Kolet Simonson | The Voice of Zion August 2024 - LLC Summer Services
The much-awaited 2024 LLC Summer Services in Kelso, Washington, commenced with opening ceremonies on Thursday, July 4. Excitement filled the gym. Perhaps for some this was the first time attending summer services while for others it may have been the fiftieth time attending Summer Services. Nerves and worries mixed with joy at the arrival of this annual summer gathering. How will the service site be laid out? Where are the bathrooms? How will we keep track of our children? Will our children and youth behave appropriately? Who will I talk to? What if no one remembers me? Will I have fun? Will I be fed?
Warmly, Personally Welcomed
LLC board chairman, Jim Jurmu brought greetings from the LLC board and staff. With Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippians 4:7, he bade welcome to the service guests. He spoke of our happiness when arriving at these services, greeting one another and rejoicing that we have been preserved in living faith to this day. We were encouraged to pray for those loved ones who are lost, for those who serve during these services and for new servants that have been called to serve in God’s kingdom. We were reassured with the gospel and once again welcomed with the “peace of God.”
I Will Be Glad
Joe Ojalehto, on behalf of the NW congregations, welcomed all to the services and spoke of the service motto (Ps. 9:2). These words speak of that joy felt in our hearts: “I am a child of God traveling toward heaven,” and of the sung praises that we hear at the gathering of God’s children. We were encouraged to uplift our hearts to believe our doubts and sins forgiven so that we too can feel that peace of God as we start these services.
Remembered in Prayer from Afar
Adrian Pirness read greetings from Sweden. From the SFC we were greeted with these words which were the service motto at the Summer Services held in Dalarna, Sweden (Ps. 84:4). In their message, SFC chairman Timo Löppönen and general secretary Veli-Matti Heikkinen spoke of the mutual faith that unites us in God’s kingdom, evident in the recent meeting held in Monticello, Minn. The SFC wished God’s abundant blessings on our services.
Next we heard greetings sent by the board of Ecuadorian congregations. “Receive cordial and brotherly greetings from the congregations of Ecuador. As you are gathered at summer services in Kelso, Wash., we hope that the gospel will allow you to come together as children of God and receive his message and the forgiveness of sins. May our heavenly Father bless these four days of services and shower all listeners with His divine grace. We also ask that He bless the missionary trips that are carried out and protect our ministers in each city they visit. We also give thanks, because His will has allowed the gospel to be transmitted in our own language, for which we thank our beloved translators.”
Believers in Togo sent greetings as well. On behalf of the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Togo and the national board, Emmanuel Ametsife, President, and Douglas Agnave, Secretary, shared the following: “Once again comes the moment, when God’s flock, has chosen and prepared to gather around His Word. These moments are most important as God’s people because the Word of God delights us as said in Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” It is always a real desire and pleasure for the brothers and sisters in the Laestadian Lutheran faith in Togo, to unite with you and live in a common spirit, at the beginning and during these summer services.
“We experience temptations, trials, doubts, fear, fallings on the journey of faith. But, we people of God who have received the grace are full of hope that one day we will end this way and reach heaven. Through the precious name and blood of our savior Jesus Christ, we have founded our faith on a rock.
“You, believing brothers and sisters have always been by our side through the difficult times as well as the happier ones on our journey to repentance. The missions organized by LLC and MW3, with the participation of numerous missionaries from the USA, Finland and Sweden, to Togo in particular and Africa in general, have been a great comfort to us and will continue to strengthen us in our faith.
“We thank the great Almighty God who started it all, who sustains it all and who will, we confidently hope, end all for us. We remember you in our prayers and we ask you remember us. Many greetings of joy and peace from brothers and sisters!”
On behalf of the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Ghana, Chairman Joseph Kuse and Secretary George Emerson Dodzidenu shared that the children of God in Ghana join brothers and sisters in faith as we commenced with this important event. “It is our prayer that the spirit of God will dwell within your midst as He promised in His holy Word to be with you to the end. We hope that this year’s summer services will bring a lot of joy into the heart of all believers as they freely ask for the gospel of forgiveness of sin in Jesus’ name and precious blood.”
Believers in Gambia sent greetings. Speakers Edwin Missalie and Alphonse Haba along with Secretary Ezel Mandy shared that they pray that our almighty Father would bless the services and that many who have not yet believed would hear the invitation to God’s kingdom and receive the grace of repentance through the forgiveness of sins. “We believe that we are with you in faith and we pray for many service blessings upon your gathering.”
Greetings Relayed in Person
Tapani Kirsilä of Finland read Psalm 122:1–9. Before speaking on this text, Kirsilä relayed the greetings from the SRK board and from his home congregation in Toholampi, Finland. He has experienced the same love he feels in Finland, and within this gathering, he sees his brother, his sister, and his mother. The Atlantic Ocean cannot separate that love that is felt through Jesus Christ.
Kirsila referenced the first verse of Psalm 122 where David states, “I was glad when they said unto me,” speaking of the precious escorts in faith that encourage us on our journey of faith. He noted the many children and young people present in the gathering and reminded parents that our children are in the most fortunate place – in God’s kingdom.
A Festive Weekend Begins
Did you feel welcomed as you listened to the opening ceremonies there in Kelso, Wash., either in person or online? I have to say that with the words given to our brothers during the opening services, I felt warmly welcomed to take a seat amongst my brothers and sisters in faith gathered for summer services. Did you also want to sing the hymns of praise? Did you feel the peace, freedom, and joy of believing? I was encouraged to lift my voice in praise to our heavenly Father that I too was given the opportunity to attend summer services and even more importantly that I too can own that peace if I simply believe my sins forgiven. With these reassurances heard in the opening ceremonies, a festive service weekend began.