Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion January 2022 - News and Notes --
As we begin this new year our prayers arise to thee; oh, may we walk before Thee in love and unity. How time so quickly flees! Oh, bind our hearts forever with bonds that none can sever to Thee, O prince of Peace. The Spirit’s wisdom grant us, that in the future days we travel on Thy pathway in living hope and grace. As beggars we abide rejoicing of salvation. In heavens celebration we shall be glorified (SHZ 58:4,5).
Happy New Year!
Administration
2022 LLC Winter Services are scheduled to be held at the Phoenix church March 17–20. Welcome! Organizers for the services have asked that service guests make plans to carpool to the church due to limited parking.
2022 LLC Summer Services will be held at the Kelso High School in Kelso, Washington, June 30–July 3. Planning is coming along nicely, and regular updates can be expected in coming months.
Preparations are underway for biennial planning meetings with our sister organizations, SRK (Finland) and SFC (Sweden), to be held in Oulu, Finland, February 14–20. LLC brothers will also serve on short mission trips before returning home.
Sarina Siljander will be leaving her position as LLC Digital Communication assistant in early 2022. Sarina has been instrumental in recording many LLC music projects, video production, and LLC website development. Sarina has also been an integral part in development of the LLC app which is scheduled to be released in early 2022. We wish Sarina God’s blessings as she moves on in her other areas of work.
Preparation for the 2023 LLC Operating Plan has begun. The theme chosen is “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). The Operating Plan is an important tool for office staff as it gives clear direction to the work of the LLC.
Financial
God blessed LLC work in 2021 with finances and with willing hearts. There were many volunteer hours across all departments. Thanks to the members for such giving hearts, but most of all thanks be to God.
We are working on our 2023 budgets in preparation for the 2022 annual meeting. With rising costs, we are working on ways to retain a balanced budget. That said, we continue to review and plan for expanding needs looking beyond 2023.
Facilities & Camps
General signup for 2022 Confirmation camps begins January 10. Pre-signup, which gave regional preference for applicants, took place in the month of December. Approximately two-thirds of next summer’s confirmation students took advantage of this opportunity.
Being that we are between camp seasons, the operations aspect regarding facilities is quiet. Currently the focus is on ensuring that the 2022 season will operate effectively and smoothly.
For 2022, we need the following staffing:
Stony Lake
– Kitchen head
– Caretaker
– Assistant to the caretaker
– Core counselors
– Office assistant
Hasscib Lake
– Kitchen head
– Assistant to the caretaker
– Core staff
Kamp Kipa
– Assistant to the caretaker
Contact LLC Facility Manager Phil Jurmu (pjurmu@llchurch.org) for additional information. Please submit your application by completing the Camp Work Application online.
Camp staff director and teacher workshops are planned and being held during these winter months. A workshop for confirmation and preconfirmation directors and teachers is scheduled for February 7.
Education
Sunday School Curriculum committee is meeting to review existing Sunday School Curriculum.
Local teacher workshops are available for those congregations wanting additional support.
Communications
We continue to accept applications for Opisto Scholarships for the 2023–2024 year. You can find the application on our website. If interested, start applying now as it can take time to pull together all necessary information and documents.
Voice of Zion subscribers in the U.S. will notice that the size of this issue is different than before. The paper we previously used is no longer regularly available. Seeking a more reliable paper option required a slightly different format. We hope this paper in these dimensions continues to serve our readership.
In 2022, we will feature artwork by believing artists on the covers of Voice of Zion issues.
New books will be released at Winter Services time! Watch for more information on those.
The Hearken publications app project is near completion. We will be sending out information on this app including subscription directions in coming weeks. We are excited to share this new app with you!
Mission
The LLC is planning a new ministers workshop January 14–15. Last year this workshop was held online and was well-received. This year we will hold the workshop in person at the LLC office in Monticello. That will allow us to slightly expand the schedule and enhance the possibility for interaction. Communication has been sent to congregation chairmen for their awareness.
Weekly online services for Ecuador will continue in 2022.
Recorded devotions are being delivered in WhatsApp in both English and French for congregations in Africa and Pakistan.
Evening devotions are planned to continue through 2022.
God has given us a blessed time of work. May God continue to guide and bless our new year as only He can.