Finland ~ Saturday and Easter Sunday

Pipe Organ and decorated ceiling of Siuntio Church

April 20 & 21

Saturday was a family day at Wade and Anna's.  Everyone was busy cleaning here and there, inside and out.  They had invited some friends and family over for a bonfire but there was a risk of grass fires, due to lack of rain and not so much green yet.  Thus, the bonfire was changed to a grilling cookout.  My contribution was making a sort of American style potato salad.  In the late afternoon Wade fired up the grill on their spacious back deck.  Friends came and added their own items to the tasty chicken he had going.

Grilled eggplant and chicken, with sausages waiting on the side.

Everything ready to go.  Once again, real dishes, not paper.

We've had such amazing weather here in Finland since I got here but today was quite cool and cloudy.  It never did rain though, and people seemed happy to stay outdoors.  They just bundled up a bit.

~ ~ ~ EASTER MORNING ~ ~ ~

Wade, Anna, the littles and I went to their nearby Siuntio church for the morning Easter service.  It was a nice, traditional service in Finnish, with a very short sermon as well as communion.  The church building itself was beautiful and old.

Siuntio Church

Graveyard and Siuntio Church

History of Siuntio Church

Belfry

Front door lock.  About 9' tall and has a huge key.  They still use this.

Ornately carved pulpit

Altar with Easter screen in place

Lots of brass to polish

Budding "bird cherry" branches with Easter eggs

Details of eggs.  Also note the date on the wall

I know that there is a lot of controversy among conservative Christians regarding attending the State churches with some of their new, liberal policies but I'm glad that I was able to attend this meaningful service in a beautiful old building.  The most important thing we can do is keep Christ, and his work on the cross as the central focus of our hearts, no matter what storms go on around us.

On our return home, the older girls in the family nearly had dinner done.  They had outdone themselves in making everything both beautiful and tasty.

Table set for Easter dinner

 

Glazed carrots, herbed potatoes, roast beef medallion, salad with grilled Halloumi cheese. 

Easter tulips, cheesecake and Brussels chocolates

Beautifully decorated cheesecake was the star of the show.

A little later in the evening, we piled into two cars and headed into Helsinki for an Easter service in their "prayer house".  Typically there is Finnish translated into Swedish and during the translation, Wade quietly translates into English for me.  However, this time there was no need for that translation so my brother-in-law, Ken translated the message into English from the pulpit.  

After the service there was a time of sandwiches, sweets and coffee, along with fellowship.  Then we piled back in the cars for the ride home.