Newsletter #12

I had only read a few pages when I came to the part where she describes how, in her congregation they make a Christ candle each year before Easter Sunday from the remains of all the candles collected after their services throughout the year. It becomes a candle that contains beauty spots; burnt wicks and debris. Just as the members of the body of Christ are not perfect infallible saints, but ordinary people; a little “chipped” and with experience of occasional failing, despite good intentions.

In another book, written by the priest Lars Collmar, there is a story of an elderly woman whom Lars used to visit. She was a retired teacher and as a young person she had felt that God had called her to the teaching profession. “But I was never very good at it,” she told Lars. At that woman’s funeral, many of her old pupils attended, and Lars thought that now he would hear that she had been wrong and that she had actually been good at teaching. In conversations with her former students, those hopes were dashed. No, she hadn’t been a very sucessful teacher, but she saw her students and cared about them. Her calling had not been to be the best imparter of knowledge, but a warm and wise adult who had been there for students who needed her.

When, during All Saints’ Weekend, we light candles and remember people who are no longer among us, we are also reminded that it is not infallibility that God expects from us, but that we dare to be human. Trust that you are loved by God, and share that love with others.

God bless you today!

Anna Berndes,
Pastor, Swedish Fellowship

At the market, you’ll find food, bread, second hand, lotteries and activities for children. During the day, coffee and pastries are served in the café, and lunch is available in Paus. You can also buy dinner tickets for a meal hosted by members of the congregation at a later date.

All proceeds go to international work — two-thirds to Immanuel Church’s own projects and one-third to the work of the Uniting Church in Sweden (Equmeniakyrkan). The support reaches, among others, our partner congregations in DR Kongo and India, projects in Ecuador and Pakistan, and Tahan Theological College in Myanmar.

For the market to happen, many volunteers are needed. You can contribute by baking cakes or bread, cooking, donating goods, staffing a stand for a while on the day of the market or assisting with set-up the day before or take-down after the market. Sign up via the volunteer form here .

You can also let us know how you’d like to help directly by contacting
Sven Mannervik 070 797 57 20, mannerviksven@gmail.com or
Karin Mannervik 070 797 58 38, karin.mannervik@gmail.com.

Which spaces give you strength and energy? Are you a maximalist or a minimalist? We have room for both!

Participants:

• Mats Theselius, a well-known furniture designer and also Pär Andersson’s son
• Petra Carlsson Redell, a priest and professor with a deep interest in spiritual spaces and artistic expression
• Moderator: Görel Byström Janarv, a theologian with extensive experience working at the intersection of faith, art, and life

Welcome to a cultural café with exciting guests, conversations, coffee and treats, and live music — with a tour of the church for anyone interested!

Free admission!

Opening Lecture:
Tim Isaksson, climate and behavior strategist at the Peerpointing initiative, will discuss how social misconceptions can be addressed to promote the climate transition.

Workshops:
Topics include traffic, peace, justice, climate action ahead of the 2026 elections, global cooperation, and sustainable living.

Organizer: Organizations within the Climate Sweden Network

Free admission – everyone is welcome!

Feel free to register and learn more at the event on Facebook.

The climate vigil is an opportunity to face one of our time’s greatest challenges — the climate crisis — together, with stillness, reflection, and community.

Vigil keeping is an old tradition — pausing, being present, and directing your attention toward something important. It is not about waiting, but about staying awake and open to what lies ahead.

How does it work?
The evening includes short gatherings with readings, prayer, and singing at 18:00, 19:00, and 20:00, interspersed with time for reflection and contemplation. During the climate vigil, you can, among other things, light candles, write or read, sit in stillness and meditate or pray, create artworks, and gather and share your thoughts.

No matter who you are, what you believe, or where you come from — everyone is welcome. This is a time for people of different backgrounds, faiths, and commitments, united by a shared longing for hope and community in a time of crisis. You can join for a short while or stay for the entire evening.

Come as you are. Stay as long as you like.
Together, we keep vigil for the climate — and for the future.

Organized by: Nätverket KlimatSverige, Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm
Immanuel Church Stockholm and other congregations.

Our community has room for everyone, especially those who are lonely, vulnerable, or homeless. Christmas in Community is made possible through the dedicated efforts of volunteers and generous donations.

Would you like to help support this work?
 Sign up at www.volontärbyran.org or contact one of our deacons.

Organizers: Immanuel Church, The Salvation Army Temple, Hela Människan Stockholm County, and Ny Gemenskap, in collaboration with the Volunteer Agency.

You can also donatet Christmas gifts for children through Hotel Birger Jarl.
Gifts should be new,in their original packaging, and unwrapped – preferably for boys aged 4–10, with a value of around 300 SEK.

This is a project choir that rehearses on three Wednesdays and sings at the Swedish-language service on the second Sunday of Advent December 7 at 11.00.

Rehearsals Wednesdays from 19.00–20.15

• November 19
• November 26
• December 3  

Genre: pop/visa
Choir leader: Åsa Bosdotter
Registration: deadline November 14