Here’s ICFO’s programme for the season of Advent, Christmas and the turn of the year. Please note that there are exceptional times and places for worship meetings, and the Bible study will have a break 16.12. – 6.1.2010. Greetings and blessings in the name of Jesus Christ! (BF)

29.11. at 15.30 Worship Meeting in Congregation Hall of St. Luke’s Chapel
2.12. at 19.00 Bible Study at Bastian’s, Micah 6
4.12. at 18.00 German Advent Service and Celebrations at St. Luke’s
6.12. at 11.00 Worship Meeting at Salvation Army
9.12. at 19.00 Bible Study at Bastian’s, Micah 7
13.12. at 15.30 Worship Meeting at David’s
16.12. at 19.00 Committee Meeting
17.12. at 19.00 Baking Evening at Bastian’s
18.12. at 18.00 Christmas Carols at Oulu Cathedral, Kirkkokatu
20.12. — no gathering
27.12. at 15.30 Worship Meeting & Leftovers Potluck at St. Luke’s
31.12. at 18.00 Old Year’s Night Devotion & Potluck at the Dickson’s

St. Luke’s: Yliopistokatu 7
Salvation Army: Pakkahuoneenkatu 17
Dickson’s: Koskitie 7 B 4
Bastian’s: Puulinnankatu 5 C 23
David’s: Tuulikintie 6 D 124

Advent Greeting Card

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).

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)

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).

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)

*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)

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)

What Is The Church from David Tate on Vimeo.

Hi there, this coming Sunday 6.9. there won’t be a worship meeting at St. Luke’s chapel, so everyone is invited tothe Peedo’s place to have “home church” at the regular time of 15.30. We can have a pot luck dinner fellowship afterwards,so bring along some food to share. The Peedo residence is: Kylmasentie 3 in Pateniemi. For those people without cars, there was the suggestion that they meet at St Luke’s chapel just before 15.30 and people with cars can pick them up and bring them round to the Peedo’s place. If you need a lift, please inform someone with a car, or Marja Peedo so it can be arranged. Also, the no. 20 bus comes past our house. (The bus stop is Kuivasojan koulu). Welcome! Blessings in Jesus name! (MP, +358 40 7078816, marja.peedo@ope.ouka.fi).

In order to prepare for the Truth event’s free services we held various events at ICFO etc. They concentrated on evangelisation and serving, and included a workshop “Finding and Using Your Spiritual Gifts“, a message in our worship meeting “Serving for a Cause“, and a message at the Truth event’s training session “Twelve Reasons to Serve“. The latter message is also available in Finnish, “Kaksitoista syytä palvelemiseen“. Feel free to use the resources for the Truth event or other occasions of serving to share the Gospel and to glorify God in your church and at work or study place… A concrete service where the material and reflections may be used is the Truth event’s “International Event” or “Kansainvälinen tapahtuma” at the Oulu Reception Centre on Saturday 29.8.2009 from 11-15. Welcome to join in – also in other activities – more information at the Truth event web sites: recruitment site http://www.yksitotuus.fi/rekry/english and the public web site http://www.yksitotuus.fi/english. (BF)

Have you ever wondered about how to share the truth of salvation of Christ with fellow human beings who do not yet know Jesus as their personal Redeemer (see 1 Timothy 2:3-4)? You may say “Of course, but I’m not much a talker and not really well-versed with the Bible or approaching people”. Hm, this may be true but it doesn’t mean to give in! Rather, be eager to learn more about spreading the Gospel and using your gifts to build up God’s kingdom (see Mark 16:15, Romans 12:1-8 ;-) Interested? Then feel free to join in at this year’s Truth event. This evangelisation event will be held in the fourth year in a row in Oulu 28.-29.8.2009. Help sharing the Good News by means of arranging free services, reaching out to people on the streets and doing other tasks. Get prepared and learn more by coming to prayer and planning meetings and read up more information about the Truth event at the recruitment site http://www.yksitotuus.fi/rekry/english and the public web site http://www.yksitotuus.fi/english. (BF)