Summer services

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Summer services (in Finnish, suviseurat, Swedish: sommarmötet, Russian: Большое Летнее Собрание) 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.

[edit] Suviseurat in Finland

Summer services flag row

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 attended by approximately 70,000 visitors from Finland, Sweden, Norway, USA and Canada.

Big tent, where sermons are held

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 area is over 110 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.

[edit] Summer services in North America

Summer services in North America are arranged by members of the Laestadian Lutheran Church.

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.