On November 28-29, 2020, the church of Yukki hosted a meeting of women who serve in various ministries in ELCIR churches.

 

The participants talked about the situation of women in society and how it changed in different historical periods, the nature of feminism, and other topics. Natalia Antipova talked about the four women in Jesus’ genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. (Mt. 1:3-6) The example demonstrated that men and women are equal with respect to salvation because it does not depend on sex, race or social status as it is given to us by grace alone. Although equal in the matter of salvation, men and women have different purposes. Man’s main purpose is leadership and fatherhood while woman’s purpose is motherhood and assistance.

 

In small groups, we talked about the role of women in our Church. Psychologist Yana Kordyuchenko presented an interesting lecture about infantilism and led a short interactive discussion of gender stereotypes. Instructor Yelena Tatti of the ELCIR Children & Youth Department talked with us using a methodology she had learned in Germany. After this wonderful experience, I think many took that methodology to their home churches.

 

At the end of the first day, we baked Stollen together under the direction of Irina Sorokina. They came out so good we could barely stop ourselves from eating them all, but we left enough Weihnachtsstollen for the members of the Yukki parish to eat after the Sunday liturgy.

 

Our second day began with a Bible study on John 20:11-18, followed by the showing of several stories in a Deep Talk session. The program concluded with the First Sunday in Advent worship service.

 

Thanks be to God and all of the participants!