Gifts to the abandoned children

In June we have visited Children city hospital and have brought the gifts there. Toys, sandals, disposable diapers, pencils etc. were bought for money collected at the Easter fair. This stuff we specially designated for babies without parents, who are treated or rehabilitated there. There are abandoned kids among them, that is, kids, who were left by their moms in maternity hospital. There are babies, whom mothers didn’t refuse, but cannot take care for them for now. There are babies who were taken away from problem families by welfare officers.

Natalia Leonova, the chief doctor of this hospital, told us that they had three-tear kids, who did not know, what is spoon, what is soup. Apparently, they were fed by inappropriate food at homes, so they could not eat soup at their threes.

Doctor Leonova (on the picture) explained why they asked us to buy those particular things: “Now the city is funding our hospital quite well. But still this budget does not include expenses on shoes, as kids supposed to be inside. But we want to take them outside, so that they can play at the playground, in sandbox. The same situation is with toys. They are not in the budget, but kids need to play and learn. Something is different with diapers. We can buy them for money designated for different sorts of medicine, but you understand, that medication is more important that diapers.”

Again it was a great pleasure to visit this hospital, to meet doctors, nurses, and volunteers helping to care for children and teaching them. It is obvious that all stuff care about babies, they want to create the best conditions for their treatment, rehabilitation, and living. And because they care, they are so grateful for any help. I’m glad to have a tradition of charity Easter fair in our parish. It is not just fun, or social time. We provide a real, though small, help. Children’s staying in the hospital becomes little bit better, funnier, more home-like due to equipment, toys, cloth and shoes we bring there. When I see kids there, it is clear that they are cared for very well. They smile, they play. It is very good that we can make the work of doctors, nurses, and volunteers easier. And also I’m glad that kids of our parish participate in the fair. They learn to care about neighbor (even if he or she is not so close to you), they learn to be selfless.

(For some legal reasons it is not possible to publish photos of children in the hospital. It’s a pity. They are cute.)

Priestly pectoral cross was given to Andrey Lipnitsky

On the fourth Sunday after Easter Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin gave a priestly pectoral cross to Andrey Lipnitsky. Bishop said:

Brothers and sisters, today I give priestly pectoral cross to father Andrey, a pastor in our parish. At the ordination we couldn’t give it to him. The reason was simple: at that time we ran short of the crosses. When we were a part of the Estonian church, we received priestly crosses from there. But now we needed time to find, where those crosses could be produced in Russia.

According to our church tradition all priests are to wear identical crosses. It is one of the signs of the unity of the church, alongside with the same liturgy in different parishes of SELC.

This cross is a mark of our ministry and a sign that a cross of faithful preaching of God’s Word, Law and Gospel, and administer salvific sacraments.

Please, pray for father Andrey and for other pastors, give heed to them and help them.”

Easter charity fair

Easter charity fair became a tradition of our parish since 2004. After the service everybody go upstairs in the big room, where the sale is organized. During the Lent parishioners make different things by themselves for this fair. We explain to them that it is one of the ways to hold fast properly. The fast could not be only a diet, but we should devote ourselves to liturgy, Scripture, prayer and deeds of mercy. When we spend our time and money for preparing things for this sale, we give to needy people. Last few years collected money go to a hospital, where new-born babies left by their parents live.

At the fair we see each other from unexpected side. One turns to be a good cook, making delicious cupcakes or pirogi. Another one can make nice knitted dolls. The third one makes a beautiful photographs.

Last years we bought some equipment for that hospital (like heaters, air-sterilizing devices, baby cots and cribs etc.). This year the hospital administration asked us to buy cloth, shoes, diapers.

Easter service, confirmation

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

This year Easter service at St. Andrew was lead by bishop Vsevolod Lytkin. Often he is absent in Novosibirsk because he tries to visit other parishes of our church as frequently as possible. About one hundred communicants attended the service plus a lot of our friends and relatives. So, we had a full nave.

Two people were confirmed at this service — young man named Maron and lady named Nelli. It goes along with tradition of the ancient church, where baptism was conducted at the Easter vigil. At the day of resurrection of the Lord His new disciples were resurrected also. Though we do not reserve only Easter for baptism and confirmation, we try to coincide it with this great celebration.

Fourth concert by Insula Magica

In the evening of the last Sunday, April, 3d, the fourth concert of Insula Magica took place in our church building. With this performance they finished the cycle named “European spiritual music”. Especially fitting to church nave was a part from Schütz’s Kleine geistliche Konzerte . Musicians performed Wir gläuben all an einen Gott based on Luther’s hymn. For the next “concert season” ensemble plans five performances in our church.

Blessing of a reader.

On the second Sunday in Lent bishop Vsevolod Lytkin blessed Vladimir Gordeev to serve as a “reader” in our parish. Vladimir is fourth year student of Lutheran Theological Seminary (Novosibirsk), member of SELC from the town Shadrinsk.
Sometimes we call “readers” also “sub-deacons”. They help at Divine liturgy (mostly by reading the Scripture), they conduct morning and evening prayers. Thus, they role is “liturgical”, so we want seminarians to be in this service.

Studying the Catechism

On the last Sunday before the Lent four kids in our congregation received “certificates” (we call them “diplomas”) for the knowing Ten Commandments. They didn't learn Luther's explanations yet, but I'm sure they'll do. The fact is that most of the parents in our congregation are Lutherans in the first generation. It means they were not taught the Catechism, they didn't pray when they were children and so on. So, we, as parents, first need to get used to teach our kids the Catechism. I do hope that for those young people who grew up in our church it will be more natural to bring their children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”