News from United Methodist Church - Nordic & Baltic area http://www.umc-ne.org/ en News from United Methodist Church - Nordic & Baltic area http://www.umc-ne.org/typo3conf/ext/tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://www.umc-ne.org/ 18 16 TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:40:00 +0100 While we wait for a new heaven and a new earth http://www.umc-ne.org/news0/news/article/while-we-wait-for-a-new-heaven-and-a-new-earth/ We entering into a time of hope - and we need it... Do you remember one year ago? With a chary hope much attention was focused on the world leaders gathering for the global climate summit. We prayed, we worshipped, ngo’s shared their ideas and after days of intensive work the world’s leaders decided hardly to do anything. The events, the bright ideas and the smart slogans were packed up, the attention of the media was turned in new directions and only the most devoted insisted on the reality of the problem and kept talking about global warming and carbon footprint – hopes are easily crushed in our world. Visions of the future in the literature and movies of our time are marked by nightmares rather than hopes of utopian dreams, we do not trust ourselves and in particular our leaders to guide us into a brighter future.

I thank God for advent, the time of unquenchable hope. In a time that has lost its sense of hope, advent dares to dream about the future and encourages us to prepare for the best and not for the worst. This indomitable hope stems from the resurrection of Jesus Christ and from his promise that he will come again in glory. At a certain point in time God will break into history and put an end to the world as we know it. It will be a time reckoning when good will is separated from evil, all hurt and sorrow will be removed, all cries of pain will be silenced and replaced by the goodness and mercy that flows from Christ’s atonement and God will create a new heaven and a new earth. The wars, the hate, the injustice, the prejudice, the separation, the distrustfulness, the self-centeredness, the hunger and the fear in this world is for real, but it is not as powerful as we think. A different and stronger power is at work revealing itself in the kingdom of God, that is at hand, and when people are touched by Christ’s grace their lives begin to change and a new perception of life begins to emerge – hope.

We hear Christ’s voice calling us from news stories - of women in Afghanistan setting themselves on fire to escape forced marriage and a life in subjugation and despair, of millions dying of malaria every year, of people starving to death while the global north refuses to share its riches and closes its borders. However hope in Christ empowers people to face up to reality, to take a stand against injustice, to not give up and not to give up on people, to search for truth and to expect the best of other people.  Hope in Christ empowers people to be bold and to have faith in the midst of darkness, fear, wickedness and suffering. This hope empowers people to act and reach out to their neighbor, to people in need.

Indeed there is hope, and while we in advent and in all other days of the year wait for a new heaven and a new earth, we are called to share this hope with the world and to live boldly in the reality of this hope. Christ has died – Christ is risen – Christ will come again.

Christian Alsted
Bishop

 

]]> General Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:40:00 +0100 New Church Plant Communicator http://www.umc-ne.org/news0/news/article/new-church-plant-communicator/ Camilla Klockars is the brand new church plant communicator Camilla Klockars has been hired for a brand new position as church plant communicator in the Episcopal area. From 1. september she is working on creating a strong network among the present 8 new church starts in the episcopal area. Camilla will collect and share the stories of success and failure, point to experiences and inspiration for starting new churches.


Camilla says about herself:

I have been working as a local pastor within the United Methodist church in Finland (Finland Swedish Provisional Annual Conference) since 1990. Before my present appointment, I was working for more than 15 years in the Swedish-speaking United Methodist church in Åbo (1988-2000). During 1996-1998 I was also appointed to the Finnish-speaking Methodist church in Åbo.


June 2007 I was sent to the United Methodist church in Karleby, a church with only one active member left plus 3 friends (all above 80 years old). During the last 2,5 years we have seen God restore the church. Nowadays approximately 80-100 people take part in the ministry. About 20 nations are represented. 15 students are currently going through our school of leaders. The aim of the school is to start and inspire new fellowships (cell-groups). Mentoring and coaching are vital ingredients in the school. I am currently mentoring 5 of our leaders.


The last 2,5 years in Kokkola have touched me deeply. I have become more cautious concerning the thought of closing down so called “dead churches”. I firmly believe God can do in other places what He chose to do here. Also, I believe, with all my heart in the need of continually starting and encouraging new fellowships.

]]> Church Planting Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:01:00 +0200 Area Cabinets sets new goals for church planting http://www.umc-ne.org/news0/news/article/area-cabinets-sets-new-goals-for-church-planting/ We want to start at least one new church in each conference by the end of 2011, said the district... We want to start at least one new church in each conference by the end of 2011, said the district superintendants gathered in Tallinn for their annual meeting responding to the Central Conference statement: "Forwaord by creating new faith communities"

They have set up the following goals for 2009-2011:

  • To start 1 new church plant in each conference

  • To train at least 1-2 church planters in each conference every year

  • To set up an area wide network for church planters – for mutual learning and support

  • To Hire a church plant coordinator for the area

  • To set aside funding in each conference for church planting

We have committed ourselves to preach and teach about starting new faith communities in the comming months. We will be looking for church planters, we will look for possible places to start new churches and support churches that want to start new churches.

]]> Church Planting General Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +0100 New preaching points http://www.umc-ne.org/news0/news/article/new-preaching-points/ New preaching points are started in Lithuania in Paceriaukštė and Šveicarija New Preaching point in Paceriaukštė. 
A little more than one year ago the Lithuanian Pagalbos Centras purchased a small house in this village.  The intent was to provide a place in the community for feeding children after school, a wash program, and emergency shelter for women and children in domestic violence situations.  Last spring Pastor Walla Carllson began holding worship services at the house one Sunday afternoon each month.  Now others share in leading this worship.  Persons from this village and surrounding villages are now coming for “spiritual” food.  Normally 25 attend, sometimes as many as 50.

New Preaching point in Šveicarija. 
Last spring a couple from this village attended a Bible Study at our church in Ukmergė.  They had a relative who attended the Ukmergė Church, about 50 kilometers from their village.  They attended twice and then asked if it were possible for us to begin a Bible Study in their village.  They were willing to offer their home.  They saw that there are many needs in their village, especially with children and wanted to perhaps create a church community that could help.  In the summer 5 youth from this Bible Study attended our youth camp.  Now 8-10 folks meet on a weekly basis led by Pastor Bonnie. A core group from this Bible Study also attend the Kaunas Church on a regular basis.

For more information on these new ministries go to http://www.lithuaniaumc.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=40480&PID=740070

 

]]> General Church Planting Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0100