St. Andrew Lutheran Church: Mission Russia

Trip Specifics: Dates, Cost, Contact Person

WHO
Adults interested in traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia via Amsterdam in the Netherlands for 10 days in the summer or spring.

WHAT
A vacation with a purpose, putting your faith into action through service work at St. Catherine's Lutheran Church.

WHEN
May 9-18, 2003. Let by Pastor Hans Wiersma and his wife Kristin.

WHERE
St. Petersburg, Russia, also referred to as the "Northern Capital" of Russia, for five days of service work followed by two days in Amsterdam for reflection and renewal.

WHY
Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31.)

Mission Russia provides a way for us to love and serve our neighbor as Jesus taught with time for reflection and spiritual rest. It allows a person to experience an international mission field that is close to home, yet far enough away to immerse into another culture for a week.

COST
Approximately $2,300 which includes everything except souvenir money and a few meals.

CONTACT
Contact Diaconal Minister Kris Perry at KPerry@standrewlu.org for further information on space availability. Read below for more detailed information.

HOW
We invite you to support this ministry by:

Prayer: Prayer is a powerful tool that allows the Holy Spirit to work in miraculous ways. Mission Honduras would not be possible without the power of prayer.
Put faith into action and join us for one of our mission trips. You will experience first hand how God has blessed you to make a difference in the world by living your Baptismal call to serve others.
Blessed to be a blessing. Express your support financially. Stretch yourself and put your blessings into a financial contribution to help defray the cost of the trip for participant scholarships and/or to purchase needed supplies for the trip.

Background of Mission Russia

Mission Russia is a short-term "vacation with a purpose" mission experience. In July, 2001 a small group of nine from St. Andrew Lutheran-Eden Prairie and Calvary Lutheran-Edina will begin a long-term commitment with St. Catherine's Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Russia. Dr. K. Shperling, president of St. Catherine's congregation, shared his congregation's vision to open a medical clinic and soup kitchen to the poor and homeless of St. Petersburg. The vision is a perfect fit with St. Andrew's mission to Come Unto the Christ and Go Into the World, making Christ known through our service to the poor.

St. Catherine's Lutheran Church is one of five Lutheran Churches in St. Petersburg, Russia, formerly known at Leningrad. While St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great, "The City of 101 Islands" was actually named after St. Peter, and is now referred to as the "Northern capital" of Russia. St. Catherine's is one of three ELCR churches, the other two being St. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church and St. Anne's Lutheran Church. There is also one Missouri Lutheran Church (St. Michael's) and one Finnish Lutheran Church (St. Mary's) as well as a Lutheran Seminary, which is affiliated with the ELCR. Russian Lutherans are 430 years old and came from Sweden, Denmark and Finland to Russia approximately 32 years after Martin Luther died. In 1763, Catherine the Great brought Germans to Russia but, due to the Revolution, they had to go underground where they primarily worshipped in their homes. St. Catherine's was formed in 1728 by Lutheran traders, seamen and scientists living at Vasily Island in St. Petersburg.

The church closed in 1935 and was used as an art school, then a design office, and finally a recording studio in 1978 due to the great acoustical design. In 1997, by the authority of the city, the German Evangelical Lutheran community of St. Peter and Paul was formally turned over to the congregation to use the building for worship in conjunction with its use as a recording studio. Restoration work has continued through the 1990's with work to the cross above the dome of the building, the organ, and now the restoration of the altar.

Our help is needed to continue the restoration efforts so that creation of a medical station and soup kitchen can open for the poor and homeless in St. Petersburg. The majority of the congregation is made up of seniors with a very minimal pension of approximately $20 per month. The need for medicines and medical services outweighs the need for clothing and food. The ultimate plan is to have a physician working at the station on an unpaid basis. Further projects include reconstruction of the altar that was destroyed by the Communists, creating a reliable heating and ventilation system, and completion of the organ restoration. It is our hope and dream to assist St. Catherine's in accomplishing all of these goals by committing to a long-term relationship of mission visits yearly each summer.

We will depart Minneapolis International Airport at 3:00pm, stopping in Amsterdam and arriving in St. Petersburg the following day in late afternooon. The first weekend will be spent touring the city, attending a ballet, worshipping with our hosts at St. Catherine's, and touring the Hermitage Museum. Monday through Thursday will be work days at St. Catherine, beginning at 5:00pm with a supper prepared by our hosts and work carried on until 11:00pm. We will have opportunities each morning beginning at 10:00am to tour various historical sites, Lutheran and Orthodox Churches, social service agencies, and local shops. We depart St. Petersburg on Friday for Amsterdam, where we will spend two nights and have one full day to tour this lovely city before returning to Minneapolis on Sunday at 7:30pm.

Further information is available by contacting Kris Perry at KPerry@standrewlu.org.

Travel Tips

A non-refundable deposit of $200 is due 120 days prior to departure. Full balance of the trip fees is due 45 days prior to departure.
All expenses relating to the mission part of the trip are tax deductible (airfare, lodging, and food for mission days).
Rooming will be by gender unless married.
Four training sessions of two hours each will be required for all participants, covering such topics as cultural awareness, international travel tips and information on work projects.
Participation in daily devotions is a key component of mission trips.
Participants must adhere to United States laws regarding tobacco, alcohol, firearms and non-prescription drugs.
A mission trip staff person will accompany youth during activities on non-mission days.
You must have current United States citizenship verification to enter foreign countries.
You must have a current United States passport and visa to enter Russia that will not expire within six months of the mission trip.