{"id":19835,"date":"2025-11-07T09:18:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T08:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.immanuel.se\/en\/?p=19835"},"modified":"2025-11-07T09:48:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T08:48:31","slug":"newsletter-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immanuel.se\/en\/2025\/newsletter-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter #12"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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No saints, still loved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I cleaned my desk last week. In one of the piles was a book that I had intended to re-read a while ago, but it had ended up under some papers and booklets. “Accidental saints: Finding God in all the wrong People<\/em>” by the American priest Nadia Bolz Weber. It felt like the right book to read at All Saints’ Weekend…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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 \u201cchipped\u201d and with experience of occasional failing, despite good intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God bless you today!
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Anna Berndes,<\/strong>
Pastor, Swedish Fellowship<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Welcome to this year\u2019s Christmas Market!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Christmas Market is Immanuel Church\u2019s largest fundraiser for Mission and Aid<\/strong> \u2013 a cherished tradition and a day full of community, warmth, and life. Many who rarely visit the church come on this day, and together we make a difference in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udccd Saturday, November 29 kl. 10.00\u201314.30, Immanuel<\/strong><\/strong> Church<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the market, you\u2019ll find food, bread, second hand, lotteries and activities for children<\/strong>. During the day, coffee and pastries are served in the caf\u00e9, and lunch is available in Paus<\/em>. You can also buy dinner tickets<\/strong> for a meal hosted by members of the congregation at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All proceeds go to international work \u2014 two-thirds to Immanuel Church\u2019s own projects and one-third to the work of the Uniting Church in Sweden (Equmeniakyrkan<\/em>). The support reaches, among others, our partner congregations in DR Kongo and India<\/strong>, projects in Ecuador and Pakistan<\/strong>, and Tahan Theological College in Myanmar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/strong><\/strong>the day before or take-down after the market. Sign up via <\/a> the volunteer form here<\/strong><\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also let us know how you\u2019d like to help directly by contacting
Sven Mannervik<\/strong> 070 797 57 20, mannerviksven@gmail.com<\/a> or
Karin Mannervik<\/strong> 070 797 58 38, karin.mannervik@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Weeks of Diaconal Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From November 3\u201316, Immanuel Church highlights the important role of diaconal work in society. The church\u2019s social and compassionate mission continues year-round, but during these weeks we especially focus on three aspects of diakonia: faith, community, and creativity.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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We have already<\/strong> experienced inspiring encounters during the Weeks of Diaconal Work. On November 4, we attended the seminar Prophetic Diakonia in the Service of Democracy<\/em> with political scientist and deacon Anna Ardin, who shared her thoughts on the church\u2019s advocacy role and the political dimension of diaconal work. On November 5, we gathered for Soup & Conversation<\/em> after the Wednesday service, where artist Stefan Sj\u00f6blom spoke about his work with upcycling art and diakonia \u2014 giving broken musical instruments new life as artworks. The exhibition is on display in the Church Square until November 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now we look forward to Diaconal Sunday on November 9, with the theme Social Responsibility<\/em>. The sermon will be delivered by Margret Josefsson, with music by Immanuel Gospel, Nina Tellander, and Bj\u00f6rn G\u00e4fvert. The children\u2019s church will be open, and coffee will be served afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are warmly welcome to join us as we together celebrate the importance of diaconal work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can a church look any way it wants?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A cultural caf\u00e9 inspired by the work of church painter P\u00e4r Andersson. The exhibition on P\u00e4r Andersson is on display at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (October 16\u2013November 22). Immanuel Church is his largest artistic work. Come and see, and join the conversation about Sweden\u2019s greenest church!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udccd Thursday, November 20, kl 18.00 at Immanue<\/strong><\/strong>l Church<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Which spaces give you<\/strong> strength and energy? Are you a maximalist or a minimalist? We have room for both!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n