Songs from Magadascar in the Congregation in Yaroslavl

On April 22 a long hoped-for event took place – the trip of the French-speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Moscow to Yaroslavl. The youth choir prepared a special paschal program for their performance in the “kirche.”

Despite the biting cold in the church (since it is still under construction there has been no heat for many years ) the sanctuary was full. Members of the congregation came; they prepared tea and snacks for guests from the city. The vice mayor of the city, Vyacheslav Gavrilov, welcomed the guests. The choir, for their part, gave him souvenirs from Madagascar (where most of the members of the congregation are from) as a sign of thankfulness for his support. Area Dean Elena Bonderenko, Pastor Ivan Shirokov from the Yaroslavl congregation, and preachers Artis Petersons and Mamy Rakotonitama each said a few words of their own.

The choir, directed by Fara Rakoto, performed traditional French Easter hymns, Malagasi and contemporary Christian songs. The choir was accompanied by the pianist of the Moscow Protestant Congregational Jacquis Steve Andriamampiarintsoa and his spouse Farrah Ramboarifina (the director of the MPC choir) also joined the performance. On that day that French-speaking congregation took with them a new paschal candle to light it from the candle of the Yaroslavl congregation. This candle became a symbol of the light of the Gospel which believers share with one another, confirming in this way that victory of the Risen Christ.

Elena Bondarenko

Saying Goodbye to Pastor Fara

Moscow
  On July 19th after 8 years of service Pastor Fara Rayarisoa from Madagascar completed her service in the French-speaking Protestant congregation of Moscow. This event was marked by worship in St. Peter and Paul cathedral and by an African barbecue meal in the courtyard after worship.
  Elena Bondarenko, Dean of the Moscow region, is fluent in many languages, including French; this will allow her to be Pastor Fara's successor. The congregation already knows Pastor Bondarenko well thanks to her frequent visits to and preaching in their congregation, which is made up of French-speaking Africans and a few Protestant French citizens who work at the embassy. The congregation has been in contact with the ELCER for 15 years already and celebrates its regular services in the chapel. This year the congregation expressed its desire to become an official congregation of the ELCER while at the same time maintaining its French Protestant identity.