Thanksgiving 27.11.

You are welcome to join this year’s Thanksgiving Devotion & Potluck Dinner on Friday, 27.11.2009 at 17.30, Pakkahuoneenkatu 17. A potluck dinner is a meal prepared by common efforts. So, please bring a dish (hot or cold, cooked or baked) from your home country and share it with others – the dishes can be stored from 17.30 onwards in the kitchen. We’ll start with a devotion at 18.00, and then continue with the meal, and board games throughout the evening. We’ll try to help with arranging transportation to/from Linnanmaa and other places – just give a call to Bastian at +358 50 31 749 31, or send an e-mail to bastian@theprisoners.org, latest by 25.11.2009. The event is 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)

Fellowship Ahoy!

Once more in all these years in our work with international students and other folks we’d like to welcome everyone interested in Christian fellowship to join in at our weekly gatherings at St. Luke’s Chapel (Yliopistokatu 7). Our ‘fellowship’ is big enough to host you, and even if you have your doubts with the Christian faith, it’s worth to give it a try. Besides worship meetings there’s also a lot of other Activities, such as Bible studies, for the Bible is sort of the ‘compass’ in our individual and congregational life… Oh yes, perhaps you’d first like to get to know us: We are an interdenominational, Bible-believing group, consisting mostly of people around the world who’ve settled down in Oulu or somehow got stuck in the ‘haven’ of this wonderful city. Have a look at our Statement of Faith and browse through this blog (‘log book’) to find out more. If you wish and you are a new foreign or Finnish student, you may meet us also in person at the “Culture and Life” event on Saturday, 12.9. at 11.00-14.00 in the Kirkkotorin koulutuskeskus (Asemakatu 5). The event is arranged by the student unions OYY and OSAKO, and there will be a lot of interesting programme. We will have an info stand and a questionnaire to answer, where you can win a fabulous prize! Welcome Aboard! (BF)