LLC 50-year History Exhibit (1973–2023) Welcome! Learn about the history of the church's central organization, the Laestadian Lutheran Church, as it celebrates 50 years, and see how God's guiding hand has led us to today. This virtual exhibit was created by the LLC Print Publications Committee and LLC Communications staff for the LLC 50 History Exhibit at the 2023 LLC Summer Services in Monticello, Minn. Exhibit Photos LLC 50 Brochure LLC History 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s LLC Music History More

< Back December 16, 2024 Click the link to read a list of ways you can share Christmas joy. Let's Share Christmas Joy! O Holy Night Previous

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: 2027: July 1–4 || East-Central (Toronto in Barrie, ON) 2028: June 29–July 2 || East-Central (Elk River at Silver Springs) 2029: July 5–8 || Northwest (Flathead Valley in Kalispel, MT) 2030: July 4–7 || East-Central (Cokato at Silver Springs) 2031: July 3–6 || TBD 2032: July 1–4 || East-Central (Rockford at Silver Springs) Annual Winter Services Winter Services are hosted annually by the Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church, with assistance from the other area congregations. 2027: February 25–28

The Kingdom of Heaven TREASURE HIDDEN IN A FIELD "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth,and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Matt. 13:44 THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN There is no subject which was more prevalent in Jesus' preaching than the kingdom of heaven, that is, the kingdom of God. It was the most common subject of His parables and was the theme of His preaching.(1) In fact, Jesus said that the first thing that a man should search for in life is God's kingdom and His righteousness.(2) It is important to find God's righteousness, for He has declared man's righteousness, or our very best deeds, impure and unacceptable in His sight.(3)The righteousness which is acceptable before God is found in His kingdom. Jesus was once asked to explain when the kingdom of God would come. In His reply, He reveals two essential points: first, the kingdom of God is not visible to the human eye, and, second, it is present in the midst of men.(4) A HIDDEN KINGDOM It might seem impossible to find a kingdom that cannot be seen, but with God's help it can be found. Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matt. 7:7). In the parable at the top of the page, Jesus shows us that while the kingdom is hidden, it can indeed be found. The parable illustrates why the kingdom of God cannot be seen. It is like treasure buried in the dust and dirt of a field, hidden from man's sight. It is certainly an apt picture. In this world God's kingdom is hidden beneath the flaws and faults of believing people, people whom God has made from the dust of the earth.(5) A GREAT TREASURE The parable also illustrates what happens when a man finds God's kingdom. He hides its treasure, sells all that he has, and buys it. Simply said, God's kingdom becomes the most important matter in his life. He wants, above all else, to protect and preserve his new-found treasure and follow the people of God and the Lord Jesus.(6) Like the man in the parable, we have found the kingdom of God and obtained its treasure. We now carry this treasure in our sin-corrupt bodies. We wish to share it with you. YOU CAN HAVE THIS TREASURE What we can offer you is God's forgiveness in Jesus Christ. This forgiveness is the very essence of the gospel and the essence of God's kingdom. Martin Luther said: "Forgiveness of sins is nothing more than two words in which the whole kingdom of Christ consists...This word of consolation shall not cease among Christians until the last day: 'Thy sins are forgiven, be of good cheer.' Such language a Christian always uses and openly declares the forgiveness of sins."(7) Luther was right. This word of consolation has not ceased. God's children live of it and use it constantly. We declare it to any sinner who longs for God's forgiveness. We can give you this treasure because Jesus has given us the power to forgive men their sins. He said that what we forgive on earth is also forgiven in heaven, that is, it is forgiven before God.(8) Belief in this gospel of forgiveness obtains what it promises, namely, God's forgiveness and the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the righteousness that is acceptable to God. You can have it too. END NOTES 1 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:1415) "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matt. 9:35) "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (Luk 9:1, 2) 2 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33 ) 3 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isa. 64:6) "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Rom. 3:1012) 4 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20, 21) 5 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Cor. 4:7 ) 6 "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." (1 Thess. 1:6) 7 Luther, Martin, "Sermon for the 19th Sunday after Trinity" in Luther's Church Postil, Vol.V, trans. John Nicholas Lenker (Minneapolis: Lutherans In All Lands Co. : 1905) 201, 202, 209 8 "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20:2123) "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 18:18) "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5:1820)

< Back Confirmation Day 2: God, the Triune God Day 2, Lesson 3: The Bible, God's Written Word Objective God reveals His will in the Bible; The Bible is a Holy Book needing the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to open understanding Learning Outcome Give an example of how God reveals His will in the Bible. Confirmation Exercise Questions #7. Where did the Scriptures come from? Holy men of God spoke and wrote as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. #8. What is the main message of the Old Testament? The promise of the coming Messiah, our Lord, Jesus Christ. #9. What is the main message of the New Testament? The fulfilment of the Old Testament promise concerning Christ. #14. The living Word of God is compared to a two edged sword. What are the two edges? The Law and the Gospel Reference Material Booklet Song: The Lord has given us His Word / That we may learn of Him. / A precious book He gave to say / We may be free from sin. (SHZ 446 v.1) Booklet Text: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20,21) Additional Reference Material SCRIPTURE Scripture: Eph. 6:17; Gal. 1:8; Ps. 119:105; 12:6; Isa. 40:8; Jer. 23:29; John 12:48; Rom. 2:16; John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; Eph. 1:17; 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:12; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; John 5:39 CURRICULUM Lesson 1.1 ADDITIONAL LESSON POINTS While God speaks to us in nature, the fate of our lives, and the phases of nations, He especially speaks to us in Holy Scripture and our Redeemer Jesus Christ. Holy Scripture is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is thus God’s own word. The Bible is not an encyclopedia of history, the world, and nature and its phenomena, but rather the revelation of God's works for the redemption and salvation of man. The Bible speaks of God. Pictures and narratives attempt to illustrate what God is like. • The Bible is Christian faith and life's highest guide. The Bible is a closed book that is opened by the Holy Spirit. It is to be read with prayer. Students will be able to use the Bible and want to study it daily. Students will become acquainted with Jesus’ teachings by reading together or individually one of the gospels during confirmation school. RESOURCES By Faith 2; Christian Doctrine 4, 5, 6, and 7. (p1) By Faith 2; Christian Doctrine 4, 5, 6, and 7. (p2) The Treasure Hidden in a Field, J. Uljas, p. 19-26; God’s Word is the Highest Authority, J. Frantti - Crossing the Current, Pages 11-14 LLC Website: From a Child Thou Hast Known the Holy Scriptures, J. Frantti, LLC Winter Services, 1999, Youth Presentation Previous Next

< Back December 2, 2024 Click the audio link below to hear a poem titled Christmas Peace Eternal. To read the poem, click the link. Christmas Peace Eternal Christmas Peace Eternal Previous

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Privacy Policy Laestadian Lutheran Church takes seriously the privacy of those that visit our web site. We have established this Privacy Policy to communicate what information we collect and how that information is used and safeguarded. By accessing this website (www.llchurch.org ), you acknowledge the terms and conditions expressed herein. We reserve the right to change this policy at our sole discretion and without notice. WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED, AND WHY? When a user visits our website, we collect information about the visit that does not identify the user personally. We track information such as the domain from which the user is visiting and the user's browser type. We also collect specific information regarding the user's session on our website. This includes items such as the date and time of the visit and the pages viewed. Sometimes we ask a user to voluntarily provide personally identifiable information (PII). This information generally includes, but is not limited to, name, e-mail address, postal address, and telephone number. We request this information when the user requests one of the following: To register to attend an on-line seminar or demonstration To receive specific information from us such as a whitepaper or code sample To sign up for a mailing list To correspond with us Or any other such activity that we deem necessary Laestadian Lutheran Church does not collect any personally identifiable financial or health-related information. We do not intentionally collect information from children under the age of 13. HOW IS THE INFORMATION USED? Non-personally identifiable information (non-PII) is collected to allow us to analyze how our website is used and to improve the content and service the website provides. Personally identifiable information is collected for analysis to improve the content of the website and the services we provide the user. Laestadian Lutheran Church owns the collected information and will not sell, trade, or rent the information to others. We may use the information to continue contact with the user. This may include contact such as follow-up calls, e-mail correspondence, or mail correspondence to follow-up on the contact or to provide marketing information about promotions, new services, or important website changes. Laestadian Lutheran Church may share this information with its business partners for the specific purpose of a promotion or service offering. ARE "COOKIES" USED ON THE WEBSITE? "Cookies" are small pieces of information that are placed on a web user's hard drive. We may use cookies to provide you with better service. Cookies are pieces of information that a Web site transfers to your computer's hard disk for record-keeping purposes. Cookies can make the Web more useful by storing information about your preferences for a particular site. The use of cookies is an industry standard, and many major Web sites use them to provide useful features for their customers. Cookies in and of themselves do not personally identify users, although they do identify a user's computer. Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. If you prefer, you can set your browser to refuse cookies. However, you may not be able to take full advantage of the functionality of the Laestadian Lutheran Church site if you do so. HOW IS PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION SAFEGUARDED? Laestadian Lutheran Church utilizes industry standard methods and mechanisms such as firewalls, intrusion monitoring, and passwords to protect electronic information. Multiple physical security methods such as locking devices and 24 hour premise monitoring are also employed. Finally, access to PII is limited to a small number of personnel and on a need-to-know basis. LINKS TO OTHER WEB SITES Laestadian Lutheran Church web site may contain links to other internet web sites. Laestadian Lutheran Church neither controls nor endorses external sites and is not responsible for the content of such sites. This policy does not cover the privacy policies and data collection practices of non-Laestadian Lutheran Church web sites. HOW TO OPT OUT OF CORRESPONDENCE Based on the information a user has provided, Laestadian Lutheran Church may send e-mail correspondence to the user. Each correspondence will contain an easy means to opt out of further correspondence.

< Back Confirmation Day 4: The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of God Day 4, Lesson 5: Heaven, Our Goal Objective Heaven is the believer’s destination; We already own Heaven by faith Learning Outcome Explain the purpose of believing and how to reach our goal. Confirmation Exercise Questions None Reference Material Booklet Song: I walk to heaven all the way; / Dear friend, await the morrow. / We soon shall find release for aye / From all our sin and sorrow. / We soon shall see the Son! / To heaven now press on. / Soon God shall wipe away our tears away. / We walk to heaven all the way. (SHZ 585 v.6) Booklet Text: “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) Additional Reference Material SCRIPTURE Luke 16:22-26; Rev. 22:3-5; Isa. 64:4; John 14: 1-4 CURRICULUM Lesson 9.16 ADDITIONAL LESSON POINTS None RESOURCES The Treasure Hidden in a Field, J. Uljas, pages 123-126; Heaven, J. Moll, LLC Summer Services Youth Presentation, 2010 VZ: A Vision of Heaven, A. Loukusa, Oct. 1975, page 148; To the Shore of the Sea of Heaven, Poem by N. Rauhala, Nov. 1983, page 245; The Kingdom of Heaven, J. Frantti, Oct. 1985, page 217; The Teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven, S. Kautto, Aug, 1993, p 12; Previous Next