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Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion March 2022 - News and Notes -- With long winter nights behind us, March brings longer days and the hope of spring. March is also when LLC camp planning begins in earnest for the events of summer. March marks the Lenten season, which leads us to the celebration of Easter and reminds us of the hope in resurrection. 2022 LLC Summer Services were scheduled to be held in Longview, Washington. However, due to uncertainty surrounding organizing large events in Washington during the ongoing pandemic, the Longview congregation and Summer Services Event Planning Committee (EPC) have deferred hosting LLC Summer Services until 2024. As a result, the LLC Board has approved moving the 2022 Summer Services to the LLC-owned property at Silver Springs in Monticello, Minnesota. We have communicated closely with the Longview congregation throughout the planning phase, and we realize this is a disappointment for the hosting congregations. We apologize for plans that may be disrupted by this. Yet we are thankful to be able to continue to work toward hosting in-person services, albeit in an alternate location. Plans for this summer’s services will be communicated as they become available. Please see below for some initial information. We ask for your prayers that our heavenly Father would bless and guide the planning work, according to His will. Updates on LLC Activities Winter Services We extend a heartfelt invitation to 2022 LLC Winter Services which begin Thursday, March 17, and continue through Sunday afternoon, March 20. The motto for services is Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Services will also be held Wednesday, March 16, in Prescott Valley. Visit the LLC website for more details. The online service broadcast begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17 and continues through the weekend. The schedule is as follows. Note that the starting times are firm, whereas ending times are approximate, depending on when each day’s program ends. – Thursday 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. – Friday 1:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. – Saturday 10:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. – Sunday 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Mission The LLC Ministers camp will be held at Stony Lake Camp April 1–3. The focus of the camp will be on timely topics and spiritual concerns experienced in North American Zion. Ministers have been sent event information and we encourage as many ministers as possible to attend. Sign-up is available on the LLC website. The Monticello church will be the venue for the biennial Board Members workshop April 30, 2022. As has been in previous years, the hope is that congregations will support their board members and ministers in attending. The focus of the workshop will be on timely topics and spiritual concerns that we are experiencing in North American Zion. Camps & Workshops Online camp kitchen sign-up is available on the LLC website under Events > Camps & Courses > Work at Camp. The annual camp staff workshop will be held on March 10 to support those asked to serve at 2022 LLC camp events. Finance We have been reviewing the changing and expanding needs in each department along with the financial impact of growth. Reports of future needs will be included in the 2023 Operating Plan as well as presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting. Communications We hope to hire a Digital Communications Specialist in March. This person will work in support of the soon-to-be-released Hearken publications app and assist in other areas of digital communications and publications as well. We are getting close to the time when we will be able to release Hearken. We look forward to sharing this work with you. Hearken is an app where for a monthly subscription fee you will have unlimited access to a wide variety of LLC publications, music, audio and video. We will publish three new books this spring and early summer along with a music album of congregational singing. Watch for these in your church bookstore or in our online store at llchurch.org May God continue to bless His work as only He can. Welcome to 2022 LLC Summer Services in Monticello, Minn. 2022 LLC Summer Services will be arranged by the LLC Office staff with support of southern Minnesota congregations. The services will be held at Silver Springs in Monticello, Minn., June 30–July 1, 2022. Tent and RV camping will be permitted on site. There are 120 RV sites with electrical hookups, of which most are currently reserved. Non-electric RV sites are available in addition to the 120 electric sites. Recommended hotel lodging in Monticello includes Best Western Plus Chelsea Hotel (763-271-8880) AmericInn Motel (855-266-0452) Recommended hotel lodging in Big Lake, Minn., Americas Best Value Inn (763-262-7666) You can find additional information on services at llchurch.org Please contact us with inquiries via email SummerServicesInfo@llchurch.org or phone 763-479-2422.

Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion April 2022 - News and Notes -- For many living in the northern lands, the month of April brings a renewed hope of spring and warmer days ahead. This year April also marks the celebration of Easter. The songwriter has written,” Let us go up to Jerusalem and gather in still reflection to ponder the path of our Savior’s pain, His suff’ring and crucifixion.” I wish for each of you a blessed Easter with this greatest hope: that of resurrection in the glory of heaven. Updates on LLC Activities 2022 Phoenix Winter Services The service motto “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever,” greeted service guests after two years of LLC Winter Services being held online. It was a special joy to again gather with many fellow travelers in Zion. With the warmth of services a recent memory, we can now look forward to our summer services with the prayer that God will bless them according to His will. At Winter Services, Hearken, the LLC publications app was released. This app for mobile devices contains a wide variety of publications, from ebooks to audio content to LLC music and videos. You can subscribe for a small monthly fee to gain access to all content. We will continue to publish our publications in familiar formats – Hearken is an additional platform that allows users to carry this content wherever they go, on their mobile device. To create an account, go to hearken.llchurch.org. Board Meeting The board had a long and united discussion on the current spiritual situation in North American Zion. The board will be sending communication to congregations regarding the outcome from that discussion. The board reviewed plans for the 2022 LLC Annual Meeting and discussion on LLC Area realignment and bylaw changes. Realignment is necessary due to the western movement of members. These plans will be sent for review along with the LLC Annual Meeting packet. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Rockford church on July 2. The board approved Arvin Pirness to replace Eric Jurmu as LLC Executive Director. The board approved hiring Shanna Pirness as fulltime LLC Digital Communications Specialist, replacing Sarina Siljander. The board made plans for the 2022 LLC Annual Meeting to be held at the Rockford Laestadian Lutheran Church. We are thankful for the mutual love and unity of spirit which was experienced at the LLC Board meeting. 2022 Summer Services in Monticello, Minn. Planning continues in preparation for 2022 Summer Services to be held at Silver Springs in Monticello, Minn. The dates for services are from 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, through Sunday afternoon, July 3. Look for additional information on the LLC website llchurch.org The 2022 LLC Annual Meeting notice, agenda and delegate package will be sent to congregations in mid-April. In addition, the 2023 Draft LLC Operating Plan will be sent for review. The theme of the plan is “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). A video with highlights of the plan will be available for the congregations to view in preparing their delegates for the Annual Meeting. The 2022 LLC Annual Meeting will be held at the Rockford church Saturday, July 2. Ministers Camp An LLC Ministers Camp will be held at Stony Lake Camp April 1–3. The primary focus of the camp will be on timely topics and spiritual concerns experienced in North American Zion. It is good to remember this gathering in prayer. Board Members Workshop The LLC Congregation Board Member workshop will be held April 30 at the Monticello church. The focus of this workshop will also be the spiritual concerns felt in North American Zion and give an LLC office update on current and planned work. It would be beneficial for congregations to encourage and support their board members’ attendance. LLC 50-year Celebration Planning Work is already in progress to plan for LLC 50-year festivities in connection with 2023 Summer Services. In February, the LLC Music Committee issued a call for melodies for a hymn, written by Rick Nevala, that will be sung at those festivities. Twenty melodies were submitted, and in a blind review one was selected to be used for the hymn in question. The selected melody was composed by Ashley Niemela of Buffalo, Minn. God blesses His children with many gifts, and we thank Him for all the ways these gifts serve the work in His kingdom. Indeed God has graced us with a time of work. May He continue to guide and bless the efforts of His children.

Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion May 2022 - News and Notes -- In May, let us remember the special occasion of Mother’s Day. It is the day of the year which is set aside in honor of our mothers. Do we remember to notice all our mother does and thank her for it? And do we also remember to be thankful to God for the parents we were given? May God richly repay you mothers for the devotion you provide for your families. We wish you God’s abundant and continued blessings! May He protect and keep you always as His own. Thank you, mother dear, so precious for the love that you have shown. We thy children are so grateful for this love that we have known. Give abundant gifts, dear Father, to our mother on the way. Guide her on the way to heaven unto rest with Thee one day. (SHZ 425:1,4) May also marks the beginning of graduation celebrations. Congratulations, 2022 graduates! May God grant life’s blessings for each of you. Updates on LLC Activities God granted His abundant blessings for the LLC Ministers Camp which was held at SLC April 1–3. Approximately 100 ministers experienced very concretely the unity of faith and mutual love which joins God’s children together. In addition to many hours of open discussion the following presentations were kept over the weekend: – The Duty of the Servant of the Word in this time, a translation of Samuli Korteniemi’s presentation to the 2022 SRK ministers meeting. – Current Work and Conditions in North America: Adrian Pirness – Faithfulness to the Chosen Text: Jouko Haapsaari These opportunities give younger and older ministers needed time to gather to discuss the mutual work of serving and to be refreshed and encouraged in their walk of faith. The agenda and meeting details have been sent to LLC congregation boards, delegates, and ministers for the Board Members Workshop to be held in Monticello, April 30. 2022 Summer Services The service schedule can be found on the LLC website. The services motto, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33), will be the topic for the congregation presentation on Friday evening. A children’s service will be held in the tent on Friday and Saturday afternoons. A Sunday school lesson will be held in the tent on Sunday morning. Youth activities will be hosted at the service site. Over 150 RV sites have been reserved. Camping areas for families, adults and youth 18 years and older will be available during the service weekend. Please see the LLC website for additional details. There, you will also find an online signup for those wishing to volunteer in support of services. In conjunction with 2022 LLC Summer Services, the LLC Annual Meeting will be held at the Rockford church on July 2. In preparation for the meeting, a video with highlights of the 2023 Draft LLC Operating Plan was sent to congregations in mid-April. There are two discussion items in addition to the normal business – LLC Area Realignment, which will also require a revision to LLC bylaws, and the question of moving LLC Summer Services to the weekend following SRK Suviseurat. Construction of the new bathhouse at Silver Springs is under way. Excavation work started in early April with completion of the bathhouse scheduled for mid-summer. Mission Work Travel for foreign LLC mission trips is scheduled to resume in the 3rd quarter of 2022. Communications We feel very fortunate that the LLC Publications App Hearken has been well received. Within a month of its release, we already had over 700 subscribers. This number exceeded our expectations! We continue to welcome your input and feedback on what kind of content you’d like to see on the app. Email us at hearken@llchurch.org We recently released a Sunday school video lesson on Joseph. This was our fourth and final video for this school year. Look for more instructional videos next fall! We are busy preparing for Summer Services broadcast content. Once again we will provide broadcast content between service blocks. These will include children’s programming, interviews and discussions on timely topics as well as biblical content. We are holding a spring music sale! Look for information on that in this issue of The Voice of Zion! Applications for opisto scholarships for the 2023–2024 opisto year are being accepted through May 15. Send in your application soon! God has graced us a time of work. May He continue to guide and bless the efforts of His children.

Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion June/July 2022 - News and Notes -- Sober reflection fills me as I write my last installment of News and Notes. Seven years, where did it go? As it is in all facets of life, we have no idea what tomorrow might bring, yet, looking back I only see God’s goodness and blessings. It reminds me of what God inspired Solomon to write: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). I wish to offer congratulations to all 2022 high school, college and university graduates. You have achieved a milestone in life! May God grant life’s blessings to each of you. In June we celebrate Father’s Day. May the heavenly Father bless you dear fathers for the love and care that you extend to your families and loved ones. May He also bless you childless men who serve as role models and father figures in the lives of loved ones. The days we live are troubled and children need clear, loving instructions. May God bless those attending confirmation school this summer; it is an important time in the life of a young believer. Please remember that your parents and loved ones are sending you to camp with many prayers that you will make lasting friends, but mostly that your childlike faith will be strengthened. Updates on LLC Activities At the end of May Carey Simonson was able to attend the 2022 Summer Services in Sweden on behalf of the LLC. This year the SFC observed their 50-year anniversary. We are thankful for the mutual work and trust which God has blessed between the LLC and SFC over many years. As we have now passed the one-year mark at the new LLC office, we continue to marvel at God’s blessings. The office continues to serve us in ways beyond any envisioned. With the pandemic mostly behind us we are planning for normal summer camp activities. If you haven’t already, sign up for camps on the LLC website. 285 students have signed up for eight sessions of confirmation school. The LLC Education Committee is working to have the 3rd grade curriculum updated in time for the 2022–23 Sunday School year. The update will focus on assistance and teaching materials for teachers. Restroom construction is well underway at Silver Springs. Although significant progress has been made, it is unlikely that it will be completed in time for 2022 Summer Services. Foreign Mission trips are now being planned for the third quarter of this year. One of the biggest hurdles is uncertainty regarding COVID-19 testing requirements at the time the trips begin. Currently there is a wide variation of testing practices for travelers depending on the country. The deadline for scholarship applications for the 2023–24 Opisto year has been extended to June 15. Currently there is still room to apply for one of the 14 scholarships. The LLC has published a number of books and a music album this spring. A brief slideshow has been sent to congregations as a way to share news of these new publications. Look for more new publications at Summer Services! I want to thank each of you for your continuing generosity in support of LLC work. May our rich heavenly Father repay you as only He can. Welcome to the 2022 LLC Summer Services! June 30–July 3 at Silver Springs, Monticello, Minn. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33 The 2022 LLC Summer Services Planning Committee warmly welcomes you with these words: God called to Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” after they had fallen into sin in the garden of Eden. God still calls sinners by asking each of us that very same question today. Jesus instructs us that our most important pursuit in life is to seek God’s kingdom. There we can find His righteousness. The caller meets the seeker only in His kingdom here on earth. Jesus promises that all good things will be added unto one who finds it. Peace with God can be found by believing the message of the forgiveness of sins as it is preached by God’s children. May God yet find His own at our services, uplift us through His Word and renew the hope of heaven. “For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Rom. 10:11). A few notes about services: The service schedule can be found on the LLC website, and essential service information will be available to download. Sermons will be live broadcast on the LLC website, LLC YouTube channel, and SRK Summer Service Radio. Facebook users can find service information at “Laestadian Lutheran Church” Instagram users can find information @laestadianlutheran On Friday and Saturday there will be a children’s service at 2:00 p.m. On Friday evening, a congregation presentation will be held based on the services theme. On Saturday evening, a youth presentation is scheduled, titled “I give you future and hope.” The 2022 LLC Annual Meeting will take place Saturday, July 2, at the Rockford church. The meeting agenda and 2023 draft LLC Operating Plan and video have been sent to help congregations prepare their delegates for the meeting. Please see the LLC website at www.llchurch.org/summer-services for services details. Welcome!

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion August 2022 - News and Notes -- Seek ye first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33) was the motto for our 2022 LLC Summer Services. The joy of the believers being able to gather to the hearing of God’s Word was most evident. Paramount was the call for one to seek, find and then, by faith, dwell in the kingdom of God, endeavoring to heaven’s home. Once the service site was cleaned up, all that was left behind were the walking paths from the weekend, giving a picture of our endeavor on the old well-worn path. We thank the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to prepare and maintain the site for Silver Springs Summer Services. LLC Board Meeting – June 30, 2022 LLC Board members reviewed planning updates for the current summer services and future winter and summer services. The 2023 LLC Phoenix Winter Services will be held March 17–20 with this service motto: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you (John 14:27). 2023 LLC Summer Services will be hosted by the Monticello congregation at the LLC Silver Springs site July 6–9, 2023, with the motto Upon this rock I will build my church (Matt. 16:18). The Board approved the application from the Laestadian Lutheran Church of Utah Valley to join as a member congregation of the LLC. We wish God’s blessing for the believers who are now living in southern Utah. The Board heard committee reports. Becca Edwards of the Rockford, Minn., congregation was added to the Humanitarian Aid Committee. LLC Annual Meeting – July 2, 2022 The 2022 LLC Annual Meeting was held at the Rockford Laestadian Lutheran Church. LLC delegates reviewed and gave support for the proposed 2023 LLC Operating Plan, which included a plan to keep dues at current levels. There was a motion to move LLC Summer Services to the weekend after SRK’s Suviseurat for 2023 and then to re-visit the matter in 2026. The proposed Bylaws revisions and realignment of Mission Areas were approved. This requires a realignment of Area Mission Committees and the LLC Board position vacated by Jim Frantti retiring to shift to the Southwest Area. Delegates re-elected Petri Hotari, James Jurmu and Michael Kumpula to three-year terms on the LLC Board. Delegates also elected Roger Plough to replace retiring board member Peter Lever, who represents the Northwest Area. The annual meeting delegates and meeting attendees had a long discussion that was free, open and heartfelt regarding the spiritual division in the North American Zion. Many speeches by delegates expressed a loving call to repentance to restore unity. The loving call to repentance went unheeded, moving delegates to approve the motion to formally remove Wolf Lake and Minneapolis as member congregations in the Laestadian Lutheran Church. While we sorrow for those who have battled against the North American Zion, we live in hope and prayer that they would yet find a place of repentance. Delegates will be prepared to give a detailed report to congregations when meeting minutes have been finalized. We kindly ask you to remember to pray on our behalf and on behalf of all the work done in God’s kingdom. Updates on LLC Activities June, July and August are summer months and that means camp season is in full swing. June at Kamp Kipa was busy with youth camps, family camp and pre-confirmation camp held there. We are thankful that the Crooks Fire was contained and extinguished prior to camp season. We especially remember to thank God for His protection. During the month of July, there are eight confirmation schools with 285 students registered. 2022 has also seen the return of the Language Camp and the addition of the inaugural International Choir Camp. We have remembered to pray that God would bless the camp season so participants could experience the prayer of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians, “That He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:16–19). The minister exchange with SRK has resumed. We thank God for sending Finnish ministers Aimo Koskelo and Timo Valli to serve in North America. In exchange, Jim Jurmu from Monticello will serve Finland for the summer mission trip from July 18 to August 10, 2022. Resumption of foreign mission trips is planned for Fall 2022. God willing, Adrian Pirness will travel to The Gambia and Senegal and Jon Bloomquist will travel to Ghana and Togo in August. The LLC Board Facilities Committee and the Silver Springs Development Committee (SSDC) met on June 29 and will be meeting quarterly to develop a draft plan for long-term development of Silver Springs. Planning begins immediately to implement lessons learned for the 2023 Summer Services. Many people have asked about reservations for RV sites for 2023 Summer Services. LLC staff will make decisions about additional spaces and locations based on feedback from the meetings held between SSDC and LLC Board Facilities Committee. It is now five months since we released the LLC Hearken app. We note that many of you have found this app to be a useful resource in your life and faith. We continue to develop the app to ensure it works as seamlessly as possible, and we also continue to add new content each week. We welcome your feedback on this and all publications projects and products. In September, our Communications Department will host a Content Creators Workshop at Stony Lake Camp. At this workshop, staff and volunteer workers will meet to discuss content creation needs and goals across all our publication platforms: music, print, digital, video and audio. An overarching goal of ours is to produce content that comforts and supports believers in their faith. The best content for believers is created by believers.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion September 2022 - News and Notes -- September brings changing weather and the start of fall. It also marks the beginning of the school year, and the end of a busy camp season. We pray for God’s protection and blessing as our young return to study. May they experience the intrigue of learning, be diligent in their study and have the desire and strength to be a light unto the world in word and deed. We pray that lessons from camp would help them speak of faith and hope of heaven. Updates on LLC Activities Communications Mid-September we will gather at Stony Lake Camp with staff and volunteer contributors for our Content Creator Workshop. We will discuss content creation needs and goals across publication platforms. We will especially focus on writing needs, services broadcast content, and content for Hearken, our publications app. We are thankful for all the time and gifts that our volunteers contribute on a regular basis. We plan to release a new Christmas album this fall. The music for this album was recorded in Elk River, Minn., in April. Now we are finalizing the editing and mastering of the tracks. The theme of this choral album is the Christ Child. Work continues on the LLC History Project. A first volume of LLC history will be released at 2023 LLC Summer Services next July. Watch for more information in coming months on how we plan to observe our organization’s 50-year anniversary. Camp Work and Facilities Another summer of camp blessings is ending. Hasscib and Kamp Kipa seasons will be complete by the end of September and Stony Lake season wraps up at the end of October. Many believers were able to experience the joy of camp this year. Six LLC pre-confirmation camps were held in 2022 with an updated curriculum that answers the need to augment Confirmation curriculum. Preliminary evaluation shows that those changes received broad support from assigned staff and will help further prepare our young for confirmation school. Silver Springs restroom construction continues. The expected completion date for rough-in plumbing, electrical and heating work is mid-September. Insulation and drywall installation is expected to be completed by the end of September. Work continues with Wright County, Monticello Township and the City of Monticello to amend existing ordinance language regarding our use of the Silver Springs property. Based on recent meetings, we expect that final amendments will be approved in mid-September. The balance of Silver Springs electric RV campsites are being sold for the 6-year balance of the original 10-year sites. Consideration is being given to expanding electrical sites to the west. More information will follow in coming months. Significant work continues to extend the lifespan of buildings at our camp centers. Recently, an independent analysis of structural components of the Stony Lake lodge revealed internal log decay in some locations. A recommended mitigation method will stop the decay and reinforce decayed areas. If the work is completed soon, further decay will be halted, extending the serviceable life for many years. All projects identified are prioritized and addressed as funding allows. Cooperation with Sister Organizations Joint meetings between the SRK, SFC and LLC are planned for the week of September 19–23. The board has asked LLC Board Chair Jim Jurmu, LLC Board Secretary Sam Roiko, LLC Board member Petri Hotari, LLC Executive Director Arvin Pirness and LLC Mission Director Adrian Pirness to attend. These biennial meetings serve to plan our joint work in mission and publications while fostering unity of faith and understanding. Mission Work LLC foreign mission trips to Africa have resumed with MW3 trips to The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Togo. Adrian Pirness and Miika Kopperoinen traveled to The Gambia and Sierra Leone, keeping a confirmation school and confirmation exercise in the former. Veli-Matti Heikkinen traveled to Togo. The second 2022 Ministers Webinar was held on August 25th. John Stewart gave an overview of the Letter to the Hebrews as well as an overview of Keijo Nissilä’s commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, Let Us Look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith. The 2022 LLC Ministers and Wives Camp will be held at Hasscib Lake Camp September 24–26th. The SRK fall mission trip has been tentatively planned for September 30th–October 24th. Markku Seppänen and his wife Liisa will make the trip on the SRK’s behalf. Our next Bible course will be held at Stony Lake Camp October 7–9th. We encourage you to sign up today!

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion October 2022 - News and Notes -- Fall changes are now seen in nature as the seasons pass. Fall brings its own excitement with many congregations hosting Fall Services and with Sunday school in full swing. As I reflect on the blur of my first three months as Executive Director, I marvel how the work of God’s kingdom moves forward day to day and generation to generation. This summer we saw how God blessed the trips to the U.S. by Finnish brothers Aimo Koskelo and Timo Valli, the Finnish Language Camp Group, and the International Choir Camp held in the Pacific Northwest. God has also blessed the eight confirmation schools held this summer, and the many camps that took place at our camp facilities. Finally, God has allowed foreign mission work to resume: Jim Jurmu recently traveled to Finland and Adrian Pirness to The Gambia and Sierra Leone. The unity of faith and understanding amongst the children of God is a miracle to know and experience. Updates on LLC Activities The 2023 LLC Summer Services kickoff planning meeting was held at the LLC office on September 9. This gives planning committee members from both the hosting congregation of Monticello and the LLC the opportunity to support each other in the work. SRK Minister Markku Seppänen and wife Liisa arrived September 29 for a three-and-a-half week mission tour on the SRK-LLC speaker exchange. We wish them God’s blessing for their trip. The Confirmation and Pre-confirmation directors and teachers review meeting was held on September 1, 2022. This was an excellent opportunity for sharing information, identifying trends and challenges of this age group and making recommendations for coming years. Approximately 550 young people attended Peace Gardens Youth Days. With thankful hearts, we continue to see God’s blessings with our young people. May He continue to give increase. Ordinance and zoning changes have been made to accommodate large event gatherings at Silver Springs. The restroom construction work at Silver Springs continues. Work on this project slowed down significantly following summer services this year due to volunteers’ busy work schedules. Now as fall arrives workers are returning to complete this project. The goal of 2023 Summer Services completion is well within our reach. Camping at Silver Springs for Summer Services remains popular. The remaining 24 sites not under a ten-year contract will be sold at a prorated amount to those who are randomly selected via a drawing of interested parties. Addition of another 100 campsites is under consideration. Developments will be communicated to congregations as more concrete plans are made. Are you interested, or do you know of someone who might be interested in working as core staff at camp next summer? The LLC will be filling four core staff positions at Stony Lake Camp, a caretaker and core staff positions at Hasscib Lake Camp and one core staff position at Kamp Kipa. Contact Phil Jurmu at pjurmu@llchurch.org for additional information and job descriptions. Mission Work Assistant, Adeline Moll, traveled to Ecuador where she will live for five months, working remotely. She hopes to further her Spanish language skills in addition to her LLC work. We wish her God’s blessings in this endeavor. The annual LLC Ministers’ fall webinar will happen on Tuesday, November 3. Topics and other information will be sent to the ministers closer to the webinar date. This webinar gives the opportunity for ministers to gather around matters central to the work and serves as a communication tool maintaining unity and love of the Spirit, all important in our present time. The Communications Department hosted a Content Creators Workshop at Stony Lake Camp in September. The weekend brought together believers from many congregations who contribute to publications projects and efforts in many ways. Plans were laid for services broadcast content in 2023. Work continued on composing introductions to Songs and Hymns of Zion for service accompanists. Writers discussed believer fiction, short fiction for children, hymn writing and podcasts. The Opisto Scholarship Selection Committee recently met and selected 14 scholarship recipients for the 2023–2024 opisto year. The list of recipients will be published after all of them confirm acceptance of their scholarship. Half a year has passed since we launched Hearken, our publications app. We currently have over 1000 subscribed users, and we are grateful that many have found Hearken to be a worthwhile way to access all sorts of LLC publications. Did you know that we add new content to Hearken every week? To find out more about subscribing, go to hearken.llchurch.org It is the time of year when we collect your Christmas greetings to be published in the December Voice of Zion. This year we are collecting them online only. Go to llchurch.org/christmas-greetings to submit your greetings today. We ask for your continued prayers that God continues to guide and bless His work.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion November 2022 - News and Notes -- November marks the end of the church calendar year and the approach of Advent. On November 1, All Saints Day, we remember with love and longing those who have gained the victory of heaven. When God’s children gather in remembrance, it allows us to see the beauty of the congregation: the throng of escorts who have been and the ones still here. Today, God’s children still journey to heaven. As plans are made for Advent and Christmas, may we thank and praise our heavenly Father for the trials and blessings of our day and the hope of heaven that awaits. The approaching end of this year has us looking towards 2023. The mission department is working on more detailed plans for 2023 foreign mission trips and support for local mission work efforts in the foreign mission fields. This includes communication with the various countries for their input and plans for the coming year, finalizing trip schedules, and remote support in both seminars and service events for those in foreign mission fields. Finance has recently prepared an amended 2022 budget now with January – September actuals and with estimates for 4th quarter. Changes included some larger items for maintenance at our camps and higher income and expenses for Summer Services. We are also beginning to plan for 2024 work! We will plan for the 2024 budget in preparation for the 2024 Operating Plan and 2023 Annual Meeting. Final reports for the camp seasons at Stony Lake, Hasscib Lake and Kamp Kipa are complete. Each camp center is experiencing greater usage year to year. In 2019 there were a total of 2,679 participants and in 2022 we saw 3,272 participants. God continues to bless camp work abundantly. Enrollment for 2023 camp season begins again in January. For 2023, there will be two stages for confirmation school enrollment, like this previous year. Geographical preference will be made again with enrollment through the end of December 2022. 2023 camp enrollment will open on January 9, 2023. Communications will be sent to all confirmation students and parents by the end of November regarding enrollment. Work continues at LLC facilities. Stony Lake’s East and West Bunkhouses along with the garage were reroofed with metal. A big thank you to volunteers who got this job completed prior to the winter freeze. In the area of Communications, you can expect to see two new Christmas publications. Christ Child, our new choral Christmas album, is already available as a CD. Soon it will be available on Hearken and on other digital platforms as well. We will also publish a Christmas coloring book later this month. There will also be a lot of Christmas and holiday content on Hearken. If you already subscribe to our publications app, you will see this content in the app over the next month. If you don’t yet subscribe, consider signing up today! New content created by believers for believers is available every week. In all our areas of work, we see God’s rich blessings and guidance. Here in the U.S., we will soon gather with loved ones around the Thanksgiving table. May one item of thanks be the blessings our church organization continues to experience. God truly cares for His own!

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion December 2022 - News and Notes -- The angels once sang of the triumph of heaven on Christmas night. That glorious hymn is resounding from each generation on. It causes the heart-frost to crumble, my forefather’s as my own. – excerpted from SHZ 28 On behalf of the LLC office staff, I wish each of you a joyous and peaceful Christmas season. Scripture relates that many years ago the heavens opened and heavenly angels announced the birth of the promised Savior, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). The same joyous message of the gospel comforts believers yet today. May the message of God’s perfect gift to humankind be centermost as you gather with family and loved ones this Christmas season. Updates on LLC Activities The Longview, Wash., congregation has called Ward Plough to serve as a servant of God’s Word. May God grant His blessings to Ward and his family. The Cokato, Minn., congregation approved calling Tommi Kinnunen to serve as their congregation’s fulltime pastor. He will begin this work in January 2023. We wish Tommi and his wife Lisa God’s blessings, and we remember them as they prepare to serve their home congregation in this capacity. The LLC Humanitarian Aid has sent annual Christmas grants to the countries where we do foreign mission work. These grants are used to provide food and a small treat for the children. The recipients in foreign mission fields are grateful for the help they receive. Your contributions to LLC Humanitarian Aid efforts are warmly accepted. Interim LLC area mission committees are coordinating area mission committee meetings for the newly formed areas, which were adopted in July at the 2022 LLC Annual Meeting. The East-Central Area which includes the Minnesota, Michigan, and Toronto congregations is planning for a January 2023 meeting. Part of the MW3 work (mission work coordinated by SRK, SFC and LLC) each year is to financially assist the local operations in the foreign mission fields. We are reviewing plans and requests to finalize this area of work for 2023. Signup by geographical area for 2023 Confirmation Schools has begun, with the rest of the 2023 Camp Season signup beginning January 9, 2023, at 11:00 am CST. In the 2022 camp season, the total number of times members participated in camp events was 4301. Camp Changes for 2023 – Peace Garden Youth Days is limited to 350 participants, age 22 and older – Adding Stony Lake Youth Days on Labor Day Weekend for ages 18–21 – In addition to these two changes, we will again host Hasscib Lake Youth Days on Labor Day Weekend for ages 15–17 Eight Confirmation Schools scheduled for 2023 – Three Confirmation schools at Stony Lake – Two Confirmation schools at Kamp Kipa – One Confirmation school at Prairie Shores – One Confirmation school at Hasscib Lake – One Confirmation school at a West Coast location In the Communications area of work, a big effort in the first months of 2023 will be to finalize the LLC history book for publication. This book will cover part of LLC’s 50-year history, which will be observed in a number of ways in 2023. Watch for more information in upcoming issues of The Voice of Zion. On our publications app Hearken, we will begin publishing podcasts in January. Stay tuned for those! If you are not yet a subscriber to Hearken, you can visit hearken.llchurch.org for more information. The following applicants have been selected for opisto scholarships for the 2023–2024 opisto year. We wish you all a blessed time of planning for your upcoming year abroad! Ranua: Megan Hillstrom, Menahga Mylan Strand, Elk River Iina-Matilda Roiko, Elk River Sierra Ylioja, Dunblane Reisjärvi: Victor Huhta, Menahga Linda Kariniemi, Prescott Valley Kiana Koski, Cokato Jenna Pirness, Saskatoon Cecilia Waaraniemi, Phoenix Brooke Ylitalo, Monticello Jämsä: Kelton Klassen, Saskatoon Lotte Wittenberg, Roaring Fork Valley In addition, for Jämsä opisto there is one application pending and one spot available. Let us know as soon as possible if you are interested in applying for a spot at opisto next fall! LLC staff and spouses gather December 9 for their annual Christmas gathering. It gives opportunity to pause and reflect on their calling to serve in the work of God’s kingdom. It also reminds of the generosity of believers who support the work of our central organization. May God richly repay you as only He can. For you all, I wish abundant blessings in the coming New Year.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion January 2023 - News and Notes -- To God on high all glory be, who sent His Son to set us free, while angels sing with pious mirth a glad new year to all the earth. – SHZ 16:15 The beginning of a new year marks a milestone – a point in time that gives us a reference mark to days gone by. We often find ourselves in contemplation of the past year and even nostalgic of yesteryear as the year ends and another begins. The child of God joins with Samuel’s experience that so far hath the Lord helped us (1 Sam. 7:12). Having experienced His help, we can approach another year and securely trust in God’s guidance and direction for our own endeavor of faith and for the work of His kingdom. I have been touched by the support and generosity of believers in supporting the work. At the beginning of 2023, we prayerfully ask for God’s continued guidance and blessings. The new year 2023 marks the 50th year of the Laestadian Lutheran Church and this thought is on our minds as we plan our service events, camps and publications. Updates from the Mission Department We have committed to quarterly ministers’ webinars beginning in 2023. The first webinar is scheduled for February 3. We have begun planning for staff at Confirmation schools and foreign mission work trips for 2024. This preliminary work is sent to Area Mission Committees so they can facilitate the requests from congregations in their areas for special services and other area-wide events. Updates from the Communications Department In the Communications Department, there are goals in place to release a number of new publications this year. Among these: We will publish one more board book in the current series edited by Ruth DeLacey and illustrated by Karen Fredrickson. This book, titled Now the Day Is Over, will feature an evening song and prayers. We hope this book will find its way into many little hands when evening comes and bedtime nears. A special publication this year will be the first volume of our organization’s history. Watch for more information on this project in coming issues of The Voice of Zion this spring. In a couple months, subscribers to this newspaper will find in their mailboxes the third issue of our annual Easter magazine, Easter Messenger. This publication, which is loosely modeled on Christmas in Zion and centered around the observation of Christ’s death and resurrection, appears to have been well received. Speaking of Christmas in Zion, this year we will produce our 40th issue of that beloved publication. In honor of that, we plan to produce a special Christmas book. More information on that project will be forthcoming. This year we will produce some new music albums. One of them is a choral album on the theme of The Good Shepherd. We will also record songs by North American composers and lyricists for a special anniversary album in honor of LLC’s 50-year celebration year. At the end of summer, we intend to record youth singing at Peace Gardens. In addition to these albums, there will also be some music that will be published only on Hearken, our publications app. In addition to these physical publications, our work continues in digital efforts as well: For several months already, our services broadcast team has been producing audio programs to present during LLC services. Hearken will reach its one-year mark in March. We are thankful that LLC’s own publications app has been received well. We have many more subscribers already than we originally projected we would in the first year after the app’s launch. We will continue to add new content for subscribers’ enjoyment on a weekly basis. We invite users’ feedback as well! Send a note to hearken@llchurch.org For all our publications efforts, we rely on a large number of volunteer content creators. For all these contributions we are deeply grateful. The writings and artwork and other content you produce serves God’s children in so many ways! We will hold another Content Creators Workshop in September at Stony Lake Camp here in Minnesota. Stay tuned for more details! Updates from Education and Facilities Building on the foundations established by the workers of the past we now experience a new set of challenges as our membership increases. Camp work and Education have always tied closely together and this will continue. At the same time, however, we are beginning to see a time of adjustment and work to provide additional support to those who have been called to teach and preach. The focus for 2023 will be to provide greater support for directors and teachers assigned to camps. During 2023 we will continue to provide teacher and director workshops with training on the catechism and its contents. The facilities owned by the LLC continue to serve well. The location of the new office continues to be of greater benefit to many for meetings, conferences and workshops. It is also situated in a way that is more visible to the community. We often receive visitors from the community who are interested in the services we provide. Recently a young mother stopped by who wished to have her infant baptized. The baptism was held in the conference room; it was an opportunity to share the mystery of faith to a member of the community.