Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Doing Sámi church


Developing Sámi ways of doing chuch and theology is not so much a theoretical issue, even if that plas a role as well. Sámi ways of doing churh must spring out of living Sámi culture. One way of doing this is by means of a "Sámi church workplace" if that would be an acceptable translation of Samisk gudstjänstverkstad in Swedish.

Last weekend Luleå Diocese of the Church of Sweden organised one together with the church in Vittangi in the Sámi village Badje Sohppar.


Around 30 participants gathered friday evening and Saturday. There were some talks of a practical nature (about symbols in Sámi culture, about yoik in church) and then all split in groups. Working with music, with handicraft to have in church and also a childrens group. Beatiful creative things came out which were used in church that Sunday. The church really was transformed. There was no preaching but in stead some people told a little story from their life, illustrating a short Bible reading. In the evening, some of us sat late and tried to put all different elements into a service.

A weekend like this gives a lot of experiences which can be used in further development of Sámi church life.



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