Welcome to the Finnish Lutheran Church of Melbourne
We offer a welcoming meeting place for all Finns in Melbourne, and provide spiritual care and a broad range of activities for all age groups.
On these pages you can find information on our background, services, usual activities, and calendar of activities.
On these pages you can find information on our background, services, usual activities, and calendar of activities.
Changes to upcoming events
Welcome to the regular Pastor's Column!
While we are experiencing a new way of life in temporary lockdown,
we continue to provide pastoral support and care,
and this includes a regular column in place of our usual face-to-face services.
Here is Pastor Ian's latest post (Column number 9 - 22nd of May 2020):
Significance in Christ
Philip answered Jesus, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish” (John 6:7-9).
I heard about a young minister who was going to preach his very first sermon and he was going to preach from the above text, miraculous feeding of 5000. As he introduced it he said: "I want to talk to you about how Jesus fed 5 men with 5000 loaves of bread and 2000 fish." Well, there was a man in the church that loved to intimidate young pastors and he jumped up and said: "That's no miracle, I could do that!" This young pastor was shattered and couldn't even preach the sermon. The next Sunday he started over with the same sermon and announced this time correctly: "I want to talk to you today about how Jesus fed 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish." He looked down at the critical church member and said: "I guess you could do that too?" The man said: "I could do that easy!" The pastor asked, "How?" He said: "With what was left over from last Sunday."
Every miracle recorded of Jesus was a meaningful miracle. But there are several things about the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 men that makes it unique and especially significant. One of them is that it is the only account in which Jesus asked the advice of another person before he proceeded to perform the miracle. And hence, I want to talk a bit about a disciple named Andrew.
Although Andrew is the least known of the four disciples in the inner circle of disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew, he was most certainly a member of the group that seems to have been closest to Jesus. But he’s very different from the other three. What we do find when we examine the life of Andrew is a man who was not only the first disciple to be called but one who through his own eagerness to follow Christ, brought other individuals to Jesus. In fact, the first person Andrew brought to Christ was none other, than his brother Simon Peter. However, of the two, Andrew was most certainly the least noticeable. Basically, Andrew lived his life in Simon’s shadow. Many of the verses that do mention Andrew add that he was St Peter’s brother as if it were that fact alone that made him significant. The fact is everything scripture tells us about this man shows that Andrew had the right stuff for effective ministry. He didn’t need to be the centre of attention. He was willing to work in the background. He was willing to let others get the credit and the praise. He was happy to do what he could with the gifts and calling that God had bestowed upon him and more importantly, he was willing to allow others to do the same.
Take a look at one of those instances when Andrew absolutely shines. In the story of a miraculous feeding of 5000, Jesus speaks up and says: “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” It’s at this point that Andrew brings the little boy with the loaves and fish to Jesus. Of course, Andrew doesn’t know HOW Jesus is going to pull it off; he just seems to have faith that Jesus CAN pull it off. And you know how the rest of that story goes with the feeding of the 5000.
I wonder how many of you have ever felt as insignificant compared to others. You might feel that you are too old, too young, timid or introverted. If you are feeling insignificant, unimportant, forgotten, always lurking in the shadow of others; I have news for you. God, in Jesus Christ sees you as significant, important and unforgettable. So, what does it really matter what others think as long as you are secure in Christ and yourself? Then you can be really strong—strong enough to encourage others to be significant; ready to salute them on their journey.
So we should thank and praise God for people like Andrew. They’re quiet, always labouring faithfully but discreetly. They may not receive much recognition but then again they don’t seek it. But so you know what recognition they will hear? They’ll hear the same thing that I’m sure Andrew heard when his race was done: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.”
Pastor Ian
While we are experiencing a new way of life in temporary lockdown,
we continue to provide pastoral support and care,
and this includes a regular column in place of our usual face-to-face services.
Here is Pastor Ian's latest post (Column number 9 - 22nd of May 2020):
Significance in Christ
Philip answered Jesus, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish” (John 6:7-9).
I heard about a young minister who was going to preach his very first sermon and he was going to preach from the above text, miraculous feeding of 5000. As he introduced it he said: "I want to talk to you about how Jesus fed 5 men with 5000 loaves of bread and 2000 fish." Well, there was a man in the church that loved to intimidate young pastors and he jumped up and said: "That's no miracle, I could do that!" This young pastor was shattered and couldn't even preach the sermon. The next Sunday he started over with the same sermon and announced this time correctly: "I want to talk to you today about how Jesus fed 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish." He looked down at the critical church member and said: "I guess you could do that too?" The man said: "I could do that easy!" The pastor asked, "How?" He said: "With what was left over from last Sunday."
Every miracle recorded of Jesus was a meaningful miracle. But there are several things about the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 men that makes it unique and especially significant. One of them is that it is the only account in which Jesus asked the advice of another person before he proceeded to perform the miracle. And hence, I want to talk a bit about a disciple named Andrew.
Although Andrew is the least known of the four disciples in the inner circle of disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew, he was most certainly a member of the group that seems to have been closest to Jesus. But he’s very different from the other three. What we do find when we examine the life of Andrew is a man who was not only the first disciple to be called but one who through his own eagerness to follow Christ, brought other individuals to Jesus. In fact, the first person Andrew brought to Christ was none other, than his brother Simon Peter. However, of the two, Andrew was most certainly the least noticeable. Basically, Andrew lived his life in Simon’s shadow. Many of the verses that do mention Andrew add that he was St Peter’s brother as if it were that fact alone that made him significant. The fact is everything scripture tells us about this man shows that Andrew had the right stuff for effective ministry. He didn’t need to be the centre of attention. He was willing to work in the background. He was willing to let others get the credit and the praise. He was happy to do what he could with the gifts and calling that God had bestowed upon him and more importantly, he was willing to allow others to do the same.
Take a look at one of those instances when Andrew absolutely shines. In the story of a miraculous feeding of 5000, Jesus speaks up and says: “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” It’s at this point that Andrew brings the little boy with the loaves and fish to Jesus. Of course, Andrew doesn’t know HOW Jesus is going to pull it off; he just seems to have faith that Jesus CAN pull it off. And you know how the rest of that story goes with the feeding of the 5000.
I wonder how many of you have ever felt as insignificant compared to others. You might feel that you are too old, too young, timid or introverted. If you are feeling insignificant, unimportant, forgotten, always lurking in the shadow of others; I have news for you. God, in Jesus Christ sees you as significant, important and unforgettable. So, what does it really matter what others think as long as you are secure in Christ and yourself? Then you can be really strong—strong enough to encourage others to be significant; ready to salute them on their journey.
So we should thank and praise God for people like Andrew. They’re quiet, always labouring faithfully but discreetly. They may not receive much recognition but then again they don’t seek it. But so you know what recognition they will hear? They’ll hear the same thing that I’m sure Andrew heard when his race was done: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.”
Pastor Ian
Finnish services are broadcast on Yle Areena - to view the programs, follow the link here:
https://areena.yle.fi/1-3757226
You can also get a lot of information, devotionals etc, from Finland's church website, including English translations if needed. Visit:
www.evl.fi
Join the church
You can join the Mikael Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church by completing the attached membership form. Please print out, fill in, sign, and scan the form, and email it to ian.vainikka@gmail.com. You can also post the form to the church manse, 72 The Strand, Point Cook, 3030.
| seurakuntaan_liittymiskaavake.pdf |
