Lent in the Ukrainian Lutheran Church

We follow Julian Calendar therefore we have entered Lent today. As our brothers in the West begin their celebrations with Ash Wednesday we begin our celebrations of Lent with Repentance Wednesday. Most Ukrainians believe in spiritual usefulness of fasting which consists of avoiding meats and other fats of animal origin. Any violation of such a fasting is often considered as a sin.  This challenges us, as confessional Lutherans, to respond that even though fasting can be a good preparation (and  preparation only) for the Day of the Lord, it is only the Means of Grace that renews our zeal in faith and life, brings us forgiveness, peace with God and life eternal. Nothing else can do it. In Lent we paraphraze ad fontes - in repentance to the healing sources of the Word and the Sacrament, and from there let us run to all the needy with bread of wheat  and with Bread of Life! (Isaiah 58:5-12).

Kyiv Land Issue Resolved

Ukrainian Lutheran Church has received the State Certificate on Continual Land Use in Kyiv. The City Administrator, Mr. Olexandr Popov has kept his word and in a few days after the City Church Council meeting the documents were issued to our church body. It means that the land we have been rented for years is transfered into the ULC for free of charge use. It also means that we can proceed with construction now. We thank the Lord for Mr. Popov and his City government officials.  Especially we thank the Lord for our brothers from the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod who by suppport of our church body in this project made this day possible. May the Lord continue to bless all of you richly! We also ask your prayers and any possible support for our church construction project in Kyiv.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Very Cold Weather

     We have been struggling with a very cold weather for almost three weeks. Lots of snow  and especially very low temperatures. Black Sea near its northern shores, including the Crimea, froze (I cannot recollect such news in my life), the Danube River is covered with ice, the frozen Strait of Kerch  captivated ships and emergency teams had to save ships crew members, almost 150 people froze to death in Ukraine.

      It has been a very difficult time for our congregations as well - to keep our church building warm so that the Word could be continued to be preached and Sacraments administered publicly. It has been a challenge.  Our special thanks go to the Rev. Neal Schroeder who founded the Barnabas Project and to those people who donate to it. Your love literally warmed Ukrainian Lutherans!  May the Lord continue to bless all of you!