From the Community of Saint Luka's

Дорогая Jackie!
Greetings from the community of Saint Luka's (Arsenyev, Russia).

We congratulate you on a holiday of Sacred Easter.
We thank you for your fine heart, for your frankness and love.
There has come spring, all alive goes to the sky. I wish you that in your
heart always there is a spring. We thank the God and you for your help and
your open heart.
I hope that you write us the letter as how are you doing.
We hope that you will visit us again in this year. In our church there is
a repairing.
In our house of a pray there are changes owing to you and the God and I
would like that you have seen it. we have now plastic windows, a fine
fireplace near which we gather in the evenings we feel it's warmness and
we remember you. And repair proceeds...
On a holiday of great Easter we shall pray for you. Let the God directs
and bless you.

Chairman of a community Evgenie Slinchenko.

Ps. Alas I seldom write letters. Since I do not have house of the
Internet - go to the Internet-cafe.
It is a photo from Saint-Peterburg where I was on study in seminary in
this winter.

Мы поздравляем вас с праздником Святой Пасхи.
Мы благодарим Вас за Ваше прекрасное сердце, за вашу откровенность и
любовь.
Наступила весна, все живое тянется к небу. Я желаю вам чтобы в вашем
сердце всегда была весна.
Мы благодарим Бога и вас за вашу помощь и ваше открытое сердце.
Я надеюсь что вы напишите письмо как идут дела у вас.
Мы надеемся что вы посетите нас вновь в этом году. В нашей церкви идет
ремонт.
В нашем доме молитвы произошли изменения благодаря вам и Богу и я бы хотел
чтобы вы сами это увидели. У нас теперь пластиковые окна, прекрасный камин
, около которого мы собираемся вечерами греемся и вспоминаем вас. А ремонт
продолжается ...
В праздник великой Пасхи мы будем молиться за вас. Пусть Бог направляет и
благославляет вас.
Председатель общины Евгений Слинченко.
Ps. Увы я редко пишу письма. т.к. у меня нет дома интернета - хожу в
интернет-салон. Это фото из Санкт_Петербурга, где я был на учебе в
семинарии этой зимой.

March Presentations

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Wichita March 1st

An exciting new women’s group is forming at St. Paul’s and I had the great pleasure of being their very first speaker! Sharing with them the work and mission of St. Marie’s and the churches of the Far East in Russia. I encouraged them to look for the doors that God is opening for them and to walk through them fearlessly.

We shared a scripture meditation: “Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you and no one is going to attach and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10

I left that presentation and headed for Salem Lutheran Church in Axtell, Kansas. They had prepared such a wonderful welcome and celebration. I presented the children’s message and told them of the little girls who live on the other side of the world in Russia.

The Children did Russian crafts, they made Orthodox Crosses and little red hens. The church prepared an authentically Russian feast. I can tell you that the best Russian food in Kansas is most certainly served in Axtell!

Pastor Charlene centered her prayers around the churches of Far East Russia. I was made to feel so warm and welcome. They were so very receptive the hearing about the world and mission of our Companion Synod.

I left them knowing that we are all part of something so much larger than ourselves, we are the body, the church! We are connected and in communion with our Lord regardless of the distances between us. We are one!