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Love each other

Summer theologist Anna Kinnunen: This Sunday’s theme is the law of love; “Jesus Christ came to fulfill God’s will and command, not to depose them. On that score christians are to follow the law of love.” The theme highlights at the same time the duty of a christian to follow the laws God has placed and Jesus’ position as an executor of God’s will.  The gospel text’s third volume (Luke 6:27–31) depicts a scene where Jesus addresses his Disciples and urges them to treat their neighbors with love and good will. People should follow Jesus’ example and go out of their way to love their enemies and tormentors. At the end of the gospel text Jesus notes; “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This ethical guideline is surely very familiar to several from different contexts. The golden rule is at the center of many different religions’ ethical beliefs. As humans it might be easier to think that we should just treat other people kindly and as equals. However, Jesus goes further than th
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Summertime in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi church is open Summertime 2024 from May 27th until September 1st @9:00-21:00 when guide is on call. Priest is available Mon-Fri @11:00-14:00. Services start Wednesdays @18:00 and Sundays @10:00. Welcome to Summer Wednesdays Music Moments from June 5th until August 7th on Wed @13:00. On the cover of our church magazine: Rovaniemi parish’s mobile youth space, or Apostle’s Ride (Apostolinkyyti in Finnish) camper van performs important tasks. Operation Boot (Saapas in Finnish) and the parish’s youth workers meet young people, hand out water and fried sausages, for example, after school graduation ceremonies. Apostle’s Ride also visits youth at Norvajärvi camp and course center confirmation camps during the summer. During the semesters, Apostle’s Ride visits schools. (Magazine Cover Photo: Maija Hagberg) You are a miracle! Nine out of ten young people attend a confirmation school in Rovaniemi every year. It is an important stage on the way to adulthood and part of Finnish youth c
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Easter is the center of the church year and the most important celebration

Easter will be presented and described in the parish magazine this year based on short questions and answers. What is the meaning of Easter? Easter is the most important holiday of Christianity, which is celebrated for many days. At Easter, Christians celebrate Jesus who conquered death. Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. What happened at Easter? Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The women who came to Jesus’ tomb noticed that the tomb was empty. Jesus atoned for people’s sins with his death, defeated death and ascended to heaven. This is how salvation came to all Christians. What does Good Friday mean? Good Friday is a Christian holiday, during which we remember and mourn the death of Jesus. On Good Friday 2,000 years ago, religious and political leaders arrested Jesus because he was said to be the son of God and king of the Jews. Word Good means here also God and holy. What is celebrated on Maundy Thursday? Maundy Thursday is celebrated to commemorate th
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Shrovetide and Candlemass

If it snows on Shrove Sunday and the sun still shines on the same day, the following summer will be a good berry year. Photo: Rovaniemi parish archive. The sacrificial road of God’s love The name for Shrove Sunday and the period before Lent in Finnish is “laskiainen” which comes from the word “laskeutua”, “to descend”, referring to the descent into Lent. Soon begins the time for simple living and self-denial. The Latin name for this Sunday is esto mihi (=be my) which comes from the old antiphon of the day (Psalm 31:3). Shrovetide contains a lot of traditions such as sledding in Finland. In many southern countries there are carnivals before the start of Lent. The word “carnival” comes from the Latin “carnis levare” and means “to remove meat”. The period of Lent begins after Shrove Tuesday on Ash Wednesday. The name for this day comes from Biblical descriptions of repentance and betterment: dressing in sackcloth and spreading ash on one’s head. In mass on Ash Wednesday, the priest may ma
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4th Christmas day, Innocent Children's Day

Kati Jansa, chaplain An old Finnish legend tells about Mary, Joseph and a newborn child who have to flee from soldiers. The background of the legend is the story of the holy family's escape to Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew, when King Herod threatened to kill all the little boys (Matthew 2:13-21). The holy family's escape from Bethlehem to a safe place took place on rocky mountain roads, and in the middle of green olive groves, but the old Finnish storytellers had not seen this landscape and could not imagine it. That's why they told the story in the landscape that they themselves knew well. So Mary, Joseph and the newborn Jesus had to flee. In the middle of the dark, wintery forest they were afraid of their pursuers. The journey had already been very long, and the soldiers' voices were getting closer behind them all the time. Mary and Joseph carried Jesus, their breath was hazy in the cold and they were tired. Then the baby Jesus burst into speech and said: "Let&#
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Advent and Christmas Time in Rovaniemi - Welcome to the church and parish events!

The nativity scene is at Lordi’s Square (Maakuntakatu 29-31) and you can also watch it on the webcam: bit.ly/3QCSQRO The Rovaniemi church is open daily from November 29, 2023 to January 7, 2024 from 9:00 to 21:00. Welcome! A guide is present every day and priests are on call from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 14:00 as well as during church services: Wednesdays from 18:00 and Sundays from 10:00.  If it’s cold outside please come into church and buy hot cup of coffee - only 2€ (for supporting parish missionary work). The International Greatest Christmas Carols event will be held on December 22 at 20:00 in the church. You can also follow along at the Rovaniemi parish in social media! Wed 6.12. @10:00 Finland’s Independence Day Service (also online: bit.ly/3MYtUDc) & 16:00 Independence Day Concert in church (also online: bit.ly/3MYtUDc) Greatest Christmas Carols will also be sung at University of University of Lapland Restaurant Petronella Fri 1th December 18:00, Applied Sciences Cafe
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Family, Michaelmas and All Saints’ Day

Family is at the center of God’s plan for the happiness and progress of His children. The Holy Bible teaches that God established families from the very beginning, and it shows us many examples of strong families. It also teaches us how to have a loving, happy family. And Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. To say that we are a church family implies the significant spiritual bond between believers, and the way we walk with one another through life, encouraging, supporting, and loving each other. Communion of Saints - All Saints’ Day (festum omnium sanctorum) is celebrated on 1st November and All Souls’ Day (commemoratio omnium fidelium defenctorum) is celebrated this year on 4th November. This means that we remember all Christian martyrs as well as others who have died with faith in Christ. During these days, we remember holy people, but the word ‘holy’ does not only refer to the dead.
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