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It has been good to see that so many are participating in the Sunday Service. Our average Sunday attendance is approximately 22 and this compares well with summer Sundays before the pandemic. It is less than before but definitely more than we expected!
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If you planning to attend the Eucharist this Sunday, you will find that the order of service has been re-edited by Sarah. This is very much a work-in-progress where we wish to find a right layout for the order of service. Those who attend the service regularly might not need the order of service at all – they know it by heart. But for many visitors and newcomers it a great help. The order of service is a tool for mission: it helps us to communicate the purpose of the service and message of the Gospels to those who are less used to the service. If you wish to comment on the layout, please contact Sarah.
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The Convocations of Canterbury and York (clergy members of the General Synod of the Church of England) met on Thursday, 1st July 2021 to discuss two matters. The first was about clergy remuneration (the level of pay, accommodation etc). The second was a proposal from the anti-racism task force to ask if the General Synod should co-opt 10 UKME/GMH candidates – 5 Clergy and 5 Lay – to serve as members of the General Synod for the 2021- 2026. UKME is an acronym for United Kingdom Minority Ethnic and GMH for Global Majority Heritage. This is something for the new General Synod to decide when it meets in November 2021.
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I was to travel to London for the General Synod meeting from 9th to 13th July. The situation has since changed and the Synod will meet online. I shall be answering e-mails on those days and will preside at the Eucharist in Mikael Agricola Church on Sunday 11th July.
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Last Sunday’s outdoor service was lovely and we are considering a repeat of it at some point. We had our first baptism of the year on Monday; congratulations and many blessings to Rahel and her family.
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SERVICES
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All of our Services can be viewed live on Facebook, or you can click this link to
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SUNDAY 4th JULY - 5th SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
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10am Eucharist in Mikael Agricola
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Followed by American style refreshments in the courtyard!
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We need volunteers each week for our Sunday Services. Please sign up here: Sign-up Rotas
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(Alternatively you can email Sarah at office@anglican.fi)
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NEWS
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As a multicultural and international congregation we are keen to celebrate the days which are special to you! This Sunday is American Independence Day and we are grateful to Arne and Lara for their 4th July themed contributions to our newsletter. We are planning to have American style refreshments in the courtyard after the service on Sunday to celebrate with our American friends- if anyone would like to bring some additional cookies/chocolate brownies etc then that would be lovely.
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4th July - American Independence Day
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Ah-h , the 4th of July! The epitome of American summer holidays. As I think about what sorts of things to write about, many thoughts go through my mind. For most it is a time of partying. A time when many have a day off from work and just look forward to enjoying themselves with their families. Of course, for many retail shop workers, it is a chance to ring up more sales on the register!
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When I think back on my life, many memorable “4ths” stand out. I think that the number one thing is the fireworks. As a child, the type of fireworks that one could get their parents to buy was utmost. Always there were sparklers and “snakes” (when lit would form a growing worm of ash) There also were pinwheels, and various volcano tubes that would create fountains of sparkling fire. It really depended upon how much money your parents were willing to spend. Sky rockets , and roman candles were very pricey, so they were usually not part of our family celebration. In the 1960’s there was not much worry about causing unwanted fires. It was always a shock to find that careless folks had caused a house or wildlands fire. In the modern era, most municipalities have banned private use.
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After a traditional grilled, and outdoor picnicl; usually around 21:00 in So. California, we would go to a sponsored celebration featuring professional, commercial sky rockets. I can remember one at the local country club golf course, sitting on blankets and oo-oh-ing and ah-h-ing with our neighbors. Usually it was a 15 minute display. In Pasadena (my hometown) at the “World famous Rosebowl” there was an absolutely stupendous display . Many bursts of varying color would fill the sky, and on the field there would be large racks erected (maybe 10 meters by 3 meters) full of shooting tubes and many spinning firewheels. This event required a paid admission, but the overhead star bursts could be enjoyed from outside along the edge of the arroyo.
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As an adult the events of the day moved away from family affairs to “partying” with friends. The day was spent at the beach (usually) and then it was off to a location where we could view a sponsored display. They were usually put on by a city, or in my current hometown of Oceanside, by the U.S.Marines at Camp Pendleton. Where they were shot over their small craft harbor. In Oceanside, for many years, the city would anchor a barge just off the main beach and shoot the rockets over the ocean. One year a surfing buddy and I decided that we would paddle our boards out into the ocean and sit right next to the barge during the display. It was one of my most memorable; at night, sitting in the unfathomable sea (trying not to think of what might be swimming underneath) and seeing the “bombs bursting in air” with reflections on the water. The hiss of bomb ashes as they fell into the water around us. We topped it off by catching waves back into the shore! An interesting side to this particular story is that the first year we paddled out, my buddy and I were alone - the second year about a dozen others joined us - the third year there were 2 - 3 dozen; and the following year after that the lifeguards patrolled in boats just past the surf line preventing anyone from getting anywhere near the barge!
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“Oh say can you see - by the dawn’s early light…….and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air” from the American Nat’l Anthem - the 4th of July is also a time of patriotism and pride in the U.S. Many towns have parades featuring marching bands and service men in uniform. The parades come early in the day followed by picnics outdoors and finally the sky rockets bursting overhead! A very interesting film (albeit an anti-war effort) was produced in 1989 by Oliver Stone, called “Born on the 4th of July.” It follows 20 years in the life of one man, depicting his youth in a small town, and then his participation in the Vietnam conflict, and subsequent disappointment with the political direction of American foreign policy.
“O say does that star spangled banner yet wave” Arne Laitinen
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Thank you to Lara McCoy for sending in these
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4th July American Recipes!
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Americans typically celebrate Independence Day, the 4th of July, by having a cookout with friend and family and setting off fireworks. Traditionally foods are hamburgers and hot dogs from the grill, along with side dishes like corn and potato salad. Unlike Finnish potato salad, American potato salad is mayonnaise-based.
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Here is a recipe for American-style potato salad and my specialty, cheesecake bars, which are great with strawberries. For the 4th of July, I usually top them with blueberries and strawberries to make an American flag pattern. Both of these dishes can be made in advance, and actually are even better made the day before.
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750 grams baking potatoes
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1/4 cup sweet pickles, diced
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chopped1/3 cup mayonnaise
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2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
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Method: Cook potatoes in boiling water 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender; drain and cool completely. Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Combine potatoes, onion, celery, relish, and eggs in a large bowl. Combine mayonnaise and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Pour over the potato mixture, tossing gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
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1 large box of graham cookies
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1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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Method: Line a 9x13” pan with foil. Preheat oven to 175 degrees.
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Grind up cookies in a food processor or crush them until they are fine crumbs.
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Place in a bowl and stir in cinnamon and melted butter
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Beat cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla with a mixer.
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Pour cream cheese mixture over hot crust.
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Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Cool to room temperature and then put in refrigerator at least three hours or overnight before cutting.
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Top with berries or berry sauce if desired.
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If you have a recipe you would be willing to share then please email it to Sarah at office@anglican.fi.
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The latest Green fingered tips from Peter Knight...
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Oops! Last night saw the end of half the year. Hope you enjoyed it and used it well! Now don't panic and remember to give time to have fun and yes enjoy your garden, mökki and balcony.
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Reminds me of an amusing incident from British history. Now I'm not talking about Brexit, which for most of us here is regrettable and not very amusing! No I'm taking you back to Sept.1752 when Britain decided to quit the Julian Calendar invented by Julius Caesar nearly eighteen centuries before. Why? There was a wee error which made each year too short which meant that by 1752 Britain was 11 days behind most nations who were by then using the Gregorian Calendar (named after Pope Gregory XVIII). A brisk move from Sept 2nd overnight to Sept 14th proved nearly fatal for the incompetent lazy somnolent Pelham administration with angry crowds very bitter about the imagined loss of eleven days of their lives!! Please forgive the digression. Imagine what you can do in your garden in eleven days!
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Water. As ever a vital issue. It was delightful to get 7mm sweet rainfall yesterday but we must maintain our vigilance! Late evening irrigation gives the opportunity for prolonged uptake and less evaporation. Limitation of your SMD...remember him your soil moisture deficit? Watch the expected wind speeds on your mobile devices. A few sensitive veg and fruit crops can suffer fungal diseases if foliage is continuously moist. If a minimum of 3m/s is predicted overnight then all crops can be irrigated the preceding evening. If less than 3m/s strawberries and potatoes prefer a morning dose for differing reasons.
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Potatoes. Unfortunately Potato blight/perunaruto is very prevalent in Finland and can spread rapidly in moist conditions. I don't even consider any chemical deterrents. I try to water them early morning and water at ground level. Inevitably most years by August blight still appears in the upper foliage. Before long it spreads to the whole plant so to be safe I gently pull out the plant haulm leaving just the tubers safe in the ground. By June you will have 'ridged up' your potato rows to prevent light reaching the tubers and turning the skin green and poisonous. Infact two 'ridgings' is very good. But if space is short and you use a row width of 55cms(like me) a second ridging is near impossible. Instead I toss loads of pine needles and shreddings on the rows. When best to water? Interestingly research has shown that potatoes have a definite moisture sensitive period(MSP) called the 'tuber marble stage' which means they respond well to irrigation (i.e.now) when the tubers are about the size of those toy marbles we used to play with! Seriously it's true! I'm not losing my marbles...yet!
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Strawberries. The problem here is Botrytis cinerea/harmaahome. What happens is that with floral fertilisation completed the petals/terälehdet drop away but leave a small open scar through which the fungal pathogen can enter the nascent fruit and develop IF weather conditions stay damp. Hence in the 1980s and 1990s as commercial growers we all applied a substance called Benlate(benomyl) to seal the scars and it worked. However I stopped spraying altogether after three seasons with no noticeable loss of yield. Best trick was after picking daytime I irrigated that evening and the plant foliage was dry for the night. Always remember that strawberries are much tastier if you don't pick them after watering. Pick and then water!
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Here is one final watering trick! I lived on Hayling Island in Sussex through the (in)famous British drought of 1976 and tried to save my merchant seaman landlord's garden...which included some exotic shrubs...by applying water using perforated submerged lemonade bottles strategically sited and filled with bathwater and 10%pee.
So have green fun! Best wishes Peter K
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Annual Chaplaincy Meeting - Sunday 29th August 2021
If you wish to propose someone for one of the lay roles in our Chaplaincy then now is the time to encourage them before our ACM! You can pick up a form at the back of church or download it from the website and, if the person you wish to stand agrees then you can sign the section which requires them to have a 'Proposer'. The completed forms can be handed back to Rebecca at the entrance, or to the Churchwardens. We also have a new leaflet at the back of Church, giving an overview of the lay roles which are so vital to the life of the Chaplaincy!
Please remember that in order to stand for election or to vote at the meeting you need to be on the Electoral Roll. If you added your name to the electoral roll back in 2019 then you don't need to put your name down again until 2025, but if you are unsure or would like to check then please don't hesitate to get in touch with Sarah in the office.
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To be added to the Electoral Roll and/or to stand for one of our lay roles then please fill out the relevant form and return it before the ACM. You can now pick up nomination and electoral roll forms at the back of Church or download them from our website: https://www.anglican.fi/registration-forms/
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Sunday School & Youth Group
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Sunday School and Youth Group are on Summer break
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We resume in August in the Church crypt
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Choir
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The choir is now on Summer break, returning on August 1st. We look forward to our full choir returning in the Autumn, as and when members feel safe to join.
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COVID guidelines
when coming to worship at St Nicholas
- Before entering the Church, please use the hand disinfectant provided or wash your hands in the bathrooms.
- All those joining in worship (clergy and laity) should wear a face mask to reduce transfer of respiratory droplets into the environment. Those who have a formal part in the liturgy (presiding, preaching, reading, interceding) may remove their face mask when they are actually speaking. Please be careful where masks are placed to avoid cross-contamination. Face masks are available at the entrance.
- The Vergers are here to ensure your safety and those of other members of the congregation by overseeing the seating arrangements and providing guidance during the service. They will ask you for a phone number when you arrive at Church, this is for purely for contact tracing.
- The seating arrangements have been planned to ensure that a two-metre distance is maintained. If you are here with your family or individuals who live with you in the same household, you are welcome to sit together.
- Should you feel the need to cough or sneeze, please use a tissue. Used tissues can be disposed of in the bin at the entrance. It is recommended that each individual or each family carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
- At the Peace, please maintain a safe distance from other members of the congregation. The sign itself can take the form of a wave or smile instead of shaking hands.
- Holy Communion will be administered in the form of the wafer only. The wafer will be administered by the Chaplain and you will be guided at this point in the service by the Vergers. If you wish to receive Holy Communion then please extend your hands, with face covering in place. You may lower or unloop your face mask to consume the consecrated bread and then replace the face mask before moving back to your place in the congregation.
- The Vergers will ensure that safe distancing is maintained when leaving the Church, please wait for their signal that it is safe to leave.
- Contactless giving is available at the entrance/exit. Offerings can also be placed in a basket at the exit when leaving the service.
- Please note that there is no post-service gathering for tea and fellowship in the Crypt.
- Online Sunday School finishes on 30th May and resumes in early August. At this point we are not permitted to hold Sunday School in the crypt.
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Those with symptoms of Covid-19 or other respiratory or flu-like illness, or an elevated temperature, or who are particularly vulnerable to infection should not attend public services, but join our online worship.
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SAVE THE DATE!
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Back to School All-Age Service
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Annual Chaplaincy Meeting after the service
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SUPPORTING US
In these difficult times your continued support is greatly appreciated and if possible we would ask you to consider donating towards our ongoing costs by clicking here to be directed to our easy Donate buttons or by means of a bank transfer using the details below:
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Suomen Anglikaaninen Kirkko (The Anglican Church in Finland)
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IBAN: F173 3131 1000 3282 07
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PRAY WITH US
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send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit,
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and kindle in all who minister the gospel
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your countless gifts of grace,
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through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Church of England: Diocese of St Albans, Bishop Alan Smith, Bishop Richard Atkinson,
Bishop Michael Beasley
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Church of Sweden: Diocese of Linköping, Bishop Martin Modéus
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Father Tuomas Mäkipää (050-3099132)
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[Please use the contact emails provided]
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