second ten-day period in January turned out to be rarely cold in Kyrgyzstan with temperature falling down to minus 15-20 degrees Celsius at nights. Photos. Earlier updates: Oct 02, May 03, Sep 03, Oct 03, May 04, Dec 11 '06, Dec 15 '06, Feb 07 (a), Feb 07 (b), Oct 08, Nov 08, Apr 09, Oct 15 '09, Oct 19, 09, Oct 28 '09, Nov 11 '09, Nov 14 '09. More about past work in Kyrgyzstan in the newsletters of Tim and Rita Nickel and Bob and Sue Pfeil. (top)
January 2010 Update from Rev. Mikhail Starilov, Borisoglebsk, Russia (Update Jan 26 '10)
Earlier updates on the outreach in Borisoglebsk: Nov 02, Feb-Mar 06, Jun-Aug 06, Sept 06, Oct 06, Nov 06, Dec 06, Jan 07, Feb 07, Mar 07, Apr 07, May 07, Jun 07, Jul 07, Aug 07, Sept 07, Oct 07, Nov 07, Dec 07, Jan 08, Feb 08, Mar 08, Apr 08, May 08, Jun 08, Jul 08, Aug 08, AIDS Awareness Seminars '08, Sept 08, Oct 08, Nov 08, Nov 08 AIDS seminar, Jan 09, Feb 09, Mar 09, Apr 09, May 09, Jun 09, Jul 09, Sept 09, Oct 09, Nov 09, Dec 09. (top)
Update from Deacon Ostanin on Prison Ministry in Novosibirsk, Russia. December 2009-January 2010 (Update Jan 22 '10)
Vyacheslav Ostanin (pictured above), president of ICHTHYS prison ministry and deacon at Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in Novosibirsk, reports around 420 Gospel touches since his last report as he continued his outreach to correctional facilities and children's medical institutions in Novosibirsk.
Download a full translation of Deacon Ostanin's December 2009-January 2010 report.
Photo Gallery. Earlier updates on Slava Ostanin's ministry in March 04, April 05, June 05 , December 05, January 06, February 06, March-April 06, May 06, June 06, July-August 2006, Sept 06, Oct-Nov 06, Dec 06-Feb 07, Mar-Apr 07, Apr-May 07, May-June 07, July 07, July-Aug 07, Aug-Sept 07, Sept-Oct 07, Oct-Nov 07, Nov-Dec 07, Dec-Jan 07, Jan-Feb 08, Feb-Mar 08, Mar-Apr 08, Apr-May 08, May-June 08, Jun-Jul 08, Jul-Aug 08, Aug-Sept 08, Sept-Oct 08, Oct-Nov 08, Nov-Dec 08, Dec 08 - Jan 09, Jan-Feb 09, Feb-Mar 09, Mar-Apr 09, Apr-May 09, May-Jun 09, Jun-Jul 09, Jul-Aug 09, Aug-Sep 09, Sept-Oct 09, Oct-Nov 09, Nov-Dec 09. (top)
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