The meeting opened with a communion service celebrated by Bishop Ivan Laptev and Karelian Dean Pastor Aleksei Kronholm. The bishop preached a sermon about understanding who the man of God is called to be. The program continued with a Bible study for the ministers and lay church members on The Six Steps Away from God, prepared by Pastor Mikhail Ivanov, the ELCIR Chief Secretary and the senior pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral. He talked about spiritual dangers as they are described in the letter to the churches from Rev. 2-3.

 

During a roundtable discussion with the ministers, the bishop shared about the activities of the different departments of The Church of Ingria and the Theological Institute, and about some encouraging examples of how coordination and joint efforts by church servants have been bearing fruit in the St. Petersburg and West Ingrian Deaneries. It’s important to not only help your own congregation, but also give time and effort to help other congregations in their development. The participants discussed the ways the Children & Youth and the Mission Departments can work together with the congregations of the deaneries and do what they can to assist them.

 

Photo credit: Anton Rudoi