We are deep into hurricane season and hurricane SAM is nearing the Caribbean, but fortunately according to forecast, it should turn north and miss Florida. Even though we know how to prepare for these storms, they always seem to surprise us when they come close to our area. Just as in Finland, when the first winter always surprises motorists on the roads and the number of accidents is seen only in newspaper columns. Through life’s experiences, we should also be well prepared for life’s storms that avalanche around us, although quite often they surprise us like the first winter does in Finland. At first, we spend time pulling ourselves out of the gutter before we can continue our journey.
The Bible gives us Christians excellent advice, rules, and warnings on how to handle spiritual storms. Nonetheless, I admit that many times they still manage to catch you off guard. Then you are just as disappointed as the motorist who saw the winter weather forecast on television about icy road conditions and still found himself in the ditch. Every now and then I wonder how easy it is to give others good advice and teach the Bible’s knowledge but forget all of it myself. That is human life. A good example came up on Sunday as we were playing golf. On the fairway in question was a water obstacle which we had to hit our drives over. I just managed to give advice to a friend on how to hit it with smooth tempo, but yet enough power, and as I stepped up to hit my own shot, it went straight into the water with power. I didn’t listen to my own advice two minutes after I said it.
For Christians, the Bible is a mirror. When we read it, we mirror our own life according to its word and strive to get something out that pertains to our own lives. God wants to help us; we just have to let Him. God does not look at our abilities, but our willingness. God never violates our free will.
Have a Blessed October!
Pastor Sami
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Loved congregation members and friends.
Fall greetings from Askainen, the parish where Mannerheim was born, where a magnificent estate is located in Louhisaari. There is also knighthood park dedicated to 191 recipients of the Mannerheim knight’s cross. The only nobility church in Finland is located here.
Thank you to Pastor Sami for faithfully and willingly keeping our church open and our prayer moments on the air. Thank you as well to all the volunteers for their hard work and to Michael for office and music director’s work.
During these times, good news is a rare commodity, but our snowbirds will be able to travel to their homes in Florida in November. The U.S. government is opening its borders at long last. Over a year and a half has past since they left. We are waiting for everyone to come to church and to be able to hug our loved ones and return to normal life. On Thanksgiving week, November 24 – 28, we will receive a visit from Finnish foreign work director Mauri Vihko. He will give sermons at both services on Sunday the 28th, 9:30 and 11:30. Head secretary of the Maritime church, Hannu Suihkonen, will be traveling along with him and will also be visiting our Finnish rest home along with our Pastor Sami, as well as visits to both local Finnish halls.
Unfortunately during the summer’s hottest time, the air conditioner at the preschool had reached the end of it’s life and a new replacement unit had to be installed.
We have attended a few Christian spiritual gatherings with Arja over the summer as well as attending all the Lutheran churches in Turku. Free church organized an event called Turku Prays. This event was well organized and advertised on street corners and on the sides of buses.
The apple trees in our own yard have yielded a pretty good harvest despite the dry and hot summer. We have enjoyed the apples ourself and had enough to give to our family and friends.
It was fun to go to a lingonberry forest as we gathered up three whole buckets. Arja has made preserves and put it into the freezer.
Below is a photo of Louhisaari knight’s castle, about a three kilometer trip from our home.
Blessings and health and to seeing each other soon.
Peter and Arja,
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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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1. God tested Abraham by asking him to do this
leave Sara/ reject his land / sacrifice his son.
2. Who stopped Abraham from doing what had been asked of him?
A Prophet / An angel/ Abraham's brother
3. God tested Abraham in order to find out,
if he feared and loved him / to see how brave he is/ to reward him after his challenges
4. What was the name of Abraham's sons' Isaac's wife?
Hagar / Rachel / Rebecca
5. ? How did Isaac find a wife for himself?They met at the city gates/ They mey at a well / A servant found her.
6. Abraham dies, in a battle / peacefully of old age / in grief after his wife Sara's death.
7. How old was Isaac when he got married? 22 / 40 / 64
8. Why did Isaac pray to God on behalf of his wife?
Because his wife was infertile/ Because of her disobedience / That she would not serve any other gods
9. How many sons did Isaac have? 1 / 2 / 3
10. Isaac's name means he is joyful / he is chosen / he laughs
CORRECT ANSWERS AT THE END OF THIS NEWSLETTER. 😊
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September days have flown by and we are now looking forward to fall activities and fall weather! Covid19 continues to affect our daily routines, but we are slowly increasing our student numbers to former levels.
We have been learning about transportation, frogs, fall, apples, colors and shapes and have just started learning about the artist Piet Mondrian. As we move into October, we will continue painting fall leaves and apple trees and creating our own Mondrian style masterpieces.
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October is the time to clean out our vegetable garden and replant. We will plant beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, squash and a variety of flowers. |
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Our first new theme in October is Italy. We’ll “travel” to Rome and Venice, build a Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa, play pizza parlor, make pasta art, and listen to opera. |
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The month ends with Halloween fun…decorating pumpkins, playing games, wearing costumes and eating (just a little!) candy.
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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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We are starting off this new church year with a glamour of hope that our borders will open and our Finnish congregation members will be able to travel to Florida soon. Wouldn’t that be great. It has been such a long time and many changes have taken place since the last time our congregation was together in more significant numbers. We are thankful and welcome everyone back. |
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Our services in September have been great, thanks to our two wonderful music teams. On the Finnish side, Lauri, and Hanna, our two singers have been with us loyally every week; occasionally joined by Pirjo on violin, and Paavo on accordion. On the English side we have had our talented singers Kristen, Susanna, and Glenn, along with Tuomo on bass, and me on the keyboard. Pirjo has sometimes played at the English services as well. We have been blessed to have all of these great musicians at our services this month. A warm thank you!
As we move forward with this new year, we must listen to what God is saying. We must move in his direction. We must choose that path toward Jesus. Music can create a very strong connection to God. While sticking to our traditional Lutheran roots with rich hymns from Martin Luther and the classical masters, we have grown accustomed to some gospel music and even some praise music as well. Hopefully there can be a little bit of something for everyone.
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We pray that Paavo has a quick recovery after his fall in church on Sept 19, and that he will be able to soon return to our church. He has a broken wrist, but is otherwise in good spirits. God’s Blessings Paavo!
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Ps. 25: 4,5)
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Have a peaceful and blessed October!
Michael
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PIRJO-LEENA KOSKISEN COLUMN |
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Taking off my wool socks one morning caused a mild snap in my back. Nothing major, I thought, and I hardly remembered the whole incident afterwards. But after some time I started feeling pain and it was difficult to straighten my back. The longer I was spending time on my feet and pressure on my back increased, I started to walk crooked. And how cranky I became! Small issues felt big like Mount Everest and my husband had to listen to my complaining and moaning. The whole atmosphere was very unpleasant. While walking with my sore back bent it occurred to me that have I really been grateful about my health when I had nothing to complain, really?
I have started my day getting my health for granted. I have to admit that I so easily forget when everything is fine, everything works, I don’t remember to be thankful. Many years ago a son of one Rest Home resident came in to my office and said briskly: ‘Good morning!’ Then he added: ‘Or is it a good one?’ I knew his sense of humor so well that there had to be something hidden in that question. He said: ‘Let me tell you, when you wake up in the morning and you open your eyes it is a good morning!’ How true!
How many reasons we actually have to be thankful for in spite of small ailments, when we just remind ourselves to make the day the best possible, when the Lord has given us the grace to wake up to a new day.
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God bless you all today!
Pirjo-Leena
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We celebrated two milestone birthdays on Sept. 5, Merja Hulkkonen-75 and John Konkola-80. Congratulations and God Bless you Merja and John! |
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Liisa Rajala turned 90 and we celebrated at church on
Sept 19th. God Bless you Liisa!
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On Friday, September 24, we held a small, touching communion service in the Pokela Room at the Rest Home for our loved residents. We also had a service on the nursing home side. |
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A very nice and blessed Fall to everyone from Turku, Finland!
Everyday life has started back up after a warm summer and now it is time to plan for the future.
Before that a brief summary of what has happened in the last few months:
Summer brought us a large, or actually still small, change to our lives through the birth of our daughter. I still cannot put it to words or understand what a tremendous blessing the birth of a child is, even though I have experienced it before.
Naturally this means nearly all of our time has been spent in amazement of the small new life and enjoying every moment. Unfortunately, this has resulted in cancelling many summer plans.
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Another nice and heartwarming occasion was when Michael was able to visit during his vacation. We were able to do a quick tour of the city and at the same time learn a little history of Finnish churches. |
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But now that Fall is coming to a close and the traditional mushroom-picking trips are done, I have begun to look at flights crossing the Atlantic in hopes of returning after a looong break. There are many unfinished projects to be done and people to see, as well as doing something more concrete for our congregation than just the webpage design and upkeep. Hopefully the price of flights are not sky high.
We are waiting thankfully and with hope of what early winter brings
with it.
Greetings,
Teppo Honkanen
Congregation Webpage Administrator
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” (Ps. 13: 5,6)
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1. God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Gen. 22:2)
2. An angel from heaven stopped Abraham. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Gen. 22:11-12)
3. God tested Abraham to see if he feared and loved God. God's angel said: "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”(Gen. 22:12)
4. Isaac's wife was Rebecca
5. Isaac's wife was found by a servant Abraham sent his senior servant to his homeland to get his son a wife. (Gen. 24:1-4)
6. Abraham died peacefully at the old age of 175. (Gen. 25:7-8)
7. Isaac was forty when he got married.
8.-9. Isaac prayed for his wife because she could not conceive a child. God heard his prayers and Rebecca became pregnant and gave birth to twins, Jacob and Esau. (Gen. 25: 21, 24)
10. Isaac's name means "he laughs"
MY RESULTS
0-2 correct = No excuses! You can get a Bible from the church if you don't have one at home.
3-5 correct = The beginning is always tough...
6-8 correct = Continue reading, soon you can't put the Book down.
9-10 correct = Your turn to give the next sermon!
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CLICK HERE TO GET TO OUR FINNISH 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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