German Advent Service & Festivities 4.12.

Please feel free to join in for a German Advent Worship Service and pre-Christmas Festivities on Friday, 4.12.2009 at 18.00 in St. Luke’s Chapel. The programme will comprise a worship service with Martin Röker (18.00 >) and pre-Christmas festivities in the congregation hall (19.00 – 21.00). Everyone is invited to bring seasonal refreshments, e.g. buiscuits or cookies, and thus we may all share in the goodies. Coffee, tea and juice will be served. We’re going to share also little gifts with each other! Please bring along a gift worth 2-3 euro or self-made, and then the “tonttu” will hand them out to everyone taking part. This will make it easier to await Christmas ;-) In addition, the Advent short story „Wendekind“ will be read, and we’ll sing together Christmas songs - if you have an instrument, please bring it along to join in with the music. Organised by Deutsche ev.-luth. Gemeinde in Finnland, Finland-Germany Association Oulu and The Prisoners – Oulu’s International Writers’ Circle (BF).

Thanksgiving 27.11.

We held this year’s Thanksgiving on Friday, 27.11.2009 at 17.30, Pakkahuoneenkatu 17. We first had a devotion, including music and songs as well as a message related to giving thanks. We also created a thanksgiving poster, and then enjoyed the potluck dinner (hot or cold, cooked or baked dishes from around the world). The evening ended by means of board games, fellowship and the clean up, of course. Thanks to everyone for coming and making it possible – above all, to God! The event was organised by the Salvation Army and the International Christian Fellowship of Oulu. (BF)

Love Love Love Love Love

Hello everyone! Ever thought of what love is all about based on the Bible? In our worship meeting on Sunday, 2.11.2009 Tunji Toriola lead us to ponder on this topic. The message gives you a brief overview on five dimensions of love: (1) being loved by God, (2) loving God, (3) loving yourself, (4) loving others, and (5) loving enemies. Here’s also a graphic sketch respectively a concept map on the topic of love, including references to Scripture. Feel free to comment, perhaps there are even more dimensions etc. (TT, BF).

Hosanna and the Church Boat

On Sunday 18.10. and 25.10.2009 we came together for our worship meeting, and we looked into the meaning of a “Christian fellowship” and “fellowshipping” by means of metaphoric language and Bible references. Based on a definition of “Hosanna“, which may be referred in the OT as “a cry for help and salvation” of someone “drowning” in the “sea of life”, we figured that Jesus is the One who saves, and he welcomes people aboard his “fellowship”.  In fact, once a person has accepted Christ as Saviour, he or she also joins a congregation (or a “church boat”), and becomes a Christian “fellowshipper” with God and other believers. We went on to study a “Christian fellowship” and “fellowshipping”, more precisely: about its origin, purposes and means. Have a look at the results of our study by reading through the message as a pdf-file. (BF)

Get-together ;-)

*Men’s Night*
Welcome to the Men’s Night on Friday, 9.10. at 18.30 to Darius Jacobsberg’s home (Honkalantie 15, Oulunsuu, nearby Lämsänjärvi). Sauna available – bring your own towels, some snacks and drinks to share (or a few euros to get a pizza etc.), and be prepared for all kinds of conversation between Heaven and earth. A lift will be arranged from St. Luke’s Chapel at 18.00. More info about the lift, call Bastian at +358 50 31 749 31, and about the facilities, give Darius a ring at +358 40 719 6906.

*Ladies’ Night*
The Ladies’ night will take place on Friday, 16.10. at Tsegaye’s and Heli’s place (Pöllönkuja 5 C 16, Kuivasjärvi). There will be a Bible study and potluck, so please bring something to eat. More info about the location, call Tsegaye at +358 40 558 8312. (BF)