Aleksandr Smirnov, head of the ELCIR Diaconal Department, solicits support for Trilistnik ("Trefoil") Project assisting struggling mothers and children: Take a child under wing! Dear Friends, We need your support! At our assistance center in St. Petersburg for mothers in crisis we have 11 children in residence and 4 in follow-up. … [Read more...]
ELCIR Diaconal Dept. head visits Segezha, discusses mercy ministry
On November 26, 2021, the Lutheran Congregation of Segezha, Karelia, met with Aleksandr Smirnov, head of the ELCIR Diaconal Department, to discuss ways to assist struggling people, in particular, single mothers. Original post in Russian & photos … [Read more...]
Seminar on diaconal work in Petrozavodsk
On September 4, 2021, Aleksandr Smirnov, the head of the ELCIR Diaconal Department, held a seminar at the Lutheran Congregation of Petrozavodsk, Karelia, talking about the various forms of diaconal ministry in The Church of Ingria and helping plan diaconal work in Karelia. As a result of the meeting, church activists formed a group to discuss, … [Read more...]
Diaconal Seminar in Kondopoga
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...]