THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH GRACE

CHRISTIAN NEWS

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25 May 2008 Grace UMC had its annual local church conference. The district superintendent was the conference chairman. Pastor's report for 2007/2008 is under translation at the moment.

Praying ministry leader Tatiana Venedictiva makes a report on a ministry.

Altar ministry leader Vladimir Frolkov/ Food program leader tells about  the program data

Tatiana Adamashvily reads a report on the United Methodist Women ministry/ Ekaterina Landorf (Children's ministry leader) tells about the program features of the Bible study with children.

Ekaterina Pugacheva with a report on church finances/ Natalia Adamashvily reads a Revision Comity report

Music ministry leader tells about the music direction of the Church work/ Alexey Landorf with a report on youth and Christian camps ministries.

St. Petersburg superintendent Andrei Kim  and a church Grace pastor Rauza Landorf  make a final speech for the church members.

On 18 may 2008 two people  became full members and a 2 became exploring members of our church. All four people grew up in the church, were brought up in its traditions having come to it in their childhood. And our community is glad that our youth is striving for becoming firm in faith and treat the spiritual questions seriously. Children's and youth ministries bring real fruits: the future of the church is in a new generation of youth leaders.

Lay leader of Grace UMC took part in General Conference of the United Methodist Church as a delegate in Fort Worth (USA) from 23 April 2008- 02 May 2008.

In April- May the church started preparation for the children's Christian camp of Summer 2008: every week leaders of the Youth ministry make seminars   on team work and the Bible foundation of evangelization work with children.

On 9 May church comers honored the memory of those who perished and were at II World War putting the flowers to Seraphimovsky memorial. Seraphimovsky memorial is one of the biggest burial places in Saint- Petersburg area.

On 27 April of 2008 we celebrated the Day of Christ's resurrection. According to our traditions it is one of the most loved, joyful and expected days in the life of our church. It is mostly a family worship service. This day we invite many guests, friends and relations of our church comers. Children and youth of the church prepared the recitation. These young people managed to show all drama and greatness of the last days of Christ. Their performance touched the hearts of everyone who had come that day. Children's choir sang Easter hymns which it had prepared with Grace musical leader. And according to Russian traditions people have brought Easter cakes and panted eggs for consecration.

In April of 2008 Rauza Landorf took part in recording of  the radio program about children's fates in Russia on Saint- Petersburg radio.

On 18 March the Woman's ministry of Grace UMC made the International Day of Prayer.

10- 14 March 2008 Woman's Ministry of Grace UMC traditionally took part in the World Day of Prayer- between confessional ministry which unites Christians in their prayers. This was especial time of praying and teaching fulfilled with personal praying meditation and common praying. The meetings devoted to the World Day of Prayer were kept in Lutheran church of Saint Peter in Saint- Petersburg.

Church comers - celebrations

01 February 2008 children and adults from Grace UMC visited the Primorets public organisation. This organization unites people who suffered the Leningrad blockade. Children made a presentation which included a concert, and the people who gathered to listen them there told about those days. Every body listened very carefully because many things about those days have started being forgotten or just were unknown to people living nowdays.

January 28, 2008 for the first time in our church  history there was held the wedding between the member of the church- Vladimir and Julia. The ceremony has passed in traditions of Methodist church. There were many visitors, including relatives of the groom and bride. Children and youth of the church have prepared congratulations: a play, poems, songs and draws.

Play 'Mission is impossible'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 27, 2008 we made a trip on the Ladoga lake to a memorial " the Broken off Ring ". During the Second World there was a unique site of territory around of besieged Leningrad, through which in city the foodstuffs was delivered. Never in a world history of wars there was such destruction full of cruelty to the peace population.
The Leningrad blockade was one of the heaviest tests which have dropped out on a share of the people. On the data of the document of 1945 prepared for the Nuremberg process, during blockade for famine 632 253people, 16 747 people killed by bombs and 33 782 men were wounded. Actually these data are underestimated. Over 300 thousand people have died during evacuation and per the first weeks after it. About 700 thousand defenders of city were lost in fights. To this horrifying figure it is necessary to add the majority of people, which could survive in extreme conditions. Almost all of them, with rare exception, have lost health and became the invalids. Practically in each family in modern St. Petersburg there are relatives who died in that blockade. Many children and grandchildren of people, who have survived blockade, suffer now by diseases, which are a consequence of terrible famine. Since September, 1941 till October 1943 on Leningrad was accomplished 258 air flights with participation 1876 planes, is reset 4676 demolition and 69 613 fire bombs. In the Leningrad blockade could survive more than 500 000 people.

Sight on the Ladoga lake, on which ice delivered the foodstuffs in Leningrad.
Transport was forwarded basically on night to be imperceptible for German planes. But, despite of it the most part of machines and cargo was destroyed and has sunk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The memorial 'A flower of life' is put in memory of children who died in blockade, as a symbol of the life which has survived death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 29, 2008 the children's chorus of church "Grace" has sang before people who suffered the blockade. The celebration was devoted to Day of memory of blockade. The spectators very warmly have apprehended this performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oleg (Center history teacher) and Anton making a poster on Leningrad blockade.

 

 

 

On 30th December 2007 Grace UMC celebrated Christmas. Over 50 people took part in this celebration. Many children's parents have come. Most of them are unbelievers or belong to orthodox Church but they accepted the good news very good through seeing what their children have prepared for them. Children and youth made a concert at which they sang traditional and new Christmas songs and also they showed a theatre play called "A coming of a new friend". It is very difficult to say NO to God who is speaking through your child to your heart.

The celebration finished with a common Christmas dinner and all children and adults got presents from the church.

09 December, 2007 there was especial worship service in church Grace which included communion. This service was the second Advent service in this year and had especial ceremony of lightning the candles and decorating the altar. Every Sunday a new family lights the candles and starts the ministry.

We also celebrated birthdays of people born in December

In the second half of November, 2007 Grace UMC pastor- Rauza Landorf and a lay leader- Alexey Landorf made a trip to the U.S.A. to take part in the Russian Initiative Consultations and visit a partner church in Houston, Texas (Saint Paul's United Methodist Church). At the Russian Initiative Consultations Grace UMC made a video presentation about the church and took part in consultations and discussions devoted to today situation in United Methodist churches in Russia. There also was a great possibility to meet many our dear brothers and sisters from the partner Saint Paul's United Methodist Church, Children's Methodist Home and from many other families, churches and ministries and spend a blessed time in a communication and worshiping God.

Alexey Landorf prays at the Russian Initiative Consultations  /  Meeting with pastor of the First United Methodist Church (Oklahoma) Darrell L.Cates (in the center)

Together with brothers and sisters from Saint Paul's United Methodist Church and Saint Mark's United Methodist Church

with Saint Paul's United Methodist Church Senior Pastor James Bankston / Visit to Children's Methodist Home (in the middle- Don Scott (Director of Boy's Ranch)

With brothers and sisters from Grace United Methodist church in Houston, Texas

Children's painting studio from Methodist's children's center Spring took part in the Art exhibition (made by Saint- Petersburg Art Union) devoted to Olympic Games and 2 children (Sasha, 11 years old and Alexey, 10) got diplomas. Their works were chosen to a number of those which will be exhibited in the International Art exhibition.

23 October, 2007 Children's choir from Grace UMC celebrated the Mother's Day and gave a concert for elderly people from the regional Day social center. It was a continuing of From Heart to Heart program.

28 October, 2007 GRACE UMC celebrated Thanksgiving Day. We devoted this day to our Lord giving Him gratitude for His blessings in 2007 year. This day many church comers thanked God for all He has done for them, it was a great testimony and support for all who was at the church. Children prepared a concert and a play for this day. The topic of the play was that what we get from God we should take it as a gift of grace with opened hearts. 

October 02, 2007 the children's chorus made a concert for people who suffered the Leningrad blockade during 1941-1944.

September 30, 2007 Grace UMC youth took part in annual football tournament devoted to the action 'Say to drugs no!" and took the 1st place.

At the end of August 2007 there was a seminar 'Know Your Bible' which was organized by a missionary from England. She started her ministry in the year of Kursk submarine destruction having supported greatly children of the lost sailors.
Course 'Know Your Bible' is focused on women's and mixed groups and is called to interest the church comers for God's Word self studying.

In the middle of August, 2007 the leader of the United Methodist Women North- Western Russia Tatiana Adamashvily, who is the member Grace UMC and Grace UMC pastor Rauza Landorf have took part in the annual women' seminar in Voronezh (South Russia). This year the theme of a seminar was called: Grace At a seminar Tatiana made the master- classes for the adult and children. The women had an opportunity for joint Bible study and pray, and also for evidence.

Since 16 July 2007 church GRACE was making 19- days children's gospel camp SPRING for children and teenagers

 from problem families. 41 children aged 8-15 took part in camp. 26 of them came to our camp for the first time.

Most of the children live in at-risk-families like big families, single-parent families, families where parents or children

are handicapped, poor families, orphans, whose parents have died, families where parents drink or use drugs.

This year camp program was called " You can be a lonely warrior". On Bible lessons studying the life experience

of such Bible heroes like Daniel, David, Tabitha,  Paul and Peter, children learnt to defend their Christian beliefs,

oppose the majority's opinion when it's mistaken and learnt to say "No" to temptations. The camp program

also included crafts (beads weaving, painting on wood and glass, burning on wood and sewing),

sport games, tourism program: making tented camp, fire-building and hiking, a range number of camp games,

champs on football and volleyball, music lessons, 5 time  meals a day and etc.

On 05 August there was a gospel fest for parents at which children showed Christian dramas and

sang Christian songs. We will continue to serve children who have been to our camp this year in

Methodist Children's Center of UMC GRACE. Serving to children in a camp was done

by 10 ministers of UMC GRACE and 5 helpers. Camp director: Alexey Landorf- UMC GRACE youth programs leader.

If you want to see the photos from camp 2007 click here.

On 30 June 2007 children's choir of GRACE UMC took part in a concert in St. Peter's Lutheran temple (St. Petersburg, Russia)

together with Choir of the United Methodist Church of Detroit Conference (USA). Choir of Detroit  sang spiritual songs in

classical and jazz style and spirituals. Choir of GRACE church (regent- Anna Pogodina) sang Methodist spiritual

songs of Russian and American composers in Russian and English including a song in jazz style.

 

24 May 2007 children's choir SPRING took part in a musical competition made by Saint- Petersburg UNESKO department.
Our choir successfully passed onto next tour and got a diploma.