Joutjärvi Church in Lahti, Finland has held the Days of The Church of Ingria as an annual program for many years. Although the pandemic has hindered the sister congregations from personal contact this year, they met in a live webcast on November 20, 2021. In Finland, pastors Sergei Shilkin and Juha Saari celebrated a worship service in Russian, and in Russia Bishop Ivan Laptev and Bishop Emeritus Arri Kugappi live-streamed their greetings from the Lutheran church in Koltushi. The program continued with choir singing by the Koltushi church choir in Russia who sang several songs in Russian, German, and Finnish, and The Father’s Voice men’s choir in Lahti, Finland. Many thanks to the organizers and participants! We continue praying for the end of the pandemic and the opening of borders!
“For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Col. 2:5, ESV)