Summer Festival Grows and Advances
18.8.2026
The Mission Diocese’s Summer Festival brings together people from all over Finland. Photo: Kari Puustinen
As July turned into August, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland held its Seventh Summer Festival in Loimaa, again on the grounds of the Loimaa Evangelical College. The festival left many with a deep sense of gratitude. God’s Word was richly proclaimed, in many ways, and Sunday’s divine service nourished all. And then there was the fellowship among Christians. Over the course of the weekend, Fri-Sun, the number of participants rose to over four thousand. The Sunday service in the big tent was attended by 1,100 people. Thousands more followed the program via online streaming and radio broadcasts.
Pastor Sebastian Grünbaum interviewed pastors Sahar Sadlovsky Gold and Petri Hiltunen on Friday evening. Photo: Juho Pylvänäinen
One of the most intriguing guests at this year’s Summer Festival was Israeli Pastor Sahar Sadlovsky Gold. He serves as the pastor of a small confessional Lutheran congregation in Tel Aviv. On both Friday and Saturday, we heard Sahar’s life story and his thoughts on mission work among Jews.
Bishop Juhana Pohjola stated to the ordinands in his sermon, “The hands on your heads are heavy, for they are hands of blessing.” Photo: Juuso Siltanen
For several years now, the Summer Festival has culminated in an ordination service. During the divine service, Bishop Juhana Pohjola ordained three men to the apostolic ministry: Jon Cederdal was ordained as assistant pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Congregation in Helsinki, Ilpo Harjutsalo as assistant pastor of St. Thomas’s Congregation in Espoo, and Simon Jern as pastor of both the Finnish- and Swedish-speaking congregations in Vaasa.
The Mission Diocese’s Summer Festival brought together visitors of all ages for the seventh time. Photo: Janne Koskela
The Summer Festival has been refined each year to meet the needs of the expanding number of participants, both in terms of the venue and the program. For example, this year the festival tent was larger than in previous years, the temporary sacristy and altar structures were upgraded, and the program offerings were also more extensive than before, especially in the evenings.
The Summer Festival steering committee will soon begin preparations for next year’s festival, which will be held at the Loimaa Evangelical College from July 30 to August 1, 2027. To ensure a successful festival, the steering committee welcomes feedback on any aspect of the Summer Festival’s organization. You can submit feedback in English using the form accessible via this link.
On Saturday, the stage in the festival tent was filled with singing children. Photo: Yue Yijia Owen
A total of 370 volunteers helped prepare for and carry out the 2026 Summer Festival. We extend our thanks to each and every one of them. We would like to extend a special invitation to all volunteers to join us at the Loimaa College for the Summer Festival Thanksgiving Celebration, which will be held on Sunday, September 13, starting at 10:00 a.m. The day’s program includes a service at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, lunch (free of charge), a thank-you celebration, and coffee and cake. You are warmly welcome!
English translation: Thomas Toepfer
