Turku
Finland
Mission from the West began in the 11th century. In 1155, the English-born Bishop from Uppsala came to the Turku area and was martyred there a year later. Early in the 13th century, another English-born Bishop Thomas, established the diocese of Turku. In the 16th century Sweden's break with Rome and the introduction of the Lutheran Reformation affected Finland as well.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is organized on an episcopal-synodical basis.
Plans for Reformation 500:
Year 2016:
From autumn 2016 until spring 2017 there will be a project in co-operation with the Finnish National Board of Education. The goal is to strengthen the awareness on the reformation and the influence it has had and has in Finnish cultural models and society.
- October 16th Ecumenical worship service in Turku Cathedral and scientific seminar in Turku.
- November 27th: (1st Sunday of Advent): A new Hymnal supplement will be put to use in every congregation.
Year 2017:
- January 18th – 25th: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
- April 9th: New, digital and ecumenical translation of Gospel of Mark will be published. The idea is to do a translation that is readable with mobile devices. Finnish Bible Society is the main producer in this project.
- May 19th – 21th: Music Festival of the Church in Helsinki.
- May 19th – 21th: Ecumenical Church Day (Finnish “Kirchentag”) in Turku.
- May 25th: Feast of the Ascension. Local (possibly outdoor) happenings in every parish. Idea is to have feast everywhere at the same time. In the morning there will be masses and services. At 12 o’clock church bells will be calling everyone to take part in feast. Every local community will find it’s own way to celebrate. Booklet will published to give ideas ant hints. Eating and singing together and planting apple trees are possible themes.
- June: Naantali Music Festival (week 23 or 24, TBC), the premiere of a new passion work by Mr. Olli Kortekangas.
- July: SuomiAreena, an innovative public debate forum, in Pori in co-operation with MTV3 media house. ELCF will be one of the main producers in co-operation with Finnish Government.
- Autumn 2017: New theses will be produced in every congregation in co-operation with schools, municipalities & NGO:s. Theses will be written under the title: “Together – Grace leaves no one alone”. Everyone is given an opportunity to write one’s these. One can write, draw or take a photo – or something completely different. There will be a way to make a these in internet.
- From October 31th to November 5th: The Reformation theme week.
- October 31th: Theses will be published.
- November 5th: (Reformation day in liturgical year of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland)
- December 6th: 100th anniversary of independence.
