The Sjømannskirken or much better understood in English as the Norwegian Seamen’s Church Abroad in Pattaya was loaded with Scandinavians and their Thai friends and families who had actually pertained to invite and commemorate the inauguration of the brand-new pastor for Norwegians in Thailand.
On Sunday Feb. 26, a procession of 5 Scandinavian pastors led the Rev. Helle Maria Wolstad into the holy church to be inaugurated in a spiritual event.
The procedures started with the reading of messages of felicitation from Gudmund Waaler, Performing Bishop of Bjørgvin Bishop’s workplace and from Jeffery Huseby, General Secretary of the Norwegian Church Abroad and the basic board of the Norwegian Seamen Church.
The event was started by Pastor Kjell H. Christoffersen who typically acted as alternative pastor in Pattaya, while Pastor Ragnvald Seierstad who served the Pattaya Norwegian Church and the churchgoers for 6 years, lead the inauguration prayer. He likewise told his experiences while residing in Thailand. He stated “Invite Pastor Helle Maria Wolstad to our church, like Jesus, the great shepherd, He left 99 sheep that were safe and headed out looking for the one that was lost– that is likewise a job for you, to go to the ill and the lonesome and look after your herd.”
Pastor Helle Maria Wolstad stated that she was thrilled to be here in Pattaya and was anticipating serving her churchgoers, stating “It is my genuine desire to be an excellent leader both for the spiritual life and the social life of the Norwegian neighborhood at the church in Pattaya, and for Norwegians around the nation. Thailand is a terrific land to serve in and I go to the job as a pastor here with gratitude and humbleness”.
Genuine greetings were communicated by Christa Lund Herum from the Danish Church in Bangkok and Olaf Olsson from the Swedish Church in Bangkok.
Deacon Hans Konrad Nyvoll invited Pastor Helle Maria Wolstad stating that he had actually served the church under the management and assistance of 5 pastors and was anticipating working carefully with Pastor Helle to serve the church and the Scandinavian neighborhood in Pattaya and the Eastern Coast.
At the end of the event coffee and conventional Norwegian bløtekake was served much to the pleasure of individuals put together there.
The following is an interview with Pastor Helle Maria Wolstad that the Norwegian Church show the general public so that they can be familiar with her much better.
” I am 59 years of ages and have actually 4 matured kids and 2 grandchildren, one 14 years of ages and one 4 months old. To state it with a tune title “I take a trip alone”.
” I matured as a missionary’s child and after being certified in Faith I began operating in the Methodist Church. Ever since I operated at the City Objective of the Church, the SOS organisation of the Church and for 3 years I was likewise the leader of the volunteer centre of Stovner. “
I have actually been practicing as a Methodist Church Pastor at numerous locations in Norway. When I began dealing with Church of Norway I was district pastor at Osterøy and just recently I was working as a pastor at Geilo.”
My excellent enthusiasm is music. I listen to whatever from heavy rock, ballads, popular song and hymns to timeless music. For that reason I am thrilled about how we can utilize the music in more methods the church. I established a “Bob Dylan Service”, a “Retropop Mass” and a “Blue Christmas”– the latter was a Christmas service with alternative music for individuals who feel the Christmas time can be a heavy time.” I likewise developed a “Psychological Peace Service” in cooperation with Healing and AA.”
” As a kid I resided in the Congo and I have actually given that lived, studied and operated in Israel and the United States. I take pleasure in finding out brand-new languages however I do not understand how it will be with Thai. Today, I am taking a course on the Web.”
” I like to opt for long strolls, train, travel and remain in the nature be it at sea, on land or in the forest. My extra time I invest listening to music or reading books like Coello and Tolkien.”
The Norwegian Church in Pattaya and the Scandinavian churchgoers warmly welcome Pastor Helle Maria Wolstad and promise overall devotion and assistance for her and the church to guarantee that her period as Pastor in Pattaya will be a most worthwhile and delighted one.
