April 2026 Update

Arvin Pirness  |  The Voice of Zion April 2026 - News & Notes --

It is a great blessing when one can believe that their sins are forgiven through the shed blood of Christ and journey toward heaven under the gracious care of the gospel. We hope many of you were able to attend Easter services, either in person or online.

The 2026 LLC Annual Meeting notice, agenda, and delegate packet will be sent to congregations by early May. Congregations are also asked to have their delegates come prepared with thoughts and input regarding the 2027 Draft Operating Plan. The theme for the 2027 operating plan is taken from Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world.”

Updates on LLC Activities

Facilities and Events

• Kevin DeLacey has served as caretaker at Stony Lake Camp for four seasons and has now retired from the position. We thank him for his faithful service and wish him God’s blessings in the next phase of life.

• Ross Fredrickson has been hired as the new caretaker and began in March. Ross will live at camp with his wife, Kayla, and their six children. The caretaker house is currently being remodeled to return it to a single-family home, including removing the wall that divided the house into two units and restoring the kitchen.

• The first camps of the season begin this month. The full schedule is available on the Camp and Events Calendar at llchurch.org/camps

• Last year a part-time summer camp administrative position was introduced to support camp directors during the busy camp season. Dara Simonson has been hired to serve in this role for 2026.

• The Menahga congregation is diligently preparing to host Summer Services at Silver Springs. This will be the fourth time LLC Summer Services have been held at this Minnesota location.

• Additional fields have been planted with grass to expand parking areas, and additional rows have been reserved for non-electric RV sites to accommodate guests who wish to stay on-site.

• The Silver Springs Camp Board continues to consider improvements that support Summer Services and other events. This spring, plans include installing permanent lighting along the driveway and near the volleyball courts.

Publications

• During Winter Services a new album, Lift Up Your Eyes, was released. The recording was made in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, following a two-day music camp held at the Outlook church. The album includes both very old music from the 1500s and new choral arrangements written by North American believers. The songs are accompanied by organ, piano, oboe, and bass clarinet. The album is available on digital platforms and Hearken and will soon be available as a CD in congregation bookstores and the LLC website store.

• Also released during Winter Services was the small poetry collection Do You Wonder Who You Are? The book features free-verse poems written in the spoken-word style, emphasizing rhythm, metaphor, and the power of the spoken voice. The poems are intended to be heard as much as read and invite reflection on life, faith, and belonging.

• A new fictional book, Resolute, written by Heli Jurmu, is in the final stages of development. The book is a sequel to Time for Words. Resolute follows Ellenor, a thoughtful but lonely teenager who finds refuge caring for horses while navigating bullying, friendship, and questions of belonging. At confirmation camp she experiences the warmth of new friendships and the strengthening of faith. Returning home, she must face everyday challenges – disappointment in relationships, peer pressure, and family questions – and learns that faith is lived not only in moments of fellowship but also in quiet trust amid life’s struggles.

• You may have noticed that the March issue of The Voice of Zion was titled Easter Messenger. Beginning in 2026, the March and December issues of The Voice of Zion have been replaced by the Easter Messenger and Christmas in Zion, respectively.