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November On November 28-30, 2004 Bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church V'yacheslav Horpynchuk together with representatives of other major religious denominations in Ukraine visited the headquarters of NATO in Brussels, Belgium. The visit was in the framework of the information program. Members of the delegation had a chance to meet and personally communicate with the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, ambassadors of member states to this organization and other officers. During the meetings it was stated that NATO is ready to support the Ukrainian people in their standing up for freedom and democracy in Ukraine using peaceful means for this end.
On November 29, 2004 pastor Serhiy
Somin accepted a call to serve in the ULC congregation in Simferopol,
Crimea. In his letter to members of the congregation,
the Bishop, and pastors pastor Serhiy writes, "With God's
help, His mercy and grace I promise to be a faithful pastor,
a preacher of the Evangelical truth in line with the Holy Scripture
as it defines the personality of a minister, to keep teachings
of the Holy Scripture and the Book of Concord clear and to distribute
His body as it was commanded by our God Jesus Christ. May the
Lord help me…"
Picture: Pastor Serhiy Somin Brothers and sisters of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church make their contribution to help people who currently are on the frosty Kyiv streets irrespective of their choice or denomination. The faithful of the ULC distribute hot tea and coffee among the protesters. We do this out of Christian love to our people.
November 23, 2004. Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk has signed the appeal of the Ukrainian Church leaders as for the results of the Presidential Elections in Ukraine. November 13-15, 2004. Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk has visited Bulgaria on invitation of Grigoriy Karakostov, the Bulgarian Lutheran Synod President. On Sunday, November 14, Bishop has taken part in the festival liturgy of the Bulgarian Lutheran Church in Sofia and also participated I ordination of two new pastors of the BLC. President Karakostov and Bishop V'yacheslav have agreed to develop and deepen relations between two sister churches: BLC and ULC. Bulgarian Lutheran Church is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference.
Picture: After the liturgy in Sofia, Bulgaria. November 12, 2004. General Pastoral Conference of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church took place in Pushcha Vodytsia. Pastor Serhiy Zuev was presiding over the Conference. Dr. John Lawrenz, Rector of the Asia Lutheran Seminary in Hong Kong (China) delivered his excellent paper "Exploring Old Testament Foundations that Support Distinct Roles for Men and Women in Work, Worship, and their Walk Together." The paper caused a lively theological discussion among pastors of the Church.
November 10-11, 2004. The 13th Sobor of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church took place in Pushcha Vodytsia near Kyiv. Bishop V'yacheslav Horpyncuk was presiding over the Sobor. President Rolf Borszik of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Germany was among the guests of the meeting. Guests and delegates of the Sobor were greeted by Dr. Mykola Novychenko, the First Deputy to the Minister of Religious Affairs of Ukraine. Cordial greetings have also come from sister churches and Lutherans in Germany, United States, Russia, Belarus and Moldova. All the officials of the ULC, Heads of Eparchies and Church Committees, Rector David Jay Webber and leaders of different church ministries were delivering reports of their activities. Galician Eparchy was reporting of all their activities this year. Delegates of the Sobor have thanked God for His rich blessings on the ULC congregations in that Eparchy. The delegates have also praised the Lord for opening new doors to bring in the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Vice Bishop Andriy Honcharuk's esse "You are justified by faith through faith alone" was one of the highlights of the Sobor. Representatives of the "Thoughts of Faith" mission society took part in the work of the meeting. It was a special joy for the Sobor delegates to see Pastor Laper and his wife Lily. Pastor Laper who serves the Lord for 60 years already has been a true encouragement for the Ukrainian pastors. The festival worship service took place on November 10, when 4 new brothers were commissioned to be deacons of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. They were: Roman Andruntsiv, Brian Dirring, Mykola Lutskiy and Victor Khaustov. We wish brothers deacons to fruitfully and faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ!
November 9,
2004. The Synodical Council meeting took place in Kyiv. Bishop
V'yacheslav Horpynchuk was presiding over the meeting.
The Synodical Council discussed current matters from
the church life. The Synodical Council has accepted Vice Bishop
Honcharuk's request to stop fulfilling his pastoral duties in
the Lazarivka congregation, Ternopil Oblast. (Till now Vice
Bishop Andriy Honcharuj served two congregations: in Lazarivka
and in Kremenets, Ternopil Oblast). "Thoughts of Faith"
mission society and pastor Serhiy Borsch from Kharkiv have participated
in the Synodical Council meeting.. November 7, 2004. Bishop V'yacheslav Horpynchuk has visited the Ukrainian Lutheran congregation in Kherson. Pastor Oleh Stetsiuk conducts the ministry of the Word and Sacrament there. The Bishop has participated in the liturgy as well as he had sincere visits with parish members. Bishop Horpynchuk was also interviewed by a local TV station. Dr. Wayne Borgwardt and Mr. Thomas Conzelmann have accompanied Bishop Horpynchuk on his travel to Kherson. At the end of their visit both the guests from Kyiv and congregation members were able to enjoy a play about heroic work of Dr Luther to restore the Gospel in the Church. The play was performed by the congregation youth group.
Picture: During the liturgy in the congregation in Kherson. November 5-6, 2004. Seminars "Pastor's Family" and "Christian Family" took place in Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in Mykolaiv. Pastos of the Tavrian Eparchy and Mykolaiv congregation members participates in the seminars. The seminars were led by Dr. Wayne Borgwardt and Mr. Thomas Conzelmann.
Picture: During seminars. |
