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Holy Week Pilgrimage in Sweden
Pilgrimage is described as “a journey to a holy, special and unusual place.” Some may name places like Jerusalem in Israel, Taize in France, Santiago de Compostela in Spain or Fatima in Portugal where pilgrims normally flock to enrich their faith. My stay here in Sweden is a faith journey and experiencing how the Church…
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THE BEGINNING OF SPRING AND EASTER\ I BÖRJAN AV VÅREN OCH PÅSKEN
It’s becoming more colourful with flowers and trees oh what a beautiful nature. I have never seen people so excited about spring but I guess they should because their winter is long and very cold. They say to know that when spring is here you will see by the blue little flowers. They take pictures…
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Sweden and Philippines Differ in Focus on a Common Christian Celebration
“Glad Påsk!” For a week now, I have heard for a couple of times people greeting each other: ““Glad Påsk!” (“Happy Easter!”) I was a bit surprised with the exchange of greetings when for me it was yet too early because before the Resurrection day, Christ’s death will still be commemorated on Good Friday. In…
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ADJUSTING TO THE SWEDISH CULTURE/ MY EXPERIENCE
Oh my God it’s a month now in Sweden, where do I start? Coming here was a bit scary since it is my first time away from home and the first time I have gone so far. Asking myself so may questions; how will I cope, but hey, guess what? All is perfect from the first day…
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Church Goes Deviant, Grooves with the Youth yet Abides with Christ’s Mission
I arrived in a castle-like church to attend a gathering of young people from Stockholm Stift (Diocese). Upon entering the majestic Sofia Kyrka, located on a hilltop, I began to hear an unusual sound from the church’s interior. The sound was familiar and it was the type of music played in party houses back in…
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Walking in the Land of the Vikings (A Round-up Blog for my First Month in Sweden)
The cold weather woke me up one rainy morning and as I looked on my schedule for the day, I realized that it’s been a month since I stepped in this land where the Vikings originated. It was in high school when I first heard about the Vikings through my World History class. They were…
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A Church Breaking the Bread for the World to Share
Despite the challenges of a declining membership along with countless problems arising due to its existence in a highly individualistic society, the Church of Sweden has become stronger in its commitment to share the bounty of resources to people from other nations. Through the work, it has realized the real purpose of being the Church…
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Beyond the Swedish Fika
Three weeks after I arrived here in Sweden, I’m starting to love one of its traditions relating to food. “Fika” (fee-ka) is said to be a social institution for Swedes of all ages and it simply means “drinking coffee.” The word is both a Swedish verb and noun. Fika takes place normally after the three…
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Hope Springs from Kids in Church
On a snowy Wednesday afternoon at half past two, kids began to arrive for choir practice. Aside from the fact that it’s about the middle of the week and with a very unlikely weather, it was unusual for kids to spend time for church. They could have chosen to go home straight from school and…
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Looking at Rainbows: A Grown-up’s Perspective
When I was a kid, I used to marvel at rainbows that normally appear in the sky. I thought this childish thought would have disappeared through time and maturity but as time gradually passes, I come to realize that my appreciation of the rainbow was just the beginning of my understanding and belief that when…
Författare: Anne Falk
