Current Events
Most of the letters to the early volunteers mailed
Volunteers who have signed up for work shifts will receive confirmation by mail. Of the 7300 summer service work slots, 5500 confirmation slips have been mailed. Each slip or letter contains important information about the specific task so it is wise to take with you when reporting for your duty. The letter confirms the assignment, describes the work and its responsibilities, and states where and when to report yourself.
Saturday evening, on May 19th, the Lappeenranta Rauhanyhdistys had a special work bee to mail all of the confirmation slips. There were about 20 youth gathered there to stuff the slips into envelopes. The work bee lasted three hours. Songs of Zion played in the background, making the work more pleasant and in the company of other believing friends. These diligent workers were treated with pizza and soda pop after the task was completed.
Volunteers are recruited yet before the summer service begin. Even you can participate by indicating your interest. Just email to tyovoima@suviseurat.fi or report to the volunteer work booth at the service site.
When reporting by email, please be sure provide your personal contact information, work preference and when you are available!
Summer service bulletin - Volunteer work committee
30.5.2007
Latest news bulletins
- Most of the letters to the early volunteers mailed (30.5.2007)
- Work bees in full speed at the service site (5.5.2007)
- Summer service media team attending a training course (20.3.2007)
- Summer service preparations have been progressing as planned (20.1.2007)
- Volunteer group leaders briefed with information at the Helsinki r.y., Association of Peace (20.1.2007)
Work bees in full speed at the service site
Selänpää airport and its surroundings will change appearance rather quickly at this pace. Cruising through the terrain are dozens of volunteers. Some are constructing the temporary buildings, others cleaning and clearing brush to better accommodate the service guests.
"Work bees will operate every weekday from 3 p.m. and on Saturdays from early morning through the day. Sundays and Sabbath holidays are days of rest for the volunteer workers too", says field master Jari Ikonen. To assure smooth operations, lead, and provide guidance at the service site are two field masters; Jari Ikonen and Lauri Oksa.
"Arriving volunteers should report to their congregation's recruiters how many are coming and when they will be working. The recruiter will inform the field master. To assure ample food and coffee and to plan what tasks to tackle, it is important to be notified in advance", Jari Ikonen simplifies. Food and coffee are provided for all volunteers every day.
"Flying and gliding at the airport will continue as normal. One must especially note that no one is to go anywhere near the landing strips. Gliders are silent and land next to the runways, making it quite dangerous to be near them", reminds the field committee chairman Seppo Välimäki. Welcome to the volunteer work bees!
Summer service bulletin
5.5.2007
Summer service media team attending a training course
Media team volunteers being assigned specific tasks during the summer services attended a training session at the Jämsä opisto March 16-18. Over the weekend, about 120 people participated. The group consisted of sermon summary writers, audio experts, technicians, radio program producers, interviewers, media reporters, photographers, and internet webpage designers.
The weekend course program had many sessions common to all sectors of the media team concerning how to report about the summer services, speeches, the main principles and goals. The team split into smaller work groups focusing on specific tasks with their own group leaders. We also heard an important report from the safety and security committee.
In the Sunday worship service, Tapio Holma spoke from the gospel text appointed for that Sunday. The text mentions how five loaves and two fishes were sufficient for thousands of people. "The summer services are also arranged in a similar setting over a grassy area for a great multitude, so it is important that the meal service works well. It may happen that people will come to our summer services to observe a miracle," he said. "The goal of our reporting is that all service guests get the message about the bread of life. We can comfortingly trust in this, that a child's snack will suffice for everyone attending next summers services too"
Summer service bulletin 20.1.2007
Summer service preparations have been progressing as planned
"Summer service preparations have been progressing as planned ", acknowledges Aimo Koskelo of Hollola. He is responsible for the structures and infrastructure at the service site.
The upcoming summer service area has been cleared of brush except for some minor rubbish removals. Areas adjacent to the airport runways have been cleared of trees and smoothed as grassy areas over the past couple years. These areas can be used for caravan parking for the guests coming to the summer services. The giant tent pegs have been driven into the ground last fall and the groundwork for the kitchen is ready.
The work committee plans have been prepared last fall. Currently, we are planning work schedules for the volunteer workers - about 10,000 work turns are needed during the preparation phase and 7,000 during the services.
Aimo Koskelo is pleased by the enthusiasm and commitment with which the responsible Associations of Peace have been taking these tasks to prepare for the services. Even the city officials have been generously providing their assistance in many ways and forms. The same positive reaction has been seen amongst the local inhabitants and their attitudes to the summer service project.
Helsinki 20.1.2007
Volunteer group leaders briefed with information at the Helsinki r.y., Association of Peace
Recruiters appointed by members congregations, or Associations of Peace, and their group leaders assembled at the Helsinki Association of Peace on January 20th, 2007. There they heard a briefing of the current situation and were able to get acquainted with their upcoming tasks and responsibilities.
Work force recruiters agree with volunteers about work shifts before services involving workers from southern Finland. During this year's services, most of the work shifts will be handled by service guests from northern Finland.
Recruiters from each congregation will be responsible of organizing work crews from their own areas to prepare the site for the summer services. Volunteer work bees at the service site will begin April 28th, 2007.
Helsinki 20.1.2007