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Activities:
Malkus discussion group meets mainly on every other Friday (even weeks) starting at 7.00 p.m. The point of time, place and theme of each group gathering is listed above in the calendar. The meetings usually take place in the Seta Helsinki office:
Address:
Mannerheimintie 170 A 4 (5th floor)
00300 Helsinki
FINLAND
When we gather together in the discussion group, we talk about both profound and easy topics, depending on people's mood each time. Sometimes we have a prepared theme (often introduced by a guest speaker) and usually we also have time set aside for listening to what is going on with each of us lately.
A Christian/spiritual camp for sexual minorities has been arranged several times. In September 2012 the camp will take place in Rantalahti in Janakkala (90 km from Helsinki). More information of the camp is given (in Finnish) in the camp brochure .
Malkus Bible study group gathers on the 2nd Wednesday each month in Alppila Church group facilities. The Bible chapters are announced beforehand and discussed without introduction. Take your own Bible with you.
Malkus has a Yahoo web club that is also a mailing list. It is possible to join the club in a Malkus gathering. Malkus is also on Facebook .
Several times Malkus has taken part in the Helsinki Pride event. In summer 2011 Malkus arranged a pride event and took part in the pride parade as a group. Malkus often has also other (less formal) summer activities such as picnics.
In addition to Malkus activies there are also other activities for spiritual rainbow people in Finland. Lutheran church services called Rainbow Masses are part of the rainbow mission of a Lutheran parish in Helsinki, Kallion seurakunta. Usually the Mass is held in Alppila Church (Kotkankatu 2) at 5 p.m. Johannes-seurakunta in Helsinki arranges once a year a Rainbow Mass in Swedish in Johannes Church. There are corresponding church services also in other cities. Tampere Rainbow Mass takes place in Finlayson Church (Kuninkaankatu 3, Tampere), Turku Rainbow Mass in St. Henry's Church (Peltolantie 2, Turku) and Kuopio Rainbow Mass in Männistö Old Church (Lönnrotinkatu 24, Kuopio).
Rainbow Café has been part of the rainbow mission of Kallion seurakunta, but has been suspended for now. However, Johannes-seurakunta and Regnbågsankan arrange a Rainbow Café in Swedish on Thursdays (see calendar) at 7-9 p.m. in Hörnan (Korkeavuorenkatu 10).
A sorrow group for those who have lost a close person (by death) has been arranged a couple of times by Kallion seurakunta. A sorrow group gathers regularly for a limited period of time, always with the same composition. The members of the group can share their sorrow with each other. There will be other sorrow groups also in the future as soon as there are at least three registered participants. To register contact pastor Jaana Partti of Kallion seurakunta (by telephone 050-3803289, by email jaana.partti (at) evl.fi ). You can always contact her in case of losing a close person by death, regardless of whether you are interested in the group or not.
Relationship training courses for same-sex couples are held by the Lutheran Church, and more specifically, by a group called Yhteinen elämämme that also provides information on future courses.
For many years there have been weekends of devotion in silence for rainbow people. A local Lutheran parish arranges them in Tammilehto in Rymättylä (near Turku), next time in autumn 2012 (more information is given by Päivimaaria Ollila, p.050-4436541 or paivimaaria.ollila (at) saunalahti.fi). Also Kallion seurakunta arranges these events. Next weekend of devotion in silence of Kallion seurakunta will be held on 30.3.-1.4.2012 in Heponiemi in Karjalohja (more information is given by Jaana Partti, p.050-3803289 or jaana.partti (at) evl.fi ).
Finnish Ecumenical Rainbow Forum took place for the first time in October 2011 in Seurakuntaopisto in Järvenpää. The time and place for the next forum will be announced later.
There are yet other Seta groups like us in Finland devoted to rainbow spirituality in Tampere , Turku , Kuopio , Lappeenranta and Oulu. For parish workers and active parish members there is a rainbow group called Arcus . In addition, there is Yhteys movement for church people who defend the rights of rainbow people and their relatives and friends. Yhteys movement operations include networking and training.
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