The believers gathered in the church every Sunday for worship services, where God’s word was preached. After the worship service the fellowship of the members of the congregation continued at the table with refreshments.
Last year was a complicated year for the congregation, full of different changes, the most important of which was that we had to say good-bye to pastor G.Belousova, who was appointed to serve in other congregations and receive with hospitalitya new pastor V. Jablonskienė. To our frustration we had to say good-bye to that pastor too. Currently the church has not got a full-time pastor.
Last year not only pastors changed but the Superintendent changed too. The newly appointed Superintendent visited us and got acquainted with the church council and the congregation.
Like every year, in the beginning of March, the Global Women’s Prayer Day was organized, to which a lot of sisters of faith from different confessions and churches came. In summer the members of the congregation had an outing by the lake Juodlė with Pastor V. Jablonskienė to have a nice fellowship and to get better acquainted.
We had guests from Dresden (Germany) and from Virginia (USA). During those visits we acquired new friends, we had Bible studies together, the guests witnessed about their faith, their experience, helping our congregation to grow spiritually and to seek the closiness with God. Two members of the guest group took part in the meeting of the church council. Thanks to the guests our environment has cardinally changed. We are sincerely thankful to them for that.
In September there was an international UMC women‘s seminar held in Šventoji.
The women’s group continues doing its ministries- they communicate with Children’s Temporary Care home, take care of the family, the children of which participate in Sunday worship services. The women’s group helps a lot in organizing different events in the church.
The most important tasks of the church remain the same-the registration of the church building, the growth of the church. We are planning to maintain close ties with partner churches and brothers and sisters in Christ from other congregations and to look for new partnerships.
The members of the church are impatiently waiting for the new pastor to come. Even though our problems are serious, we look with hope to God and are waiting for the answers.
Valdas Valiuška, The Chair of the Church Council of Šiauliai UMC
Pastor Giedrius