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Please join us Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 9am CST for a virtual Friends of Latvia gathering on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8405705747?pwd=M3RvcWtjRDRzdi9QK0grK3BaUmpGQT09
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Tentative Dates have been set for Wesley Camp for 2020.
6.30.20 - 7.5-20 Wesley Camp Preparation (Cleaning, working to get Camp ready for the season) 7.13.20 - 7.19.20 Teen Camp, organized with Chris Green, Christ Harbor UMC. Alabama 7.21.20 - 7.25.20 Childrens Camp 7.28.20 - 8.1.20 Childrens Camp Please contact Anita Ercuma ([email protected]) with any questions. See link below to presentations from Friends of Latvia, 2018, and Secretary's Notes.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pG9cUjMh2qdOXZXk__1Q7VsG53YrP941?usp=sharing To view recent newsletters, please click on the links below. The past two newsletters are posted here, and all future newsletters will be posted on the date they are published. Questions about past issues? Contact Julie at [email protected].
Fall 2017 Newsletter: fol_fall2017_newsletter.pdf Spring 2017 Newsletter: fol_newsletter_spring_2017.pdf Our friends in Latvia share the following updates and prayer requests, as of January 2017:
Liepāja UMC Thanks to friends in Denmark UMC, a truck with humanitarian aid was brought to Liepaja church at the beginning of December, it was sorted and distributed to all UMC in Latvia churches. During Advent season two choirs visited us. We visited the old people in the local hospital and delighted them with songs, God's Word, prayers, gifts and cards. We also visited with the elderly of the congregation who were not able to come to church. We shared the Holy Communion and brought joy with presents. We also visited the day care center, there were people with the down syndrome and other imperfections. We held a devotion and two creative workshops. Everyone was happy and willing to see us again some other time. We held consecration courses all December at church. A seminar on love was organized, where church people could learn how to strenghten relationships and what loving meant. We hosted a regional pastor and lay servant meeting for Kurzeme region, it was well attended. We talked about events we could organize together in the New Year, also prayed about our churches and servants. The Christmas evening worship was very blessed, featuring musical performances from our church people. It was very well attended. After the worship we organized an event for homeless people in Liepāja, for the 8th time. 37 people attended. We delighted them with music, served tables, God's Word, prayers and presents. In the beginning of January we held an event for the active church' staff who had been helping the common church ministry in some way. There were around 50 such people. Prayer needs – Several church people are looking for jobs. Several have health problems. We are praying also for a new PA system, and putting the heating system in order. Pray for Edgars' mother's health, strength of his spine and God's help managing his time. Edgars Šneiders Mātras UMC On November 11, the Lāčplēsis Day, Kapsēde secondary school pupils, teachers, parents and parish people went on a torch light walk from Kapsēde school to Mātras church to commemorate with a devotion those who fought for Latvia's freedom in 1917. The congregation offered tea and cookies as refreshments for the participants of the walk. Pastor Mārtiņš Urdze led the devotion. Toms Bokums performed a nice concert. On November 11 and 12, several representatives of our congregation attended Global Leadership Summit in Riga, thus strengthening themselves spiritually and acquiring new knowledge to bring to congregation. On November 18, the 98th Anniversary of Latvia, pastor Jānis Grunte served at the ecumenical worship service at Grobiņa Lutheran church together with Lutheran, Baptist and Catholic pastors. On Eternity/ Christ the King's Sunday worship we talked that eternal life is the most important stage of human's soul. On December 11, the 3rd Advent, together with Tāši UMC we organized a worship for the large families inviting families with 3 or more children to spend their time together at worship service, varied workshops and enjoying a cake together. Each family received a jigsaw puzzle to solve during the long winter night, a music CD and a pen. On 4th Advent Liepa Russian church celebrated its 20th Anniversary. Together with other Kurzeme region's churches we sent greetings, delivered by pastor Vivita. Christmas worship service started at 5PM. Lit candles in the Christmas tree made a festive atmosphere and let everyone to prepare for the wonder brought by birth of a special Child. There were lots of people attending. We delighted them with Sunday school children's performance, varied videos and singing of the women's ensemble. Everyone attending had an opportunity to listen to sermon presented by pastor, enjoy the special Holy Night sense and treat themselves with gingerbread cookies and candies. Chidren received sweet Advent calendars, but pastor Jānis gave every attendee a Mātras church pen decorated with a beautiful Christmas ribbon. Silent Night, sung at the end of worship, made a wonderful atmosphere, when the lights in the sanctuary were turned off leaving only the candle light and Christmas tree lights. Sunday school children held candles in their hands while singing. On December 31, we visited Tāši UMC with pastor Jānis for a worship service, hosted by pastor Gunta with her congregation. During fellowship we jointly filled in small prayer cards and everyone received one of the cards as a task for the New Year. Prayer needs – for the congregation's strength and perseverance, health. Ināra Avotiņa Tāši UMC As a Bible study group we have started to go through Discipleship Bible study to dig in how to share the Good News, what is it and how to tell it to the people around, to family members, friends etc. Women's ensemble met every week and was preparing for Christmas celebration and also we were invited to new fellowship with neighborhood folk singing ensemble to sing, for me to share Gospel. We celebrated our country's birthday and had worship service dedicated to thank God and also looking forward what we as Jesus' followers can do – make a difference. On November 21 we had a nice teenager evening with Jim Reid from Alabama, Tāši teenagers also came and participated. One of our youth – Aivija, she is a Sunday school teacher, has received God's calling for ministry and after High School she would like to go to DTS (Discipleship Training School from Youth with Mission). Please, keep her in your prayers! It is a challenge and adventure in the same time. Also pray for finances. As the weather here in Latvia is pretty cold now :) we have paused for renovation works in the empty apartment which is meant to be as Social center for community. Your prayers are needed for further guidance, dedicated people and hearts with fire for it. In December the was a common event for varied ensembles at Medze Cultural Center. Tāši church took part with their ensemble. I had an opportunity to spread the Good News. We had an interesting Christmas worship. Some of the church member had been in a quarrel, but after joint prayers everything settled a true Christmas joy entered our hearts. After Christmas we visited 27 elderly church members. We managed to visit everyone in two days, because each of them wanted to spend some time with us. Prayer needs – gratitude to God for everything that He has given to me personally and to the congregation. I pray for my husband Roberts to draw closer to God. Gunta Grīna Sologuba Paplaka UMC During the 5 years I am the pastor of Paplaka church, there have been ups and downs. Recently people have started to pray more often and I can notice positive changes. Christmas worship was very blessed. One lady came that had not come to church for a long time. Sunday school has approx. 25 children and youth. We have visited several church members who are old and not able to attend the worship anymore. Prayer need – About our lay woman Adele, who had fallen and broken her spine. We pray that she receives strength and perseverance from God. About pastor's family and their health. About church' growth. Inese Budņika Kuldīga UMC December, as everywhere, has been very active. We prepared presents for Syria children through Oriental Star project; our Sunday school children participated in the fundraising concert organized by all churches; baked gingerbread cookies and made small lanterns to delight elderly and lonely people on Christmas; on Fourth Advent we celebrated worship of Joy with lots of songs, poetry and dances. We visited lonely people at the nearby villages of Kuldīga bringing them Christmas gifts and songs. On December 25, we celebrated Christmas worship with many guests, presents and abundant fellowship table. Much appreciation for the Christmas greetings from our friends. Prayer need – that our members would be open to the people who will enter our congregation through our laundry and shower ministries and that they would be ready to show love to everyone. Zinta Dzintara Rīga First UMC After this year's Conference, starting September 1, our congregation has experienced different significant changes. Our long tenured pastor and DS Gita Medne has retired from active ministry, therefore now the congregation has only one pastor serving – Astra Dannenfelte. We are happy that Gita Medne has not left the congregation completely, because she is still serving in the congregation's Administrative Board, leading her small group and time after time leading worship services here and in other Methodist congregations. This year in August our Administrative Board chair also has changed. The church thanked Rihards Germans for his dedicated service for many years and is praying for God's blessing of the new chair person – Gita Bināne. Many things are the same as before: we meet every Sunday for worship, and, starting November, we begin Sunday morning with a prayer time before worship service. Every Sunday we have Sunday school, which is coordinated by Gaida Sēle, but after the service Austra Peltmane leads teen meetings. The congregation meets also in Bible classes and small groups. At this moment we have 4 small groups, one of them is men's group. I admit that I see a big blessing of such groups and a need for other small or interest based groups, otherways people lack personal involvement in the congregation and they get very little chance to reflect upon their personal life and faith experience. In the future I would like to offer the congregation also retreat weekends or trips. Several wonderful events have already happened and many are planned: As this is the Anniversary year (95 years since establishment of UMC in Latvia, 25 years since the rebirth of Riga First UMC), in Autumn we began recollection evenings when we invite people to share their memories about the beginnings of the congregation and the first years of ministry. We invite first pastors and the early church members. On November 18 we celebrated Latvia's Independence Day together with Adventist congregation that also meets in our church building, and we attended the Freedom Monument to put flowers at its front. This year the congregation decided to support After school program in Liepa with a fund-raising concert and gifts – every member had a chance to prepare a personal gift for one of the children for Christmas, but with the funds raised at the concert "Dream" on December 10 we supported hot meals of the After school program. Christmas season was very musical this year, as we supported organization of several concerts in our church. For example, on November 27 academic choir "Senais kalns" performed, on December 17 we hosted a meditative concert called Lullabies for adults, and other individual performers. We continue supporting charitable projects, for example, Oriental Star (preparing and sending of gifts for Syrian refugee children), monthly cancer support group organized by Adventist congregation, and AA meetings. We took active part in supporting European youth Taize gathering that took place in in Riga at the last days of 2016. We hosted morning devotions, seminar classes and our congregation along with several members accommodated more than 30 of the young pilgrims. We had a blessed international worship service on January 1, with Taize people taking part in worship with Scripture readings in their own languages. In November we started reconstructing one of the rooms on our basement floor, including the adjacent staircase platform. We plan to open a social outreach project in this room this year. The remodeling was led by the director of outreach Ērika Simsone. The new room will be opened for activities on January 29. Looking back and in the future we don't complain to God about the greatness of our problems, but we tell our challenges and callings how great our God is. We are strengthened by words of Jesus: it is not possible for human, but for God all things are possible. Prayer needs – We invite you to pray for the musical future of the congregation, because for now the musical activities of our worship group and church ensemble have been put on pause. Also about my health and trust in God's calling. Astra Dannenfelte Jelgava UMC Congregation has grown this year, regarding membership, activities and premises. We have been experiencing some sort of blossoming lately. We are thankful to God about everything. In personal life, I have recently become a grandparent for the first time, child's name is Ernests. Prayer needs – pray for my son Helvijs and his new family, and small boy Ernests. Jānis Baumanis Cēsis UMC On December 4, we celebrated Second Advent with a theme – Peace. Ecumenical prayers, held on Tuesdays at out church, are very blessed. Women from 5 denominations gather for common prayer time, and we also study Rick Warren's “Purposeful Life”. We continued confirmation and baptism classes once a week on Thursdays. On December 17 and 18, we finished confirmation and baptism classes at the church retreat. I prepared several lectures and seminars for the overnight event at guest house Kunči to rally the church and experience common growth in faith process. A movie on Jesus was scheduled in the program with subsequent discussion with questions and answers. Lectures were on baptism in Holy Spirit and the meaning of being a member of Christ's church, accordingly – also Methodist church. At the evening's closure we had meditation and prayer stations, something noone had experienced before. Some people experienced God on a more personal level and experienced revelations in the power of Holy Spirit that particular night. I am still hearing testimonies of how God has been working in their hearts, answered and spoken to them. On the next morning we had breakfast together, talked about the experiences and held a 4th Advent devotion. Afterwards, we all went to Liepa Russian church's 20th Anniversary worship. Congregation's ministry at Hope Center I am visiting Hope Center once a week to serve the girls and their children. I serve with baptism classes and personal ministry, where ever it is needed to. I have formed a close bond with the girls and now they come to Cēsis to attend worship on Sundays. Not every Sunday, but now, after the holidays, we hope they will come more often. Therefore we have to think seriously about children's ministry on Sundays. On December 13 – preparing soap at Hope Center. We taught the girls how to prepare soap together with their kids and make inexpensive and handmade gifts for others. On December 23, we had baptism and Christmas celebration at Hope Center. Several of our members visited in support of the girls and their children at the baptism and to celebrate Christmas. Our member Juris was dressed up as Santa. On December 25 – Christmas and baptism worship. We prepared a gift for Jesus – 8 people got baptized, 1 received confirmation and 7 renewed their baptism vows – thus giving their Yes to Jesus and His church's mission on earth. After the service we had fellowship at the table, but later on we went to visit the elderly at home with food staples and Christmas greetings. On January 1 we had a worship service celebrating New Year's day, afterwards in fellowship we presented our children with presents that were received from Denmark, along with sweets. Kristīne Rozefelde Liepa Latvian UMC Nothing has changed radically at our congregation. We celebrated Christmas with great joy. One new woman was in attendance. At the moment there is uncharacteristically large Sunday school, 23 children attending, which is a huge blessing and opportunity to alter lives. It is led by 2 teachers. Kids come from varied families therefore their behavior is not always perfect. Hence some of the members sometimes might grouch a little. Prayer need – for the children who attend Sunday school, and for a youth leader. At the moment there is none. Ilzīte Ozola Liepa Russian and Sarkaņi UMC The year has been very interesting. The congregation just celebrated its 20th anniversary, with representatives from several of our churches in attendance. District Superintendent could not come, but sent us a greeting video in Russian, which brought great joy to the congregation. Many people attended this celebration. I am still serving with Afterschool children and it takes a big part of my time. We are happy and grateful to Denmark for their prepared gifts for Liepa and Sarkaņi children. Vera Titoviča Rīga Second UMC Prayer needs – for a Sunday School teacher who would work with children, currently there is none. Also, that God would continue supporting the ongoing ministry and maintenance work He has helped this far. Andris Vainovskis We hope this newsletter finds you well! It was wonderful to spend time with so many of you in Latvia this summer! In this edition of our newsletter, we have a message from out-going District Superintendent Gita Mednis, as well as the new DS in Latvia, Edgars Šneiders. Our new In Mission Together representative shares some thoughts, and we have news from our chair, priorities and needs, info for the 2017 gathering and much more! View the PDF of the newsletter here --->
Greetings my friends! I think I have fully recovered from jet lag and hopefully those of you who traveled to Latvia are back in your time zones (physically and mentally) as well! What a week! It was an amazing week of service, fellowship, worship, relationship building and love for one another. The Holy Spirit and the presence of a real and living God were everywhere during our mission activities, our worship and the FOL Meeting. It warmed my heart to see so many new faces as well as old friends in our FOL meeting, and to see a packed sanctuary! We had over 100 people in attendance which brought the energy level for the praise song and worship times to a level that I must admit brought me to tears at times.
So many people were responsible for making this event the success that it was. The staff and supporters at 1st Riga: Gita, Astra, Rihards, Erica, Gita B., Helmut, Daina, Rudite and all the youth, and the translators who worked so hard. If I have forgotten someone I truly apologize! Words can’t fully express our appreciation for the great food, the wonderful decorations in the basement and the sanctuary, the incredible evening activities, and most of all, the warm hospitality you provided. In addition, all the great praise and worship songs led by Zinta and her son, as well as Rihards (who is a renaissance man with what all he does!), the beautiful hymns from the Tennessee trio and the unexpected, glorious concert from the local youth acapella gospel group. All of you blessed us over and over again with your talent and heart for God and we thank you! The FOL visioning session resulted in some very good recommendations on relationships and communication that I think we can accomplish in a timely manner. We also decided to focus on three priority areas where we felt we could make a financial impact through increasing awareness of how to donate and new fundraising ideas. These three areas are: Camp Wesley, Hope Center, and Pastors Income Support. Over the next couple of weeks, I will post more details on what we talked about and how we could move forward. In the short term, I also promised at the meeting to put together a reader friendly spreadsheet of all the Latvian churches, their U.S. partner churches, and what type of support is given. It is coming, I promise! We are waiting to hear from a group who is interested in hosting the 2017 FOL meeting. When I hear something definite, I will share it with all of you. In the meantime, for those who could not attend FOL this year, below is a link to a You Tube channel of recordings of some of the FOL meeting, praise and worship time, etc. Thanks to Richard Payne for doing that for us, we appreciate it! We hope it provides a little flavor of what we experienced together in Latvia. It was truly a blessed event! Also, a big thank you to FOL Secretary Melissia Mason for all the work she did behind the scenes with regard to registration, payments, and other coordination activities. We appreciate you! Blessings, Mark Croft Chair, Friends of Latvia NOTE: You can also view the beautiful photos taken by Üllas Tankler during the gathering by going to the Friends of Latvia Facebook page. View videos of the Friends of Latvia Conference on YouTube...
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FOLOur goal is to provide frequent updates to supplement our periodic newsletters and annual meetings. If you have an update to share, please send it to the FOL Secretary at [email protected]. Archives
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