Holy and gracious God,
Thank you for the past four years, for the way you have blessed me and this congregation.
You have given me people whom to love, you have given me people who have loved me in return. Let this shared love and trust remain and increase in our congregation. Let prayers flow freely and give the courage to ask for prayer.
Erase from our hearts and our vocabulary judgement and criticism of others. Let our trademark be a resounding thank you and shared encouragement from our lips. Help us to keep your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in everything that we do, every activity, as the starting point and main focus.
Thank you, Father that we can proclaim and serve this congregation in two languages. Thank you that we can sing and play to praise you by hymns, spiritual songs, and contemporary compositions. Give us this freedom in the future as well to serve You in many ways, glorifying all of our different ways.
Thank you that you have also kept us safe financially, thank you that our congregation can look to the future with a good sense of security. Remind us always that as a congregation, we need to share of our own. Show us the things and the people that our congregation can be financially blessing.
Heavenly Father, may your eternal, mighty arms protect and shelter this congregation, our preschool, the Rest Home and the whole Finnish-American community.
Thank you for your faithfulness, thank you for the gift of forgiveness and the gift of redemption through your Son Jesus Christ. Make us stronger through your power, so that we may remain faithful. In the loved name of Jesus. Amen.
When everything is said and done, my heart remains ringing
with thankfulness.
Thank you for your trust!
Pastor Mia
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This picture is of my very hot installation at the end of May four years ago. The church air conditioner was not working on the above mentioned Sunday. The pastors on both sides of me are Bishop Marcus Lohmann (rt.) and Dean Ernest Tate. In the back row between other collegues is Pastor Marjorie Weiss, who has also served our congregation. |
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I am honored to be elected a second time as Council President. We have a great dedicated council who trusts in our Lord’s guidance. We are so thankful for our pastor Mia who has been a Godsend the last 4 years. We would like to keep Mia here forever, yet God has opened another door for her to go back to Finland. We understand her family is there and they need her as well. Mauri Vihko, Secretary of the Finnish Lutheran Church Foreign Mission, has selected our tourist pastor Anne Huoponen and she has accepted to serve our congregation for the coming winter season from November 2021 to April 2022.
I had the opportunity to connect with her over Whatsapp and also met her husband, Kari. I was delighted to see that they are happy people and I look forward to meeting them this summer in Finland. We need to pray for their arrival and visa process and hope that Covid-19 will not deter them from arriving here safely. The Lord will open the doors. We are so grateful for our many volunteers who keep daily prayer hours, and at services their musical talents are much appreciated.
We are so thankful that Tarja and Sam Ettanen are associates with our congregation. They are definitely a Godsend. Mia’s departure will be easier since we have Sami to fill the gap.
In closing, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church has been blessed in many ways and we are thankful to our Spanish congregation pastors Christine and Dexter Sterling for allowing us to be their tenants. They have done so many improvements to the building. Let’s keep them in our prayers.
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.
Let this be out motto
Sincerely, in His love,
Peter
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We warmly thank all those who have remembered and supported our congregation through their gifts. We are living through economically challenging times, and we need your prayers as well as financial support, so that our work can continue year round. May God bless you and your gift!
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It is six o’clock and I am sitting at my patio table writing this column. The temperature is 89 degrees, but the feels like temperature is about 94- no reason to complain. I personally like the heat. And at church if you are “comfortable” with a light jacket, everything is good.
As I arrived at home, I had a quick swim in the pool and a nice moment to read on the patio. In sports terms I can state, that I gave my all and it was enough. Fortunately being a shepherd is more of a group effort instead of a personal one. Today’s theme, herding, tells it very well. A shepherd is not needed if there is no herd, and the herd does not do well without a shepherd.
Today it was great to serve alongside our marvelous congregation, the performers and those who joined us. It was all highlighted by Tarja’s and Irma’s fresh made doughnuts, even though they caused a small crisis. Namely for me, as the demand was so high, that I was left without any doughnuts, well the second time.
Fortunately, our adequacy does not mean much in God’s world. Where our inadequacies end, that is where God’s possibilities begin.
He is able to add by a million times that which we have to give, and this is the reality of his kingdom.
This is how he wants to work through you, in every moment.
Shepherd's Greetings,
Sami
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Moses leads the Israelites toward the promised land. Taival is challenging, the population is whiny and rebellious and the leaders’ nerves are being tested. Exodus Ch. 25 - 40
1. Why was a sacred tent built? God needed a place to live / to store the Israelites valuables / so that God could be among is people. (25:8)
2. What kind of figures were embroidered into the tent’s curtain? Nothing, as the Jews had banned the use of any pictures / pictures of lions / pictures of winged cherubim
3. Who were picked to serve as priests? Aaron and his sons / Lev’s ancestors / Joshua and his children. (28:1)
4. What would happen to a priest who did not wash up before offering sacrifice? He would no longer be a priest / would be killed / he would be ridiculed. (30:20 - 21)
5. What was the name of the craftsman, who was filled by the Holy Spirit, and was to build the sacred tent for the Lord? Uri / Bazelel / Caleb. (31:2-4)
6. What did Aaron make when Moses did not return from Mount Sinai? A meal from banned raw materials / a bull statue / an altar to the glory of God. (32: 4- )
7. Why were the Israelites afraid to approach Moses after he came down from the mountain? Moses was angry / his face was shining / in his hand was a rod made of a snake.
8. When the people were asked to make donations for the building of the sacred tent only the Levites gave contributions / everyone gave and the materials were just enough / the people gave more than what was needed. (36: 3-7)
9. How did the Israelites know when to move their camp and be on their way? They heard the sound of a trumpet playing / On Moses command / when the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle. (40:36-37)
10. Who became Moses’ successor? Caleb / Aaron / Joshua
CORRECT ANSWERS AT THE END OF THE NEWSLETTER. 😊
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April was a busy month. We enjoyed our Easter activities, harvested more vegetables from our garden, took home our Easter grass and bean plants and started our unit on Insects. We have been raising caterpillars and are eagerly waiting for the monarch, sulfur and giant swallowtail butterflies to emerge from their chrysalises. The children have been making insect themed art and we are always amazed by their creativity. |
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As we move into May, we will finish our Insect studies when all of the butterflies and ladybugs have finally been released. We will also get busy making surprise gifts for Mother’s Day.
After honoring our wonderful mothers, we plan to “travel” to the other side of the world and study Australia. We will learn about the geography, the people and the interesting animals of the “Land Down Under”.
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This month we will be having our final visit from Pastor Mia. The children have always looked forward to her school visits and to our monthly “chapel time” at the church. We are all sad to see her go, but we will send her off with lots of hugs and well wishes. We are happy to know that Pastor Mia will be reunited with her family again and we are sure that God has special plans for her future.
The school will be closed on May 31st for Memorial Day.
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God Bless,
Pirjo Komonen Campitelli
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Sometimes our birhtday lists are not up to date. If you notice someone's name missing, please notify us. THANK YOU! |
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The 80th birthday of Seppo Sipinen will be celebrated on the last day of the month. We are sending flowing blessings and lots of hugs ahead of time to the birthday honoree as well as to the preperation of the party!
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There has been a big change in the past year that has transformed our services from the traditional organ masses of old Lutheran churches to something that is reflective of a modern church looking into the future. This change was partly due to the Corona situation, but our congregation has really embraced these changes and adapted along with it. Even though our congregation has been spread throughout the world during this pandemic time, many are still able to stay connected through our internet broadcasts, and that has kept everyone informed and able to share in the activities happening at our church. |
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Even though all of our meetings and choir groups have not resumed their activities, we are somehow returning to a sense of normal operation at our church. We hope in the future to be as robust as we were before the virus. Thank you to all who have supported and prayed for me and the worship team during the past year. |
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It has truly been a joy and blessing the last four years at our church. Amidst all of the changes happening throughout this time we felt great comfort in our fearless leader Pastor Mia. For me personally, I am tremendously grateful for her love, kindness, willingness to listen and especially her prayers. During our time at work together, there is willingness and readiness to pray in any and every situation and this has been wonderful and life changing. When you make God the central focus of each day, it can change everything. Words cannot convey how thankful I am for her and these prayers.
Mia, you will be dearly missed!❤
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With a thankful heart,
Michael
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PIRJO-LEENA KOSKISEN COLUMN |
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Happy people, hugs, laughter, and some tears are wiped away, too. We gathered for a retirement party at Rest Home’s Annan Maja. The party was a surprise to the honored person herself, the Housekeeping Supervisor, who was surprised that the secret was kept so well. Her family, attending the party, knew about the arrangements but did not leak the secret. While meeting there with the current and former staff members it occurred to me that this is like life itself: we meet each other and then go our separate ways, our whole lives are about arrivals and departures. It’s a pleasure to meet and get acquainted, work together perhaps for a long time and get to know each other and then one day the duties change or we retire, we move away and the connection is lost. You think of these people often with nostalgia and wonder how they are doing now. When you get older it’s easier to accept these changes as part of life. In fact you notice while remembering these friends and coworkers that you have gained something from these connections; you have learned plenty of useful things, different ways to cope. We are like pebbles in a stream, grinding each other, and the water, life, is grinding us more. I wonder what we might become!
Saying farewell to Pastor Mia feels very sad at this moment. New duties and possibilities lay ahead of her and we will stay here at the tender loving care of Pastor Sami to continue the tasks we are given. Communication is so easy nowadays, so I believe we'll stay in touch in to some degree – and who knows where we’ll meet perhaps one day!
Thank you Pastor Mia, for the time we shared, God Bless You!
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Spring greetings,
Pirjo-Leena
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PIRJO PEDERSEN – BEING LEAD THROUGH EVERY STEP, BLESSINGS THROUGH EVERY TUNE |
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Pirjo Pedersen’s wide smile, sparkling big eyes and skillful violin playing have become familiar to the congregation many years back already. During the past several months we have heard Pirjo on a regular basis at our worship services. Although many have known Pirjo for years, there are many of us to whom her story is not known. We thank Pirjo for this opportunity to get to know her just a little better.
Bonn – Bergen – Kemi – Lake Worth – Palm Beach
Pirjo was born in 1965 in Bergen, Norway, Pirjo’s father’s home-country. Pirjo’s parents had met in Germany, at the University of Bonn School of Dentistry. Pirjo moved to Finland with her mother Pirkko at the age of two. Pirjo’s mother served as a private practice dentist and a school dentist first in Kristiinankaupunki, then Vihanti and then Kemi. At the age of four, Pirjo moved with her mother to Kemi. Five years went by living in this northern city. Pirjo went to elementary and Sunday school there, and also started her violin studies at the local conservatory. The button-eyed six-year-old violin virtuoso received special permission to take private lessons, the normal age requirement being seven. The spark to play violin came from her mother, who had played violin in her youth. Musical talent was derived from her mother’s father, who played cello and contrabass in ensembles such as Tornio Chamber Orchestra.
It had long been a dream of Pirjo’s mother to move abroad and America was first on the list of hopeful countries to go. This dream became reality when Pirjo was nine years old. Mother and daughter first arrived in Florida for six months in November of 1974. Spring 1975, they returned to Finland to get all the final work and permanent resident permits completed for the move across the ocean as immigrants, which was the final seal.
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Music, political science, nursing, and real estate
After moving to America, Pirjo continued her violin studies with private lessons and playing in school orchestras, first by special permission at Lake Worth Junior High School and then later at Lake Worth High School. In addition to this, the violinist played classical and gospel-worship music at a variety of different festivals and events, as well as churches and evangelistic meetings.
Music was a natural choice for Pirjo, therefore after graduating from Lake Worth High School in 1983, she continued her music studies at Palm Beach State College receiving an Associate of Arts degree in Music in 1985. After this, the eager to learn young lady continued on to Florida Atlantic University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1990. During and after her studies, Pirjo worked for U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service as an aide as well as a clerk, but at the same time, felt as if God was calling her for another purpose.
When God began speaking to Pirjo about a career in nursing, several times she received confirmation that the Heavenly Father was serious about what He was saying. Pirjo tells of how she was afraid at the sight of blood and imagined herself fainting in hospital hallways and not being able to care for patients. The Holy Spirit opened Pirjo’s eyes to see the matter in a new way and Pirjo took that confirmation as that God really wanted her to apply for nursing school.
Once again, studies began in a new direction. Pirjo finished her nursing studies at Palm Beach State College two years later, receiving an Associate of Science degree in Nursing in 1993, specializing in Geriatric nursing. In 2015, she also earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing specializing in Education from the University of Phoenix.
Pirjo was inducted into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International as a member of Omicron Delta, University of Phoenix in 2015, of which she has been a member for six years already. Pirjo says she has always loved taking care of the elderly. Before working as a Registered Nurse/Supervisor at Finnish-American Village, she had already served as their Activities Director many years prior. Pirjo has also worked at various American senior facilities.
In addition to all her studies and coinciding jobs, since her youth, Pirjo has, alongside her mother also helped run their motel and rental businesses. With a smile on her face, Pirjo says that this used to be their “hobby”. When her mother Pirkko moved to a well deserved retirement, after having a private dental practice for over 44 years, Pirjo has taken most of the responsibility for the real estate and motel business.
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Faith from the beginning
Pirjo has received her trust in God, as well as her love for Israel from her mother, who instilled it upon her. Pirjo’s mother has always prayed and trusted in the protection of God. It was very important to her to put her daughter into Sunday school in Kemi. Pirjo recalls how the Sunday school teacher, Elsa Sankala, who was very deep rooted in her faith, made sure that the students understood how Jesus’ saving ministry and forgiveness of sins were the keys to Heaven. In Florida, Pirjo attended the reputable Our Savior Lutheran School, where other Finnish children also attended. Confirmation class and completion for Pirjo was a given, and the celebration was held under the leadership of Pastor Wilbert Törmälä in 1980.
Her own personal declaration of faith was made at the age of 13, when Niilo Yli-Vainio’s New Life Wins mission came to Florida. That night will never be forgotten by mother or daughter. Pirjo’s mother had directed her to stay in her seat while her mother tried how this prayer service would affect her. Pirjo nicely stayed in her place waiting for her mother to return. Things did not go this way for long, however. Lea (Hulkkonen Peters), Pirjo’s 12-year-old friend, decided to come talk with her year older friend. If she was not sure of her place in heaven before, that now was the time to take action. As an obedient daughter, Pirjo hesitated at first, but Lea persisted and the two girls took their place in the prayer line. The Holy Spirit did His work through a gentle evangelist and Pirjo was able to give her life to Jesus that night.
Israel and several Sukkot Jewish Festivals (Feast of Tabernacles)
Pirjo’s love for Israel, which she received from her mother, got her to join a Jewish evangelism promoting Messianic Jewish Movement in 1990. Pirjo has done a lot of research and studies on Judaism and Jewish Customs and calls herself a Christian Zionist. She has a deep love for the Jewish community and Israel, while still honoring her own Christian faith, values and upbringing.
One of Pirjo’s dreams came true, when in 1994, along with her mother, she was able to attend the Sukkot Festival/Feast of Tabernacles organized by the International Christian Embassy (ICEJ) in Jerusalem. Naturally, the trip included a sight-seeing tour of the Biblical sites as well. It was not a surprise that this Holy Land and especially the sight of the Sea of Galilee beautiful scenery captivated the young woman’s heart. The Sukkot Festival’s/Feast of Tabernacle’s Worship spectacle, along with its worship orchestra, Davidic praise dancers and pageantry touched Pirjo deeply. So deeply in fact, that a desire arose from her heart to not only be a spectator but to also participate as a musician. The thought seemed impossible at first, but Pirjo decided to inquire how to get into this orchestra.
This though came to fruition when Pirjo returned to Florida. With the assistance of former Pastor Mauri Vihko’s musical wife, Anna-Liisa, Pirjo made a recording of her playing and sent it to the International Christian Embassy-Jerusalem (ICEJ). The answer was positive and Pirjo’s dreams were about to be fulfilled. Since then, Pirjo has played her violin in this Feast of Tabernacles Worship Orchestra ten times between 1995-2010. Playing in this international worship orchestra means that one must spend total of three weeks in Israel. Two weeks for rehearsing and one week for the festival celebration performances.
In addition to this, Pirjo spent six months in Israel at the turn of the millennium doing volunteer work. She worked at the Messianic Times newspaper, at their Tel Aviv office doing marketing and in her free time played weekly in a local Jerusalem congregation worship band. The millennium changed together with her mother, in an unforgettable scene at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
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A faithful and burning desire to serve God
Pirjo’s heart burns for God, and she has been able to do very broad evangelistic work through not only music, but through her calling as a nurse over a quarter-century of service. Pirjo humbly states how God has given her an abundance of opportunities to bless and pray for the elderly she cares for and lead them to the knowledge of Jesus. Pirjo tells a story about one most memorable event, about a 105 year old Hungarian Jewish lady, Esther, to whom she was instrumental in opening the road for her to accept Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah and Lord. Maybe at some point in time, we can hear this touching story told by Pirjo in its entirety.
After this nice interview moment, Pirjo states that above all, it is important to understand that the safest place to be in this world is to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and remaining in the perfect will and calling of God for each of our lives. This faithful daughter of God is a shining example to us all.
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A warm thank you to Pirjo for the joy and love that she spreads around her, through both her playing and words,
wherever she goes.
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Moving from Good Friday to the resurrection celebration on Sunday was very touching. We left the church sanctuary ob Friday in the dark with the altar dressed in black and arrived back on Sunday morning to the scent of lilies and the feeling of Easter morning. Both masses were beautiful. At the end of the Finnish service we blessed the new council into service. |
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Easter celebrations continued at Annan Maja at the Rest Home, where along with our volunteers, we were able to proclaim the good news with word and song. We brought all of the lilies which were decorating the altar at church to the Rest Home, where they were given to the residents after a communion service. The next morning, we continued to deliver lilies to our friends who were not able to be with us on Sunday. |
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On the last Sunday of April we made a head start to May 1(Mayday). The church was filled, not with the scent of lilies, but with the smell of fresh doughnuts, which were served at the coffee social after the service. The doughnuts were in such high demand that they simply ran out. Thank you to the doughnut chef's Tarja and Irma. |
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1.”The people must make a sacred tent for me, so that I may live among them. The sacred tent was built, so that God could be in the midst of his people.
2. The curtain in the sacred tent was to be embroidered with cherubim.
3. Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests.
4. If the priests did not wash themselves, they would die.
5. The craftsman who God filled with the Holy Spirit was named Bazelel.
6. Aaron made a bull statue.
7. The Israelites were afraid to approach Moses, because his face was shining.
8. When the people were asked to make donations in order to build the sacred tent, they donated more materials than were needed.
9. The Israelites knew when to move their camp, when the cloud lifted from above the tent.
10. Joshua became Moses’ successor.
Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
(Ps. 119:27)
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PARTNERS WEBSITES:
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St. Andrew's Lutheran Church | (561) 582-0554 | 928 South E Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460 | www.standrewsfl.com |
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