Summer services
Encyclopedia
Summer services is the annual meeting of the Finnish Lutheran movement known as Conservative Laestadians
. In addition to the primary Finnish gathering, similar meetings are arranged in North America, Sweden and Russia.
Summer services (Finnish: Suviseurat) is a large gathering of Laestadians in Finland
. The event occurs every year at the end of June. It is organized and hosted by a Finnish Conservative Laestadianism
association known as the Suomen rauhanyhdistysten keskusyhdistys (SRK). Summer services are among the most visited Finnish summer festivals and the largest spiritual meeting. Summer services are attended by approximately 70,000 visitors from Finland, Sweden
, Norway
, USA and Canada
. With 70,000 visitors, it is the sixth biggest festival in Finland.
Summer services take place over the course of four days, usually a Friday through Monday. The program consist mainly of sermons, hymns and songs of Zion. The Summer services areas is about 100 hectares (270 acres). The size of the event requires the need for loudspeakers to carry sermons to all of the listeners. On Saturday Holy Communion is offered and in the evening there is a presentation which is mainly for younger listeners.
There is also a gathering for pastors that occurs during the Summer services.
The Summer Services take place in a different location every year. In the year 2004, it was held in the town of Nivala
and in 2005 in Perho
. In 2006 they were held in Sotkamo
and they were the 98th summer services. Services were held in Oulu
for the first time in 1906.
Recently, sermons have been broadcasted via the Internet into many languages.
.
They take place every year during the first weekend of July. They are mostly attended by American and Canadian guests, but some guests come from Finland
, Ecuador
, Togo
, and elsewhere.
The service schedule consists of devotional speeches and Songs and Hymns of Zion. The purpose of the services is to invite all people to hear the Word of God. The core of the proclamation is the message of Jesus as the redeemer of sins and the call to repentance.
Conservative Laestadianism
Conservative Laestadianism is a Lutheran revival movement and the biggest branch of Laestadianism. It has spread to 16 countries. There are about 90,000 – 110,000 Conservative Laestadians in the world, most of them in Finland and Scandinavia...
. In addition to the primary Finnish gathering, similar meetings are arranged in North America, Sweden and Russia.
Suviseurat in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The event occurs every year at the end of June. It is organized and hosted by a Finnish Conservative Laestadianism
Conservative Laestadianism
Conservative Laestadianism is a Lutheran revival movement and the biggest branch of Laestadianism. It has spread to 16 countries. There are about 90,000 – 110,000 Conservative Laestadians in the world, most of them in Finland and Scandinavia...
association known as the Suomen rauhanyhdistysten keskusyhdistys (SRK). Summer services are among the most visited Finnish summer festivals and the largest spiritual meeting. Summer services are attended by approximately 70,000 visitors from Finland, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. With 70,000 visitors, it is the sixth biggest festival in Finland.
There is also a gathering for pastors that occurs during the Summer services.
The Summer Services take place in a different location every year. In the year 2004, it was held in the town of Nivala
Nivala
Nivala is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
and in 2005 in Perho
Perho
Perho is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
. In 2006 they were held in Sotkamo
Sotkamo
Sotkamo is a municipality of Finland, located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .Vuokatti, west of Sotkamo, is a popular skiing resort...
and they were the 98th summer services. Services were held in Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
for the first time in 1906.
Recently, sermons have been broadcasted via the Internet into many languages.
Summer services in North America
Summer services in North America are arranged by members of the Laestadian Lutheran ChurchLaestadian Lutheran Church
The Laestadian Lutheran Church is a religious Christian movement, its teachings based on the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions. From June 9, 1973, the organisation was name the Association of American Laestadian Congregations , before the association changed its name in 1994 in order better to...
.
They take place every year during the first weekend of July. They are mostly attended by American and Canadian guests, but some guests come from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, and elsewhere.
The service schedule consists of devotional speeches and Songs and Hymns of Zion. The purpose of the services is to invite all people to hear the Word of God. The core of the proclamation is the message of Jesus as the redeemer of sins and the call to repentance.