News Update: 22 January, 2022
Sunday Worship: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
This Sunday, our weekly worship service with communion will be lead by our former chaplain, Bishop Emerita Jana Jeruma-Grinberga, as we participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Please join us in person or online via Facebook Live for this very special chance to be in solidarity with churches throughout the world!
Confirmation classes
Are you looking for a new way to engage with faith in a deeper way? Chaplain Elīza is currently in the process of organizing a confirmation class that would begin sometime in the end of winter or early spring. If you are interested, please let her know!
Medical face masks mandatory as of the 25th of January
Please keep in mind that the Latvian government has decided to make medical face masks or respirators mandatory for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people indoors, and that cloth masks will no longer be allowed to use. If you do not have access to one but would like to attend service in person, please let us know and so we can assist you!
Events honoring Desmond Tutu
Last Tuesday, the Latvian language event “DzĪvot ar Prieku: Desmonds Tutu” took place at St. Saviour’s. After saying prayers that were written by Tutu himself, Chaplain Elīza lead a discussion that included our assistant chaplain Valdis Teraudkalns, our former chaplain Juris Cālītis, and Margarita Putniņa, the translator of a book based on a dialog between Tutu and the Dalai Lama. An English language version of the discussion will also take place during Sunday Worship on the 30th of January. For those of you who understand Latvian, you can watch the video of the event above.
Weekly Update: 15 January, 2022
Sunday Worship: The Second Sunday After The Epiphany
The joyful story about the wedding in Cana shows the overflowing of God’s grace embodied in Jesus; it also prefigures a liberation and a new life to come. It is a sign pointing to something else: to the fulfilment of Jesus’ ministry and the pouring out of his life on the cross. This adds a new dimension to joy, for as Desmond Tutu (whom we will celebrate on Tuesday) said: “Our greatest joy is when we seek to do good for others.”
To hear Chalpain Elīza’s full sermon, make sure to join us tomorrow either in person or online on Facebook live!
18th of January Latvian Language Event to Honour Desmond Tutu
On the 18th of January at 18.00 we will be holding a Latvian language memorial event honouring Desmond Tutu called Dzīvot ar prieku: Desmonds Tutu. We will say prayers together that were written by Tutu himself, followed by a discussion which will be led by Chaplain Elīza and include our assistant chaplain Valdis Teraudkalns, our former chaplain Juris Cālītis, and Margarita Putniņa, the translator of a book based on a dialog between Tutu and the Dalai Lama. An English language version of the discussion will also take place during Sunday Worship on the 30th of January.
Weekly Update: 8 January, 2022
Sunday Worship: The First Sunday After The Epiphany
The Holy Spirit comes upon us so that we may become ourselves. We receive affirmation from God, who calls us by name and inspires and empowers us to affirm those around us, so that they may sense some of the joy that God takes in them.
Make sure to either tune into the live stream at 11 AM on Sunday or come to church in person to hear more of Chaplain Elīza’s thoughts on the Epiphany!
Weekly Update: 20 November, 2021
A return to worship in person
We are blessed to be able to return to having Sunday Worship in the church this weekend, and looking forward to seeing each other in person and celebrating God’s presence. As with before the three-week lockdown, services will have to be held in the “green” (epidemiologically safe) regime, as that is the only option given for services in person and in line with regulations in other spheres of life during pandemic. Therefore, like going to other places operating in “green regime”, everyone will have to show a valid COVID-19 certificate and a proof of identity when entering the church building. There will also be marked seats enabling observation of necessary distance, we will still need to wear masks and disinfect hands.
Please be patient with the staff and volunteers as we are still adjusting to the new arrangements. Those without valid certificates are welcome to follow us online or to arrange an individual visit to church by contacting the chaplain. We are sorry that due to ongoing restoration works in the church we can’t offer designated hours for individual visits on weekdays.
Even when we feel the pain of restrictions and separations, we believe that nothing can separate from the love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ. We trust that our Lord will bring us all together in a joyful celebration at the end of these challenging times during which we are learning so much about ourselves and about his grace.
Chaplain Elīza marks the 11th of November
Weekly Update: 13 November, 2021
In-person services from 21 November
After three difficult weeks of isolation, we are blessed to once again have the opportunity starting next Sunday, 21 November to begin meeting in person for Sunday Worship. As was the case before the lockdown began, due to the reduced size of the sanctuary during the renovation as well as government regulations, we will unfortunately only be able to admit entry to those with valid COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificates. Those of you who will not be able to join us in person will be kindly invited to join our services online using Facebook Live.
Remembrance Sunday
We hope you are all able to join us this Sunday, 14 November for our special Remembrance Sunday service using Zoom. You can use the following link to access our service starting a few minutes before 11 AM: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89984781477?pwd=VWh2Qk82cExaVTZjdTJHQmhhOVhlZz09 Meeting ID: 899 8478 1477 Passcode: 932349
Weekly Update: 6 November, 2021
All Saints Sunday
This Sunday, we will once again be meeting online for Sunday Worship here on Zoom. Everyone is welcome to join at 11 AM using the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89984781477?pwd=VWh2Qk82cExaVTZjdTJHQmhhOVhlZz09 Meeting ID: 899 8478 1477 Passcode: 932349
As it is “All Saints and Souls Sunday”, we will remember those we love but see no more, especially those who have left us in the past year. If you would like to mention a loved one in our prayers, please contact Chaplain Elīza.
Weekly Update: 30 October, 2021
Reformation Sunday
First, this Sunday we will be celebrating Reformation Sunday online during our normal weekly worship service. We will be hosting a special guest from the Fusion mission group that works with young people throughout Latvia. Everyone is welcome to join at 11 AM using the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89984781477?pwd=VWh2Qk82cExaVTZjdTJHQmhhOVhlZz09 Meeting ID: 899 8478 1477 Passcode: 932349
Next week: “All Saints and Souls” Sunday
On the 7th of November, we will be celebrating “All Saints and Souls” Sunday, in which we will remember and celebrate the lives of those we have lost over the precious year. If anyone would like to send names of people that you would like us to pray for and honor, please contact Chaplain Elīza: chaplain.eliza@anglicanriga.lv
Weekly Update: 23 October 2021
Sunday Worship back online
Due to the government’s newly announced COVID-19 measures, all in-person events at St. Saviour’s have to be suspended until further notice. This includes Sunday Worship, which will have to take place online via Zoom for the next few weeks. Worship will take place at 11:00 AM this Sunday as usual via Zoom using this link here:
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89984781477?pwd=VWh2Qk82cExaVTZjdTJHQmhhOVhlZz09 Meeting ID: 899 8478 1477 Passcode: 932349
We know that this is a very challenging time for everyone as Latvia enters its most serious phase of the pandemic so far, so please keep each other in our prayers as well as the country’s health care heroes and those who have to make critical and painful decisions in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we promise to make worship as spiritually fulfilling as possible. Please contact us if you have any ideas or suggestions, or if we can help you in any way during these difficult times.
Bible Sunday
This Sunday, we will be joined by special guest special guest Vineta Laudurga from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Latvia to celebrate Bible Sunday! We look forward to sharing this special service with our friends from all over the world.
Weekly Update: 16th of October, 2021
In memory of Ojars Ēriks Kalniņš
This Thursday, the St. Saviour’s community was shocked to learn that Ojars Kalniņš, the husband of our previous church warden Irma and a beloved Latvian statesman, passed away suddenly at the age of 71. Please make sure to keep Irma and the rest of their family in your prayers during this very sad time.
Green Zone: COVID Certificates and masks required at worship services
As a reminder, due to the new government regulations implemented in light of the COVID-19 situation here in Latvia as well as the reduced space in the sanctuary during the ceiling construction, all attendees to the worship service will need to present a valid COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificate before entering the church. All attendees are also required to wear masks during the service. Those who are unable to attend in person are welcome to participate online via the live stream on our Facebook page.
Weekly Update: 9th of October, 2021
New COVID regulations: COVID Certificates required at worship services
As Chaplain Elīza mentioned last week at the end of the service, attendees of Sunday Worship at St. Saviour’s will need to provide a valid COVID-19 certificate of recovery from the disease or vaccination. Those who are unable to attend in person will be able to participate online via the live stream on our Facebook page.
Sunday Worship: The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
This week, Lauma will be leading us in a service of the Word celebrating creation: both giving thanks for the harvest and the people who work hard to provide food for us. We’ll also pray for and think of our little furry and feathered (and maybe scaled) friends too – our pets who keep us company every day.