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Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion March 2023 - News and Notes -- Early in history, 40 weekdays became established as the period of preparation for Easter. The month of March contains the period of Lent. You may have heard or even observed fasting customs of Lent where individuals work to simplify their way of living or eating or forgo a particular habit in illustration of sacrifice. However, Christian fasting is primarily a spiritual endeavor and leads one to seek the forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience. As we make our plans for Easter, may God so preciously and graciously allow us to see the treasure of faith and rejoice in the redemption work of our Lord Jesus. Have a blessed time of Lent! Updates on LLC Activities Facilities Stony Lake Camp log restoration is scheduled for the last week of May. Education Preconfirmation camps now are planned as a part of Confirmation Schools. In the year prior to Confirmation School, preconfirmation students focus on studying Luther’s Small Catechism. A Confirmation and Preconfirmation Directors and Teachers workshop was held on February 6. The focus of the workshop was to review the current curriculum, examine methods for conducting discussion periods and review the planning progress to date with each director of those camps. On March 2 there is a Camp Directors and Staff Workshop hosted at the LLC office and broadcast through Zoom for remote participants. Campwork week will be added back to the LLC’s schedule of activities this year. However, a specific week in March hasn’t been formalized. Each congregation will schedule this event at a time that best serves their congregation. The emphasis in Campwork and Youthwork will be on the joy of serving and encouragement to members to volunteer to serve at camps. Mission Department A webinar for the newly aligned area mission committees is planned for March 7. We will review the area mission committees’ administrative responsibilities, scheduling processes and timelines for this year. We will also set dates for fall meetings and establish a list of items to be covered at those meetings. The LLC Ministers Camp will be held at Stony Lake Camp March 31–April 2. Communication Department This spring we plan in a variety of ways to promote awareness of our opisto scholarship program. For the last 40 years, the LLC has sent young people from North America to the believers’ opistos in Finland. To date many hundred North Americans have benefitted from this opportunity, and we pray that many hundred more will benefit from an opisto year in decades to come. One way we’re observing this milestone year: we’ve updated our opisto scholarship application form, now available online on our webpage. The LLC History Project has reached a busy stage of work. As we finalize the content for the history book to be published this summer, we also prepare for festivities to be held in connection with Summer Services in Monticello, Minn. Watch for more information in The Voice of Zion later this spring. This month our publications app Hearken celebrates its one-year mark since it launched. In actuality, the app is older than that – more than three years have passed since it was dreamed up and developed, and two years have passed since the LLC Board approved the proposal to create the app. During these years, it has become clear to us that there is a need for this means of sharing and using Christian publications. May God continue to bless this and all efforts in the work of His kingdom.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion April 2023 - News and Notes -- Thinking of Easter, I recall singing: on Easter Sunday morning the congregation, in the depth of gratitude, sings praise and thanks to God for the gift of the Lord Jesus – our Redeemer who atoned for our sin debt through His blood. May our voices and hearts join in song yet this Easter, with songs such as this: Here is the Paschal Lamb, the Christ, whom God so freely gave us, who on the cross is sacrificed in flames of love to save us. See, His blood doth mark our door; faith points to it, death passes o’er, the strangler cannot harm us. Hallelujah! – SHZ 112:5 I wish for you and your family a time of still reflection and thankfulness as you celebrate Easter – our day of victory! Updates on LLC Activities The 2023 LLC Annual Meeting notice, agenda, and delegate packet will be sent to congregations mid-April. In addition, the 2024 Draft Operating Plan will be sent for review. The Plan’s theme, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” from Isaiah 40:31, reminds those together in the kingdom of God that it is of God where our trust is and from where strength is provided for the endeavor. The 2023 LLC Annual Meeting will be held at the Rockford church Friday, July 7, 2023. Planning advances for 2023 Summer Services at Silver Springs. We are receiving quotes for Summer Service expenses and have prepared a budget. We expect the event to cost slightly over $400,000. To fund these services at break-even, we will need approximately $150,000 in collections from congregations and individuals. We will provide more information regarding collections soon. Work continues developing teaching aids for Sunday School and Preconfirmation curriculum. An effort to emphasize preconfirmation lessons as an integral part of confirmation school continues and, during 2023, three preconfirmation schools will be held at Hasscib Lake, one at Kamp Kipa, one in Washington and one in Alaska. Stony Lake camp season began March 31. Spring maintenance projects have been distributed to camp board members and they will be looking for volunteers to complete them. We are planning on 1900 participants at Stony Lake this season. Registration to attend camps is open on the LLC website. Hasscib Lake’s and Kamp Kipa’s spring maintenance weeks are scheduled for May 15–20. Kamp Kipa’s work week will end with a Men’s Camp, May 19–21. Hasscib Lake’s work week will end with a traditional Open House on May 21. Camps operate on a host of volunteers. Please consider volunteering your time and talents. Apply at www.llchurch.org/work-at-camp The Mission Department held a webinar for the newly configured area mission committees (AMCs) on March 7. The webinar focused on the AMC administrative and mission work responsibilities. The LLC Home & Family Committee will hold a webinar touching on the concerns associated with the issue of sexual fluidity in our society on April 14. We have two new publications this spring. One is a board book, the seventh in our current series of board books. It is called Now the Day Is Over and it contains two evening prayers and an evening song. Our other new publication is a choral music album Gentle Shepherd. This contains 20 songs recorded at last summer’s LLC International Choir Camp in Washington. Look for these in your church bookstore or order them on our website. Our Easter magazine Easter Messenger should have arrived in the mailboxes of those who subscribe to The Voice of Zion. May this special publication help bring Easter into your home and your hearts. Once again we completed a weekend of online broadcasting from Winter Services. Over the weekend, there was nearly 20 hours of broadcasting in addition to the service blocks. We will be on air again at Summer Services in July. Meanwhile, you can relisten to some of the broadcast content on Hearken or on our YouTube channel. The LLC Board approved establishment of an Opisto Fund. Donations to this fund via our website will directly benefit LLC Opisto Scholarship recipients. It is our hope that all families with children are aware of our children’s magazine The Shepherd’s Voice. Encourage the young families in your life to subscribe. This magazine is published six times a year. It contains devotional writings, Bible stories and other content and activities geared toward children ages 0–12. It helps support the upbringing in faith done in Christian homes. We occasionally receive requests for new albums of congregational singing. We will be recording congregational singing at Peace Gardens later this year. We are also looking into recording singing at next year’s Winter Services. It has been shown to us that in the publications area of work, our workday includes a mix of digital and traditional forms of publication. We do our best to answer both of these needs. We thank all of you who contribute to our publications with content and input and other assistance. We thank all who subscribe. Above all, we thank our heavenly Father, for this work, along with the other work done in God’s kingdom, is gospel work. May our publications be a comfort and support in the life of believers everywhere.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion February 2023 - News and Notes -- February is a month of busy planning: Winter Services are a few weeks away, we need people to serve at summer camps, we prepare for Summer Services and the Annual Meeting and we work to prepare the 2024 LLC Operating Plan and the communication plan around it. Plans are well underway for the winter mission trip with Finnish brother Tapani Kinnunen. Tapani and his wife Tuulia’s trip will include local congregation services, LLC Winter Services and LLC Ministers Camp. We extend a warm welcome to the Kinnunens and ask you to remember this trip in your prayers. LLC Winter Services will be held at the Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church in Cave Creek, Ariz. Services will begin on Thursday March 16 and end March 19. The motto for these services is “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). The congregation presentation for services is titled “Faith Guides Life’s Choices.” Welcome to Winter Services. As we plan for big services and the upcoming camp season, I marvel at how God knows our needs and provides for us through His Word. He lovingly provides opportunities for us to gather and hear and learn and to be supported on the way to heaven. May God continue to bless this work, and each of us, till the end of our days. Updates on LLC Activities Again, this year “Camps at a Glance” has been published. You can find it and download it on our website. Online enrollment continues for 2023 camps. It’s important to sign up early to assure the best possibility for attendance. The high number of applicants indicates the interest and importance of our camp program. May God continue to give direction to His work. The LLC board approved hiring Walt and Avis Lampi to serve at Hasscib Lake Camp as caretaker and office assistant. Williston congregation has called brothers Derek Mattila and Tanner Collette to serve as ministers. We remember these brothers in this calling and rejoice with the Williston congregation that God yet provides for the preaching of His Word. The first 2023 LLC Ministers Webinar will be held the evening of February 3. The writing of the LLC history book nears completion. Now the work shifts to further editing, gathering of pictures and other exhibits all with the goal to have the book ready for purchase this year. Finance We are beginning the 2024 budgeting process as we prepare for the 2023 Annual Meeting. The work of God’s kingdom continues to grow, and we are considering the requests from the membership as well as the increasing demands of our current work. We plan to present to the 2023 annual meeting the growing needs with a few budget options. We look forward to hearing from the congregations on how they hope to see the work continue in the future. Facilities Silver Springs RV Site extended year reservations are sold out. There will be 50 electric RV Sites available for reservation beginning March 6 at 9:00 a.m. CST. The price for an annual reservation is $250. The money raised from the sales of extended reservations is used to offset the cost of adding additional electric sites. While our three camp centers slumber under blankets of snow, preparations for the 2023 camp season continue in earnest. We pray that God will give hearts to serve to His children. Active recruitment continues for core Summer Camp Staff for Stony Lake and Kamp Kipa. Education Camp staff, directors and teachers workshop season begins February 6 with a Confirmation and Pre-confirmation Directors workshop. Five additional workshops will be held throughout 2023 on the theme “How to Study the Bible.” Communications It’s a new year and there are new features on Hearken! In January we posted the first episodes of two podcasts, the first podcasts LLC has produced. We hope that this new form of publication on our publications app will provide thought-provoking insight into faith and life as a believer. On Hearken we’ve also begun posting The Voice of Zion in a format tailored to mobile devices. We hope this format enables a seamless and enjoyable reading experience! What do you do on the evening of the first Tuesday of each month? An opportunity that recurs monthly in that time slot is our Writers Workshop. Writers gather both in person at the LLC office and online to write, to share texts and to share thoughts on writing. We view this as a wonderful way to connect with and support the people who in turn support our work as contributors and content producers. We also encourage enthusiastic writers to create local groups to foster skills that can serve the needs of God’s kingdom now and in the future. In this digital age there’s an increasing need to produce audio content, for our Hearken app and for other purposes as well. On January 10, we held our first Readers Workshop. Our goal for that and for future workshops is to help interested readers learn how to best serve in this role. Do you or someone you know have a voice and manner of expression that would lend itself well to reading articles and books for us? Feel free to contact us. The theme for this year’s LLC Winter Services touches on God’s peace (John 14:27). In the past months, much work has been done to produce audio programs that will be broadcast during the services next month. You will be able to hear programs discussing peace, such as what peace is to a believer. You can hear Psalms of peace and other biblical topics. We will also broadcast programs on youth topics and programs in which former youth reflect on life in God’s kingdom in years and decades past. More information on the Services broadcast schedule will be available soon on the LLC website.

Art and Val Harju | The Voice of Zion April 2023 - Home and Family Article -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. – Gal. 5:22,23 There is joy in believing. When our sins are forgiven, we have peace of conscience. Peace comes when matters are right with God and we are acceptable to Him. Joy comes into our heart when we have peace. Joy is a gift and a blessing from God. It is a fruit of the Spirit that lives in the heart of believers. There is joy in serving others. When we have been asked to serve in some way, we often feel doubts and unwillingness – certainly someone else would be better at this. But when we try to put these thoughts aside and do what has been asked, we find that it is good. Joy comes when we realize that others have benefitted from our service. We have experienced this by helping and giving to others who have experienced the same trials as we have. It is humbling to be on the receiving end of others giving. We might receive meals and other help during difficult times. This is how it was for us when our son was diagnosed with cancer. As we look back at this difficult time in our lives, we wonder how we would have made it without the help of our congregation, members of our community and our families. Knowing how help is appreciated, it has felt good to volunteer and help others in our community and church who are experiencing trials. There is joy in gathering with other believers. It is comforting and feels secure to sit in our bench at services and sing and listen to the service, and then visit with others after. God’s kingdom is a blessing that He has placed on earth for us. It is a secure home where we can be with fellow travelers. We are not alone in God’s kingdom. Surely there are others who have experienced similar trials and difficulties and also similar joys. A joy in our life is that God blessed us with children. They have all grown into adults and gone their way. Some of them have families of their own and God has given us grandchildren. Our children come home often, and we have found that the best times for us are when our family is together. We are thankful that God has preserved each of them in living faith; we can only thank God for this blessing. We know this is not the case in all families. The enemy has been able to entice dear children away from living faith, and this has brought sorrow. We want to pray that God would call those outside of His kingdom, especially those loved ones, that they could return. Sin comes daily, stealing joy on the journey, in our thoughts and words and deeds. We carry this sin-corrupt flesh, and we will have to carry it as long as we live. With sin, the enemy tries to steal away joy from our heart. When this happens, it’s easy to become angry and lose patience with each other. Then too, we have this pride that doesn’t let us admit that I am the one who is wrong. Fortunately, God gives strength to put sin away in the name and blood of Jesus. Peace returns. God has preserved us to this day by His grace. Far above all other blessings, now today I thank You, Lord, that Your wondrous grace suffices, carries with the blessing Word. In Your kingdom I behold glimmers of that joy untold. Guide my way to heaven, ever keep me as Your child, dear Father. – SHZ 430:4 Discussion Questions In our homes, we experience joy in fellowship with family members. How can we foster relationships that don’t dim the joy we find in one another? Joy comes to us when we have sins forgiven. Why might we wish to express this by serving others? There is a cycle: Joy that sins are forgiven, serving others, more joy. Discuss how this might be in your life. How can a congregation create opportunities for more to serve at church? Why is it important to allow others to serve, even when it might be easier to do it ourselves? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in maintaining joy in our lives?

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) authorities have issued guidelines to help prevent the spread of coronavirus that has spread globally. Instructions have been given for both traveling and organizing events. The spread of the virus remains a fluid situation as we continue to monitor new and updated information. Because of this, we have decided to cancel our 2020 LLC Phoenix Winter Services scheduled for March 19–22 at Desert Mountain Middle School Desert Hills, Arizona. Although the decision was difficult, LLC felt it important to act on the side of caution for the health and safety of our membership. As of this time, no decisions have been made with regard to other LLC-sponsored events.We will continue to monitor available information in the days ahead. For further information: Eric Jurmu, LLC Executive Director, ejurmu@llchurch.org Jim Frantti, LLC Board Chairman, jfrantti@llchurch.org Laestadian Lutheran Church – www.llchurch.org

Winter Services Opening Announcement in Phoenix, March 20-22, 2020 Dear brothers and sisters in faith and all who are joining these services via this broadcast, We warmly greet all of you and welcome you to these online broadcasts from the Phoenix Laestadian Lutheran Church on behalf of the sponsoring Arizona congregations as well as the LLC Board! These special services are being held in an unprecedented manner. The church benches are empty but you, the service guests, are virtually present listening from the comfort of your home. Even though we long to be gathered together, the message and comfort of God’s word still reaches each of us bringing blessing, hope, and joy! May it also reach those who long to find the peace of heart and conscience seeking a gracious God. The traditional LLC Phoenix Winter Services have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a sobering effect on the entire world. Nonetheless, God’s Word assures us that there is nothing new under the sun. Nothing happens without God’s knowledge. Let us put our trust in God! As we consider the uncertainty that this crisis brings, it is good for us to pause to pray for our local authorities, national leaders, and medical professionals. We cannot fully understand the challenges they face, yet through their efforts we receive blessing and protection. They are ministers of God for our good (Rom. 13:4). We pray with the songwriter, Shield us and grant us your blessing. / Help us, Lord, most high. / Wisdom impart to our leaders; / may they regard their Creator. / Power is from on high; / virtue is in Your counsel./ Shelter our native land. SZ 535:1 In North America, national and local authorities have given us guidelines to help slow the spread of the virus. They have, using their best judgement and available information, continued to recommend that large gatherings be limited, both religious and otherwise. The LLC will continue to monitor the situation following the guidelines of the appropriate authorities, and will make changes accordingly. The Board is especially considering our upcoming camps and Summer Services. The LLC recommends that each congregation follows the instructions of their national and local authorities. In these times, let us endeavor to lay aside our personal opinion about the seriousness of this pandemic and trust and heed the advice of our local, state, provincial and national authorities. We trust that God gives them needed wisdom to make decisions that need to be made in this time. At this time, the LLC has suspended its LLC sponsored camp activities and foreign mission trips. We will continue to monitor this situation and reinstate these activities as possible. We have also cancelled our LLC Ministers Camp, which was scheduled for this April. We are also monitoring the situation as it may affect our LLC Summer Services and Annual Meeting scheduled for July 2-5 this year in Marquette, Michigan. We will announce any decision on whether these services will be held or not by May 1. Just as the previous generations have worked together in times of natural disasters, war and economic turmoil, let us each take responsibility to do our part to help. We especially want to remember our elders and those with underlying health conditions while not forgetting that human life is fragile for all of us. We can in faith also look for God’s blessing in these developments, blessings which for now may be hidden. We have been reminded what is most important in life, living faith and peace with God and how Jesus instructed us to care for our neighbor in love and with prayer. One other blessing in the midst of this trial is that it has provided a good opportunity and time to focus on those in our households, our closest ones. Brothers and sisters, as we go forward day by day, may God give us continued patience and forbearance. Let us remember to pray! Pray on behalf of those who have fallen ill from this virus, for those who care for the ill and for those whose livelihood suffers from worldwide economic turmoil. Pray for the families who are affected as schools close and routines are upended. Let us remember those who are alone, those who are suffering, or need assistance at this time. Let us also comfort and support our children and youth who may feel distress in this uncertainty. We join with the words of the songwriter, Heavenly Father, God of all, / care for us, the weak and small. / Care for neighbors, family, / friends and loved ones dear to me. SZ 510:1 Let us look to God in all things. The psalmist writes “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1,2). Again, a warm welcome to all of you to our online services! May God richly bless and comfort us through these services!

Listen to a Worship Service We have all felt the impact of the restrictions on gathering due to the concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. The opportunity to listen to God’s Word online is truly a blessing under these circumstances. Many congregations that already webcast their services have transitioned to services in an online format. The LLC suggests that congregations, if they have not already done so, consider adding a Wednesday evening service or Bible class and an online Sunday school lesson. Beginning this Thursday, the Phoenix and Menahga congregations will begin broadcasting short evening devotions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. An example of a possible weekly online schedule appears below. The Phoenix and Menahga evening devotions started as local efforts. LLC is now simply helping with the coordination and sharing of information. If it becomes a longer-term effort, it could become an LLC effort and more help would be needed and sought. Please check congregation web sites for these or other online activities. The LLC congregations that currently broadcast online are available from the "Listen to a Worship Service" link. Broadcast Schedule Sunday: Local online Services Local online Sunday school or a Sunday school at home by parents Monday: Evening Devotion, Phoenix 8 pm MST Tuesday: Evening Devotion, Menahga 8 pm CDT Wednesday: Local online services or Bible class Thursday: Evening Devotion, Menahga 8 pm CDT Friday: Evening Devotion, Phoenix 8 pm MST

We continue to monitor and react to changes that arise from the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Wednesday, March 25 the LLC office has closed through Friday, April 10 as the MN Governor has issued an order to stay home except for essential needs. Though the office is closed, our work goes on. Office staff will work remotely for the duration of the office closure.

The situation that we are experiencing in our countries, and throughout the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic is something that we have never previously experienced. It is also new to those in positions of leadership in our governments. Many restrictions have been put in place to try to prevent the spread of this virus and to keep people safe. As a result, people have been living through a difficult time with many challenges, including financial difficulties for many. As believers, we have experienced these challenges in our daily lives. In addition, we have felt the absence of fellowship and gathering at our churches for services and other occasions. We long for the opportunity to again freely gather. At the same time, this has served to remind us of how important and precious the fellowship of God’s children is in our lives. We also can be thankful that, through the means of technology, God has provided the possibilities for us to hear His word and to connect with loved ones. As individuals, we can have many different thoughts and viewpoints on the approach that has been taken in dealing with this situation and on the current restrictions that the government has put in place. Certainly, we can each have our own opinions, which we can peacefully express. At the same time, we want to respect the opinions of others and, in particular, we do not want to allow our differing opinions to break the love between believers. God’s Word teaches us how we should conduct ourselves with regard to our country, government, and leaders. Apostle Paul wrote, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Rom. 13:1) He goes on to encourage the believers not to resist our government but to respect it “for conscience sake.” Paul says of someone in a position of authority, “For he is the minister of God to thee for good.” (Rom. 13:4) It is good for us to remember that, as parents and elders, how we speak about our government and those in authority sets an example for our children and youth. Again quoting Apostle Paul, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Tim. 2:1,2). Paul did not say to pray only for those whose positions we support. God can effect good from our government regardless of who may be in positions of power.We may think that some current guidelines of the government are unnecessary or may have other thoughts as to what should be done. However, it seems that the proper and safe way to respond is to follow the instructions of the government. These guidelines vary between countries, States, and Provinces. Local congregations can freely follow those guidelines that are applicable to them and also be free to decide on their best course as restrictions are lifted. We want to remember that God, who allows those in our government to serve, also knows all that is happening in the world, in our countries, and in our lives. We can encourage each other to trust in God. He knows our needs and will take care of His children. We want to be patient and remember to pray to God that He who is almighty would take care of us and His kingdom and also guide our countries and our leaders. The Board and staff of the LLC are continuing to monitor the current situation and restrictions and their impact on all aspects of our work and planned events. We also are doing this together with our sister organizations in Finland, Sweden, and other countries where the believers are served. Thus far, our Winter and Summer Services have been moved to online events, our May camp activities have been cancelled, and the LLC Language Camp has been cancelled. By mid-May, a decision will be made regarding June camp activities. A special priority will be given to our Confirmation Camps and contingency plans will be prepared in case changes must be made in these special events. We will keep the congregations informed of any developments and changes as we go forward. May God continue to bless us and keep us all in His care. Jim Frantti, LLC Board Chairman, jfrantti@llchurch.org Eric Jurmu, LLC Executive Director, ejurmu@llchurch.org ‍

LLC Camp Activities We continue to monitor how the COVID-19 pandemic affects LLC activities. States and provinces have differing schedules and parameters as they reopen for various activities. Camp boards will continue to monitor the regional situation with the goal of opening camp facilities and holding camps when the situation allows. LLC Confirmation schools will be the primary focus as facilities are opened. LLC Confirmation School The present pandemic has certainly brought many changes and it seems likely that it will force changes to our confirmation schools this summer. We are considering alternatives and expect to make a decision on how we will hold our confirmation schools by June 1. If alternative arrangements are necessary, details on these arrangements will be shared at the time the decision is made. Confirmation schools will take precedence over other camps this summer. The last resort would be to do confirmation school in a remote-learning situation. We are currently considering arranging a larger number of confirmation camps, but with a smaller number of students at each camp. The camps would possibly be shortened (Sun-Sat) to allow time for the additional camps. Our hope would be that each student could attend camp at the facility where they are currently scheduled, but most likely students and families will need to make arrangements that do not involve crossing the US-Canadian border. Due to the circumstances the camp dates will likely change and we most likely will need to assign students to a camp. This tentative plan is based on the assumption that states and provinces will allow for groups of up to 50 people to gather. There are currently many unknowns: If and when states and provinces will allow gatherings at camps. What size groups will be allowed if camps are opened. If and when the border between the US and Canada will open Camps are an important part of the activities we participate in each year. We ask for God’s continued guidance and pray for His blessings for this work and all the work of His Kingdom. ‍