The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Canticle 19 The Song of the Redeemed
Magna et mirabilia Revelation 15:3-4

O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done, *
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, *

O King of all the ages
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord
and sing the praises of your Name
for you only are the Holy One.

All nations will draw near and fall down before you
because your just and holy works have been revealed.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Mikael Agricola, Bishop of Turku 10 April 1557
Paavali Juusten, Bishop of Turku 1576
Paavo Henrik Ruotsalainen, Preacher 27 January 1852
Lars Levi Laestadius, Preacher 1800-1860

On 12 April we commemorate several Christians in the Lutheran tradition who have preached the Gospel in Finland.

Mikael Agricola (accent on the first syllable, as in most Finnish words not compounds), was born in Uusimaa, Finland, about 1510. He went to school in Viipuri (Viborg) and then in the cathedral town of Turku (Abo). The bishop of Turku, a Dominican monk, sent him to study at Wittenberg, where he met Luther and Melanchthon, and upon returning home, became rector of the cathedral school and eventually assistant to the bishop. On the death of the bishop in 1554, he was consecrated as the new Bishop of Turku without papal approval, and carried out a relatively conservative program of reform along Lutheran lines, retaining traditional doctrines and practices wherever he did not see scriptural grounds for rejecting them.

Mikael saw the importance of worship and teaching in the Finnish language. He accordingly established rules of orthography which are the basis of modern Finnish spelling, and wrote an Aapinen (primer), a prayer book (with other information), a translation of the New Testament, and a translation of the Liturgy. He translated many hymns into Finnish, and collected hymns that had been written or translated by others. He also took pains to learn what he could about the ancient pre-Christian myths and folklore of the Finnish people. He is accounted the father of written Finnish.

His accomplishments as a bishop are the more impressive when we remember that they took place in a short time. Three years after he became bishop, he was sent to negotiate a treaty with the Russians, and on his return fell ill and died suddenly, in his forties.

Paavali (Paul) Juusten (1516-1576) was sent to Wittenberg along with Mikael Agricola, and in 1554 he was consecrated first bishop of Viipuri, which, until its seizure by the Russians in the 1930's, was Finland's second largest city, exceeded only by the capital, Helsinki (Helsingfors). From 1563 to 1576 he was Bishop of Turku. He wrote a catechism and a manual for the clergy.

Paavo Henrik (Paul Henry) Ruotsalainen (pronounce the "u" here as "w" to make "uo" a diphthong) was born 9 July 1777 and spent most of his life in Nilsia (sorry, Rand McNally doesn't know either). He was a poor peasant, without formal education, but an outstandingly effective preacher, and in his day the foremost layman in the Church of Finland.

Lars Levi Laestadius (accent on the second "a") was an outstanding Swedish botanist who became a clergyman. On a preaching mission in Swedish Lapland, he was moved by the devotion of some of the Lapp Christians he met, and undertook to stir up others to a similar devotion. Although he preached in Sweden, the movement stemming from him spread to Finland, and the only groups following him that I know of today are Finnish or Finnish-derived. (Can any listmembers, especially Swedish ones, help me out here?) In Finland, his followers retain their membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and receive the sacraments from its ordained ministers, but have their own "prayer-houses" where they gather for preaching, singing, testimonies, and mutual encouragement. Their most conspicuous distinguishing characteristics are: (a) an emphasis on the importance of confessing one's sinfulness to another Christian and receiving personal assurance of God's grace and forgiveness; (b) simplicity of lifestyle -- a distrust of frills and amusements; (c) exclusiveness -- a tendency to identify themselves with the Faithful Remnant -- although there is variation here, and some of their leaders have vigorously preached against this; (d) a style of worship that is often very somber, but also allows for "holy laughter." Historically, they have been heavily influenced by the Moravians.

written by James Kiefer

Prayer

Almighty God, we praise you for the men and women you have sent to call the Church to its tasks and renew its life, such as your servants Mikael Agricola, Paavali Juusten, Paavo Henrik Ruotsalainen, and Lars Levi Laestadius, whom you called to preach to the peoples of Sweden, Lapland, and Finland. Raise up in our own day teachers and prophets inspired by your Spirit, whose voices will give strength to your Church and proclaim the reality of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass
against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages A

Show us your mercy, O Lord;

And grant us your salvation.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

Let your people sing with joy.

Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;

For only in you can we live in safety.

Lord, keep this nation under your care;

And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Let your way be known upon earth;

Your saving health among all nations.

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;

Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

Collect of the Day: Third Sunday of Pascha

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all you works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

World Cycle of Prayer

We pray for the people of Madagascar.

CARE page about Madagascar

Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer

We pray for our sisters and brothers, members of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Roman Catholic Church

For Joy in God's Creation

O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Good Use of Leisure

O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Unemployed

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of Self-Dedication

General Thanksgiving

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Benediction

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.