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Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion May 2025 - News & Notes Article -- The month of May presents a season of change. In the north, nature exhibits her full splendor after waking from winter rest. In some areas, school ends, and many graduation ceremonies are held. Dear graduate, we wish you God’s abundant blessings as you prepare for life as an adult. May you protect and preserve the most important matter in life – the gift of faith that holds the hope of heaven. May also marks Mother’s Day. Dear mothers, may God richly bless you for the care that you provide for your family. Updates on LLC Activities   The notice and agenda for the 2025 LLC Annual Meeting, to be held in Outlook, Saskatchewan, has been sent to all LLC member congregations. Included in the packet is the 2026 LLC Operating Plan, titled, “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as unto God.”  The Operating Plan is presented as a PDF file and a video. We encourage congregations to make this document available to all members as they meet to prepare delegates for the annual meeting. Facilities Facility planning is always ongoing. The Silver Springs camp board has requested a building committee to assist with constructing a permanent pavilion at Silver Springs. The purpose of the pavilion is to provide a place for service events and additional day uses, such as workshops and seminars. The planning for this structure is in an early stage. Education The Mission Work Steering Group has developed a plan for nine teams to support mission work throughout the world. One of the teams is the Learning Materials and Education Team. This team is made up of eight people from the LLC. Currently, the team’s focus is organizing the work, identifying stakeholders and establishing a structure. Additional information will be forthcoming as this team begins its work.  The 2025 Camp Season began early April. The first camp at Stony Lake was held April 4–6, with just over 100 ministers in attendance. Camps are an important part of many believers’ lives. We often hear how beneficial days spent at camp have been on a personal level.  Mission  The spring season is a busy time for mission trips with many brothers traveling from Scandinavia and North America to Ecuador and Africa. Upcoming trips are noted on page 18. Please remember in your prayers the brothers and their families at home as they serve. The believers look forward to these opportunities to gather and hear God’s Word with visiting ministers. As summer approaches, we are beginning to plan for confirmation schools in global mission work. If God allows, we will have a confirmation school in Ghana in August and possibly a similar camp for adults in Kenya. The Mission Work Steering Group has had initial meetings with each of the nine teams that support the global mission work efforts. The teams are beginning to consider the work in their respective area. Each team involves many volunteers that support this expanding work. Pastoral The 2025 Ministers Camp was held at Stony Lake Camp in early April. There were just over one hundred ministers that attended in person and around fifteen were able to join online. We experienced the blessing of one spirit. The topics for discussion were around Doctrine, God the Giver of Life, Music in the Congregation and Discernment.   With warm memories of Winter Services in our minds, we continue the planning of the Summer Services in Outlook, Sask. Many ministers throughout North America as well as from our sister organizations in Finland and Sweden will be called to serve at these services.  The third Bible Translation Communication has been shared with the congregations. It has been important for us to discuss this topic openly in our congregations. Through these discussions, the delegates are able to receive guidance prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting where they will have an opportunity to discuss the Bible translation topic with other congregation delegates. Communications We will hold our annual Content Creators Workshop September 12–14 at Stony Lake Camp in Minnesota. A content creator is one who contributes written material, art, digital media or music content, or one who contributes their skills and time in support of publications and broadcast work. A content creator is anyone who contributes to any of our projects in any way. We extend a warm thank-you to all who write, take photographs, create art, edit digital media such as audio or video, and otherwise contribute to anything we produce. We invite you to the workshop to meet other contributors—content creators—and to hear interesting discussions on how this work can support believers in their walk of faith. Editing is complete on a fiction work called Time for Words  by Heli Jurmu. Next will come the layout process and then after a final check it will be off to the printers. We look forward to publishing this first work of fiction by a North American author. At a recent Print Publications committee meeting, there was discussion on our children’s magazine, The Shepherd’s Voice.  Subscription numbers have remained at the same level for quite a few years. Do you subscribe to Shepherd’s Voice?  Or is there a family with young children you know who might enjoy this publication? You can use the print magazine and the audio available on Hearken  together so that young readers can listen and follow along! See the New on Hearken!  feature on page 18 to find out what new things will be posted on Hearken  in coming weeks. LLC’s Opisto Scholarship Fund supports those who have received scholarships to spend a year at one of three opistos in Finland. Consider making a donation to support opisto students! Or consider asking opisto alumni in your congregation to host a fundraiser for the fund. Over the past four decades, hundreds of North American youth have received a scholarship and spent a year studying abroad.

Ken Byman | The Voice of Zion May 2025 - Round the Table Article -- Contentment can be difficult to find, and it seems we spend our lives trying to find this state of happiness or satisfaction with our lot in life. We tend to focus on our temporal contentment first, hoping for a raise, a new car, a new house or the next vacation. Through hard work and persistence, we may reach these goals and that can bring some form of brief contentment. Yet we quickly look forward to the next goal as soon as that contentment fades. Contentment with our temporal belongings, however, is insignificant when compared to the contentment we seek in our spiritual lives. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:11–13, NIV). Here Paul illustrates how contentment can be found regardless of one’s life situation. It is contentment like this that we continue to seek in our lives. Finding this contentment that Paul writes about is often a struggle because our human portion frequently wants to fight against God’s will. We tend to focus on our temporal lot, hoping to make a more comfortable or desirable life. Yet God has ways to steer us back towards Him, and He is patient in His waiting as we slowly begin to accept His will. When we pray for God’s guiding hand in our lives, God hears our prayers, though He might not answer them in the way we ask. Instead, He answers them with what we truly need. Sometimes God determines that we need a trial in our life, and we may struggle to accept this. One question we often ask ourselves is “How can I accept this trial?” In the case of smaller trials, it may be possible to work through the trial with little help. However, when God gives larger trials, we fail to find the personal strength to carry our burden. This is when we turn our face to our heavenly Father in prayer. He has surrounded us with many travel escorts to lighten our burden. Through the care, love, and support of these escorts, we begin to feel the acceptance of God’s will. Through acceptance, the struggle eases and we can then begin to experience contentment, which comes in bits and pieces and can be fleeting. Because we are humans and quickly forget God’s lessons, we will continue to seek contentment until our earthly journey is ended. Though this journey is often overwhelming, it is also important to reflect on the blessings God has given us. There is contentment in knowing that He has guided us unto this day. We can also be thankful knowing that God will not forsake us, and He has given us travel escorts to help us on our journey. As Paul wrote, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Let us remember to pray for strength to find contentment and to thank God for the blessings He has given us. Contentment is for today; we cannot save some for tomorrow. Like the children of Israel traveling on the wilderness journey when the manna was only given for one day, we strive to put our trust in God and ask for His guiding hand. It is a blessing to live with acceptance of what our future holds. May we always sing as the little songbird, praising God for the blessings of today and thanking Him that we can be free from the worries of tomorrow.

Allen Pirness | The Voice of Zion May 2025 - Bilingual Article -- When we look back on our life, we see that it is and has always been good to trust in God’s plan. When we look forward, it requires the obedience of faith to trust that God will guide us. This is not unique to our time, rather this has always been the case. A priest toward the end of the second temple period named Zechariah waited together with his wife Elizabeth for a child. They were getting older and still no child came. One day Zechariah was visited by an angel as he tended to the Altar of Incense in the Temple. He was told that his prayers have been answered and now God was going to give them a son. He would be called John and live as a Nazarite. The angel Gabriel also said that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth and would call many people back to the obedience of living faith.  Zechariah doubted the possibilities of what he was told and as a result he was struck dumb until the naming of his son John. Zechariah was unable to speak for more than nine months. During this time it seems like his hope in God’s plan for His people grew. He trusted that now the time had come for a savior to be born and that his own son John would serve God as a prophet. When he could finally speak, he praised God and prophesied that his son John would show God’s people that the way to personal salvation was through the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name and blood. That time came to pass at God’s correctly appointed time. Now in our time we await the already appointed time of the second coming of Christ. How should we wait? God’s Word tells us that as we approach the end of time, the times will become more perilous. We observe how true this is. It seems that even when we have hope that good things are happening in the world, we soon realize that even that time is more terrible than before. We silently lift our heads and patiently wait for the fulfillment of God’s final promise. He most certainly will send His son to bring us safely home.   Z es para Zacarías Allen Pirness Cuando miramos hacia el pasado de nuestra vida, podemos ver que es y siempre ha sido bueno confiar en el plan de Dios. Cuando miramos hacia el futuro, requiere la obediencia de la fe de confiar en que Dios nos guiará. Esto no es único de nuestro tiempo, sino que siempre ha sido así el caso. Un sacerdote, hacia el final del segundo periodo del templo, llamado Zacarías, esperaba junto con su esposa Elizabeth por un hijo. Ellos estaban envejeciendo y aun así, no tenían ningún niño. Un día, Zacarías fue visitado por un ángel mientras cuidaba el altar de incienso en el Templo. Le fue dicho que sus oraciones habían sido escuchadas y que ahora Dios les iba a dar un hijo. El sería llamado Juan y viviría como un Nazareno. El ángel Gabriel también le dijo que el estará lleno del Espíritu Santo incluso antes de su nacimiento y que llamaría a mucha gente de regreso a la obediencia de la fe viviente. Zacarías dudo de las posibilidades de lo que le fue dicho y como resultado, quedó mudo hasta en nombramiento de su hijo Juan. Zacarías no pudo hablar por más de nueve meses. Parece que su esperanza en el plan de Dios por Su gente creció durante este tiempo. El confió que ahora había llegado el tiempo de que un salvador era de nacer y que su propio hijo Juan serviría Dios como un profeta. Cuando el finalmente pudo hablar, el alabó a Dios y profetizó que su hijo Juan mostraría a la gente de Dios que el camino hacia la salvación personal era a través del perdón de los pecados en el nombre y la sangre de Jesús. Esto vino a suceder en el tiempo que Dios correctamente señaló. Ahora, en nuestro tiempo, nosotros esperamos por el tiempo ya señalado de la segunda venida de Cristo. ¿Cómo debemos esperar? La palabra de Dios nos dice que mientras nos acercamos hacia el final de los tiempos, estos se volverán más peligrosos. Podemos observar cuan verdadero esto es. Parece que aunque tenemos la esperanza de que cosas buenas están sucediendo en el mundo, pronto nos damos cuenta que este tiempo es aún peor que antes. Silenciosamente levantamos nuestras cabezas y pacientemente esperamos por el cumplimiento de la promesa final de Dios. El ciertamente enviará a Su hijo para llevarnos salvos a nuestro hogar.   Translation: Maria Wuollet

Events Member Congregations Camps & Courses The LLC sponsors annual national worship service events, the largest being Winter Services and Summer Services. Annual Summer Services Summer Services are held annually around the United States 4th of July holiday. The weekend events also include LLC Board Meetings, a Ministers and Board Members meeting, a Youth Presentation, and the LLC Annual Meeting. The services are held in different geographic areas each year. The schedule for future year’s Summer Services is as follows: 2025: July 3–6 || Northwest (Saskatchewan) 2026: July 2–5 || East-Central (Menahga at Silver Springs) 2027: July 1–4 || East-Central (Toronto) 2028: June 29–July 2 || East-Central (Elk River at Silver Springs) 2029: July 5–8 || Northwest (TBD) 2030: July 4–7 || East-Central (Cokato at Silver Springs) Annual Winter Services Winter Services are hosted annually by the Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church, with assistance from the other area congregations. 2026: February 19–22 2025 St. John's Service Camping

The Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC) is the central organization of Laestadian Lutheran churches in North America. The website provides information about our faith, mission, organization, and activities. Welcome to our website and welcome to our services! AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO TREASURE HID IN A FIELD. MATTHEW 13:44 LAESTADIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH The Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC) is the central organization of Laestadian Lutheran churches in North America. The website provides information about our faith, mission, organization, and activities. Here you will find an overview of our publications and links to member congregations. Welcome to our website and welcome to our services! Donate Attention Hearken Users! Some users have occasionally reported usability issues with Hearken, especially on Android devices. We have created a form to help us collect information on these issues, so they can continue to be looked into and solved. If you have experienced issues while using the Hearken app, please take a moment to fill out the form at this link: https://forms.gle/Ht7x5phU2w9C1ptA6 Thank you! We value your feedback. International Mission Work Website Every month, tens of thousands of people search the internet for how sins can be forgiven, where the kingdom of God is and what repentance means. To help searching ones find God’s kingdom, and as a means of performing mission work in a digital space, the SRK, SFC and LLC have now launched a new website: kingdomofpeace.net Read more about this new website here. Hearken – Our Publications App Read Seeking Contentment Ken Byman | The Voice of Zion May 2025 - Round the Table Article -- Contentment can be difficult to find, and it seems we spend our lives... Voice of Zion Featured Articles May 1 A Place for Everyone The Voice of Zion May 2025 - Editorial -- A recent LLC Sunday school seminar explored how to support students through escort-building and... Voice of Zion Featured Articles May 1 Blessings of Obedience to God’s Word The Voice of Zion May 2025 - Home & Family Article -- In every season of life, believers encounter pressures to conform to the ways of... Home & Family May 1 May 2025 Update Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion May 2025 - News & Notes Article -- The month of May presents a season of change. In the north, nature... News & Notes May 1 Z is for Zechariah Allen Pirness | The Voice of Zion May 2025 - Bilingual Article -- When we look back on our life, we see that it is and has always been... Voice of Zion Featured Articles May 1 1 2 3 4 5 Shop Quick View CD # 79 Shield Me Forever Quick View Easter Messenger 2025 Quick View In the Shelter of the Hill Quick View CD # 78 Songs of the Journey Quick View God Is So Good - Book and CD Combo Quick View Joyous Wedding Bells Follow us on Instagram @laestadianlutheran Load More On YouTube Play Video Play Video 01:09:45 2025 Winter Services Broadcast Sunday 1 Play Video Play Video 49:29 2025 Winter Services Saturday 4 pm Play Video Play Video 23:08 2025 Winter Services Publication Saturday 5 pm Play Video Play Video 01:14:26 2025 Winter Services Broadcast Saturday 4 Play Video Play Video 01:26:55 2025 Winter Services - Saturday 1:30 pm Play Video Play Video 01:02:12 2025 Winter Services Broadcast - Saturday 3 Play Video Play Video 54:56 2025 Winter Services Broadcast - Saturday 1 Play Video Play Video 06:13:00 2025 LLC Phoenix Winter Services - Sunday 3/16 Welcome to the 2025 Laestadian Lutheran Church Annual Winter Services in Phoenix, Arizona! Service Motto: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. (Matt. 6:33)" The services will begin Thursday, March 13 and end Sunday, March 16. https://www.llchurch.org/winter-services

Writer Resources LLC Content Creators Workshop – April 26, 2025 Writing a Historical Novel Writing Dialogue Poetic Forms LLC Writers’ Workshop - June 6, 2023 Using Significant Details Micro Journalism Workshop 2022 Devotional Writing Seminar 2021 This seminar was held in person and via Zoom from the LLC office in Monticello, Minnesota.