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On May 22, 2002 Synodical
Council meeting took place in Kyiv. The ULC Officers
as well as Eparchy Heads presented their reports. Among the matters
discussed at the Synodical Council meeting were: changes in the
Seminary Handbook and Constitution, organizing and conducting
of the First Ukrainian Lutheran Youth Rally in Kyivon July 13-6.
Mr. Kermit Traska, the Executive Director of the "Thoughts
of Faith" mission society took part in the meeting of the
Synodical Council meeting.
On May 19, 2002 Maxym Huzar
(son of Olexandrand Svitlana Huzars) was baptized in the village
of Mushkutyntsi, Khmelnytska Oblast. Oleksandr Huzar
is a student of the Ukrainian Lutheran Theological Seminary of
Saint Sophia. The baby was baptized by Pastor Taras Kokovskiy,
Galician Eparchy Head. We wish Maxym many and happy years in our
Lord!
On May 19, 2002 Liturgy took place in Kam'yanets'-Podiliskiy congregation of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. One person was baptized and 14 persons were confirmed in the Lutheran faith during that worship service. Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk, Galician Eparchy Head Pastor Taras Kokovskiy, ULTSSS Rector Pastor David Jay Webber and Deacon Oleksiy Onufriychuk led the Liturgy. ULC Secretary Ihor Rudzik and "Thoughts of Faith" Executive Directory were among special guests at the worship service Kermit Traska.
May 17, 2002. "Gift of Life" International Charitable Foundation has celebrated its first 10th year anniversary.
Having begun its ministry as the Medical Clinic on Wheels in 1992, it has provided free and qualitative medical treatment for dozens of thousands of children and mothers. Through its subsidiaries in Kyiv, Ternopil, Sevastopol, Kremenets and Zaporizhia it saved life of many babies, having protected them from abortions. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Lapers (WELS members), Directors of the Foundation have received lots of greetings and thanks for the work of the "Gift of Life" from the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, Government, and social organizations.
On May 15, 2002 first chapel liturgy took place in the Ukrainian Blind Society District in Obolon, Kyiv. 19 brothers and sisters have confessed their Lutheran faith and were admitted to receive the true body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor V'yacheslav Horpynchuk conducted the liturgy and preached a sermon on life in the resurrected Christ.
About 30 people participated in the chapel service, among them there was also a guest from the U.S.A. - Mr. Kermit Traska, Executive Director of the "Thoughts of Faith" Mission Society. On May 5, 2002 congregations of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church celebrated Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. About two and a half thousand Ukrainian Lutherans participated in the celebrations of Easter 2002 in their congregations. Picture: Liturgy and celebrations in the Resurrection Lutheran Church.
On April 28 Pastor Oleh Stetsiuk that accepted a call from the Ukrainian Lutheran Church congregation in Kherson conducted his first worship service in that congregation. On April 25, Ukrainian Lutheran Church was received into the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) membership. CELC unites confessional Evangelical-Lutheran Churches that are located all around the world. The Triennial CELC Convention took place in Kungalv, Sweden. Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk and Vice-Bishop Andriy Honcharuk represented the Ukrainian Lutheran Church at the Convention. Ukrainian delegation also took part in discussing essays that were presented by Japanese, German, African, Peruvian, and Swedish theologians. Pastors Horpynchuk and Honcharuk have also told the representatives of the World CELC Convention about the ULC. There was also an agreement reached about future official proclamation of the fellowship between the Evangelical-Lutheran Free Church in Germany and the ULC and between the Lutheran Confessional Church in Sweden and Norway and the ULC. April
17-18, 2002 the ULC Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk,
Treasurer Vasyl Korshak, and Secretary Ihor Rudzik were on a
working visit in Kherson and Mykolaiv congregations of the ULC,
Southern Ukraine. During their meetings with pastors,
Presidents of the congregations, and laymen they considered
perspectives the ULC in southern Ukraine. In Mykolaiv congregation the ULC officials scrutinized possible
ways to render help in refurbishment of church premises, which
had been recently purchased for the ULC congregation in the
city of Mykolaiv. April 7, 2002. On the Annunciation day the ULC Bishop V'yacheslav visited a preaching station in the town of Oleksandriya,Kirovohrad region, Central Ukraine. Deacon Olexandr Dich is serving there. Deacon Olexandr interviewed catechumen. Upon the results of the interview Bishop V'yacheslav confirmed eight brothers and sisters. They became confirmed members of the Ukrainian Lutheran church. Then there was a solemn liturgy of Annunciation with Lord's Supper. The faithful of Oleksandriya congregation received true body and blood of Christ. During the liturgy the ULC Bishop preached "Rejoice those blessed!" About thirty persons participated in the worship service. May Lord continue to richly bless our congregation in that neat steppe town in the center of Ukraine for the glory of God! March 31, 2002. The Ukrainian Lutheran church together with the Lutheran Heritage Foundation has conducted a joint action to distribute spiritual literature. A fair of spiritual literature is held at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy every last Saturday of each month. People from all over Ukraine come here in order to get acquainted and purchase spiritual literature. Our books and periodicals were free of charge. The event aroused keen interest of those present.
Kids had a chance to receive Bibles for Children, and coloring books. Adults revealed their interest in theological literature, the World of God and History of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. It was especially nice to hear the words of gratitude and blessings for the Ukrainian Lutheran Church from people who received literature. It is a true God's blessing to have such a chance to spread the Gospel among people! |
