But for me it is good to be near God (Ps. 73:28)

Welcome to the Summer Services in Tornio!

If God wills, the 2016 Summer Services will be arranged in Tornio on July 1–4. The service site is situated in the village of Liakka, less than 10 kilometers east of Tornio’s city center. The village of Liakka is surrounded by excellent hiking, hunting, and berry-picking areas. Agriculture plays a visible part in village life.

The Liakka River flows through the village after branching off from the Tornio River, a rich source of fish for both river and sea fishers. In the summer you can watch fishermen catching whitefish with traditional dip nets along the shores of Tornio River’s best-known rapids, Kukkolankoski.

The early phases of the Laestadian revival movement are linked to the Tornio River valley. Living Christianity spread to the Tornio area along this channel in the late 1850s. The Tornio RY is one of the oldest in Finland. It was registered in 1888.

The 2016 Summer Services arrangements are the responsibility of the Tornio and Rovaniemi RYs together with the RYs of Karunki, Kemi, Keminmaa, Rautiosaari, and Tervola. The region has a strong industrial cluster with expertise in steel, textiles, and forestry. The international twin cities of Tornio and Haparanda on the Swedish side are known for their unique cross-border cooperation.

The graphical image of the SRK’s Summer Services in the village of Liakka in Tornio is based on verse 28 of Psalm 73: ”But for me it is good to be near God.” The motto of the services and the village of Liakka have formed the basis for the image.

The Summer Service logo is comprised of blue, green, and yellow elements. The blue color depicts the sky and water; the green, growth and the region’s agriculture; and the yellow, the sun, a field of ripe grain, the security of God, and man’s good portion near God. The logo also contains the form of a cross resting upon the green area, which depicts the earth and a growing field.

The rest of the Summer Service graphical image is formed on the basis of the logo. It includes the festive gate, which functions as the landmark of the main service area.