On June 19, 2021, the ELCIR Diaconal Department held a seminar at the Lutheran Church of Kondopoga, Karelia. The group discussed the current work of the department and the projects that have been accomplished in the ELCIR Karelian Deanery as well as ideas for further diaconal work in the deanery, ways to work with nongovernmental organizations, … [Read more...]
Seminar in Vyborg Expands Vision of Diaconal Ministry
On April 11, 2021, Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church of Vyborg, Leningrad Oblast, hosted a seminar on helping our neighbor. Rev. Ivan Hutter, Dean of the ELCIR St. Petersburg Deanery, and Aleksandr Smirnov, Head of the ELCIR Diaconal Dept., talked about ELCIR social projects: the Widow of Sarepta project for food aid, the work of our Church’s … [Read more...]
St. Petersburg Deanery Meets in Yukki
On March 9, 2021, Haapakangas Lutheran Congregation in Yukki, Leningrad Oblast, hosted a meeting of the ELCIR St. Petersburg Deanery. Bishop Ivan Laptev talked about the life of the Church during the pandemic and about the implementation of the ELCIR development strategy, giving the examples of several congregations. Rev. Yevgeni Mikhailov, … [Read more...]
St. Mary’s Church Hosts Diaconal Seminar
On January 16, 2021, Aleksandr Smirnov and Irina Makkonen led a diaconal seminar at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg. They talked about the biblical basis for the church’s social work and how to organize such work in a particular church congregation. Training through such seminars helps get a better understanding of the congregation’s … [Read more...]
Food Aid for Needy in Luga
St. Mary Magdalene Congregation in Luga, Leningrad Oblast, would like to thank the Diaconal Dept. of The Church of Ingria and its head Aleksandr Smirnov for the food packages prepared for people experiencing financial distress or hardship. Aleksandr Smirnov: “We’re all wanderers on this earth. For many years, the church in Luga and its senior … [Read more...]