Articles & Presentations

Swen Sorvala  |  The Voice of Zion February 2026 - Home and Family Articles -- Through His allegory of the true vine, Jesus teaches us that we are to remain in His kingdom throughout our lives. The overarching message is clear: each branch must stay attached to the main trunk in order to live. Connected to the life-giving trunk is the source of all nourishment and future hope. Jesus tells us why He gave this example – so that His “joy might remain in you, and that your joy mi

Tommi Kinnunen  |  The Voice of Zion February 2026 - Doctrine and Life Article -- The just shall live by faith. – Romans 1:17  Every person who has ever lived on this earth has been a recipient of God’s goodness and gifts. These blessings are too many to count, and we cannot even begin to know them all, but some include our homes, good health, the beauty of nature, our senses and relationships. We often take many of these blessings for granted, even perceiving them as somethi

Arvin Pirness  |  The Voice of Zion January 2026 - News & Notes -- As February begins, we enter the Easter period, a time when our thoughts turn toward Christ and His salvation work for us. The theme for the first Sunday, Unmerited Grace, calls us to reflect on the simplicity of faith. Faith is a precious treasure, and with it comes the quiet joy of believing. This joy does not come from our own efforts, but from God’s gift to us. Martin Luther taught that grace is truly unme

The Voice of Zion February 2026 - Editorial -- Much of life today happens quickly and online. We read in fragments – headlines, captions, short updates – often moving on before a thought has time to settle. Over time, this shapes how we read and how we listen. Deep, sustained reading becomes harder, and with it the quiet attentiveness that faith itself invites. This matters because Scripture is not meant to be skimmed. God’s Word is not simply information about God; it is the

Gary Hoikka  |  The Voice of Zion February 2026 - The Sabbath Word 4 -- Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest

The Voice of Zion January 2026 - Home and Family Articles -- In every believing heart and home, life in faith is learned not only from sermons and Sunday School lessons, but through the quiet, ordinary rhythms of family life. Parents teach and guide; adolescents test boundaries while learning to step into adulthood; siblings – especially the older ones – shape one another through example. These three articles by writers from the Seattle, Wash., congregation explore how God w

Walt Lampi  |  The Voice of Zion January 2026 - The Sabbath Word 4 Article --  Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teache

The Voice of Zion January 2026 - The Book of Books -- The Bible is unlike any other book. While libraries contain countless volumes written by human minds, the Bible is God’s own Word to His people. It is a collection of many writings from different times and places, yet it speaks with one voice. The apostle Paul reminded Timothy that all Scripture is God-breathed. This means it is not only human words but the living Word of God, inspired by His Spirit. It teaches, rebukes, c

Jim Jurmu  |  The Voice of Zion January 2026 - Editorial -- In a world where success is often measured by likes, titles, money and recognition, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Yet God’s Word calls us to a higher standard: faithfulness to Him. In Colossians 3, we are called to let every task we undertake become an act of love toward God. Apostle Paul reminds us that our purpose is not found in who notices our work, but in for whom we do it. Every task – every r

Arvin Pirness  |  The Voice of Zion January 2026 - News & Notes -- As a New Year begins, we often pause to look back and remember the events and blessings of the past year. We also look ahead, making plans and preparations for the work that lies before us. Reflecting on the year behind us, it is heart-warming to see the support and generosity of believers in aiding the work of God’s kingdom. Without this support, our efforts would fall short of the needs. Looking forward, we

Lynnae Ylioja  |  The Shepherd’s Voice  December 2025/January 2026 - Home and Family Article –   Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial – James 1:12 (NIV) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation – James 1:12 (KJV)   When you read this Bible verse in two different versions, you may notice different words being used. One version uses the word   trial and the other uses the word temptation. The Bible was written in other languages long ago, so when it is translated i

The Voice of Zion December 2025 - Home and Family Articles --  Music shapes our lives in ways words alone cannot. A melody can carry memories, comfort the weary heart, or awaken gratitude and praise. In homes, cars, choirs, and sanctuaries, believers turn to song as a gift from God – whether in moments of joy or sorrow. Our Songs and Hymns of Zion become prayers on our lips and sermons that travel with us wherever we go.  At Christmastime especially, music gathers us. Childre

Arvin Pirness  |  The Voice of Zion December 2025 - News & Notes --  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” – Luke 2:14  The peace of Christmas is not found in earthly calm, but in the heavenly gift of faith. The child of God rejoices in the peace that comes when hearts rest in Christ, not in the things of this world. I pray that this peace can bring you comfort and joy this Christmas time.  Updates on LLC Activities Global Mission Work  The

Jim Frantti  |  The Voice of Zion December 2025 - The Sabbath Word 4 Article --  Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have

The Voice of Zion December 2025 - Editorial --  Christmas brings people together who may not sit around the same table any other time of year. Some relatives share our faith; others do not. We may sit across from someone who once believed and no longer does, or someone carrying wounds we cannot see. Quiet tension may rise in moments like these. We feel pressure to say something – to defend what we believe, to “speak truth,” or to rescue a drifting soul in one conversation.  I

Lance Clarke | The Voice of Zion December 2025 - Column --  Christmas often begins with lights in the streets, stores filled with shoppers, and Christmas music everywhere we go. The season can feel joyful, yet it can also bring stress, exhaustion, and financial pressure. We may sense that Christmas has drifted from its original purpose – to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Commercialism reaches into our homes and hearts, nudging us to pause and re

The first supplement to Songs and Hymns of Zion (2008) is available digitally as of November 14, 2025. This release marks a significant milestone in the ongoing hymnal development work of the Laestadian Lutheran Church. It brings together familiar melodies, newly translated texts, and brand-new songs written by believers from across North America. A Continuing Story of Song When Songs and Hymns of Zion was published in 2008, it gathered more than six hundred hymns cherished b

Aaron Anderson | The Voice of Zion  November 2025 - The Sabbath Word 4 Article -- I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and th

Keith Kariniemi | The Voice of Zion  November 2025 - Bible Class Lesson -- Synopsis: When Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem for the last time, he took a longer route through Galilee and Samaria. When passing through a village, ten men who were sick with leprosy cried out for mercy, standing at a distance because of their disease. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest, and as they went, they were miraculously healed. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks

The Voice of Zion  November 2025 - Editorial -- We live in a time when harsh words are never far away. We hear them in conversations, read them in headlines, and see them on our screens: voices urging us to despise those who think differently, to regard those who hold another view as enemies. These voices can confuse us. Our old nature is quick to echo the world’s anger, and repaying hatred with hatred can feel natural.  Yet amid these, there is another voice – sometimes fain