Pastoral Conference in Kyiv

March 23. Pastoral Conference of the Kyivan Eparchy (District) was held in Kyiv. Pastors from different congregations of  northern, central and eastern cities of Ukraine have gathered in Kyiv at the ULC Office. The Conference has begun with devotion of Pastor Vadym Kolesnyk, ULC Missionary to Cherkasy. Pastor of Malyn Lutheran Church has presented an essay Transplantation of Human Body Parts After Death: pros or contras?  After discussing the essay, pastors have decided to request ULC Doctrinal Committee to form a special statement on the issue of transplantology which is being discussed quite actively in the Ukranian society.   After that pastors have shared news from their parishes and their ministry experience. The Conference was closed late in the evening by prayer of Pastor Vadym Zinchenko, Head of the Kyivan Eparchy.

Picture: Pastor Dmytro Didkivski presenting his essay.

Murder Threats

Numerous murder threats were received by our parishioner from All Saints Lutheran Church in Kharkiv, Ms. Zhanna Tytarenko. Sister Zhanna is a journalist working for the "Spravzhnia Varta (True Watchmen)" internet newspaper in the eastern Ukraine. Recently she was making journalist investigations regarding secret dissapearence of people, possible tortures in Kharkiv police departments, and other violence crimes. More can be read here (in Ukrainian): http://varta.kharkov.ua/authors/titarenko/1091040.html
Please keep our sister in your prayers. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble".  God says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me". (Psalms 46:1 and 50:15).

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Due to the Julian Calendar the Ukrainian Lutheran Church begins to celebrate Christmas on January 6.  To those of you who begin to celebrate our Savior's birthday today - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  May the Lord Incarnate continue to gather you around the Cradle of the Church - His Word and Sacraments!

 

Prayer Request

We have very snowy and frosty winter (I think they call it 'global warming').  It means that in many parts of our country some roads are totally closed and some are very difficult to drive on because of  snowdrifts.  There have been a few days of rather calm weather in a row but today it is snowing again.  Since our pastors believe they should deliver food of the Holy Gospel to their sheep every Lord's Day despite of any weather conditions, could you pray about their safe travels in Ukraine tomorrow, please? A picture is from our pastor from Malyn and Radomyshl, Rev. Dmytro Didkivskiy.  He wrote if not police patroling the area he and a dozen of other drivers would have to spend a day or so in snowdrifts and on a road with fallen trees.  Thank you for your prayers and have a blessed day of the Lord tomorrow!