Feast of Tabernacles in Estonia 2011

By Victor Kubik 

Seventy brethren from Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus, Finland, Sweden, Germany, the Isle of Man and the United States gathered on the Estonian island of Saaremaa in in the Baltic Sea in unity and peace to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. The weather was perfect, although a bit cool. Twenty-five of the attendees were 21 and under. Family atmosphere has dominated the mood of the Feast as we congregated, ate and did our activities together.

The hotel we all stayed was a Scandinavian spa hotel specializing in pools, baths and massages that our attendees enjoyed.  The children really enjoyed the pools.

The messages have focused on the coming new world, family, respect for human government and the New World coming.

One evening we held a story telling night in which many of those who lived under Communism in the USSR told inspiring stories about their lives and faith in the days of the USSR.

For the third year running a group of 20 Latvians kept the Feast with us.  They have adopted our beliefs we consider them our close spiritual kin. 

At the last minute a family from Ukraine attended.  They are part of the group of hundreds of Sabbatarians we have been visiting and working with for the past 20 years.  One major difference between us has been that they had not adopted the Annual Holy Days.  However, in the past five year many have begun to keep them.  On the Feast of Trumpets this past year a 100 of them in the modest Khust, Ukraine church gathered for the Feast of Trumpets. I have previously invited these people to our Feast in Estonia.  This time one of their leading members, Ivan Yurishko called me and said he wanted to come.  At first it seemed like a long shot because it normally takes two weeks to get a visa from Ukraine to Estonia.  But, he made a 12 hour train journey to Kiev, applied at the Estonian embassy and had his application expedited and made it to Saaremaa just before sunset on opening night of the Feast. 

Ivan Yurishko has printed larger quantities of our literature in Russian and Swedish that we have sent from Estonia and Sweden.  He and his family were definitely absorbed in the activities and spirit of the Feast.  He said he wanted to see how we keep the Feast so that they can do likewise next year and already have preliminary plans for Ukrainians to go across the border to Hungary to hold the Feast in 2012.

All posts below are most recent to oldest

LAST POST BEFORE WE LEAVE

October 7, 2011

In less than a week 71 of us will be together for the Feast of Tabernacles in Estonia. 24 of that group are 21 or younger. We will have people of all ages, particularly children which will add a a wonderful family dimension to the Feast. Also, we have a last minute family coming from Western Ukraine. Ivan and Nina Yurishko along with their five year-old son Sergei.  Ivan was in Kiev processing his visa for Estonia. We have been friends of the Yurishko's for 20 years going back to my first visit with the Sabbatarians in Ukraine in 1992. He has been so instrumental in helping us with church and humanitarian work.

Now, I have some last minute things to mention and emphasize.

• Be sure to bring swimwear. The place we're staying has lots of water activity.

• Be sure to let your credit card company know that you are going to Estonia so that they will not inadvertently decline the use of your card while there.

• Please bring your hymnal. I do plan to bring my projector and my son Michael will project slides of the music. But, just to be on the safe side, please bring your hymnal.

• Be sure to review past information on this website at www.kubik.org/estonia. One very useful link is the weather forecast.

We hope to meet up with some of you at the bus station in Tallinn. We are hoping to make the 2:00 PM bus from Tallinn to Kuresssaare on Tuesday, October 11th.  If you need to check the bus schedule, go to http://www.bussireisid.ee/index.html?MENU=&KEEL=en 

When the bus crosses over on the ferry to the island, be sure to be back on the bus before the ferry docks. The busses leave right away and if you're not on the bus you will see the bus with your luggage go on the Kuresssare without you.

Last night we finished making name tags for everyone.  Also, we have a program and the delicious-sounding menu for the daily lunches which are very nice.

If you want to view PDF's of the program and menu, please click below.  You can print them if you want, but we will have copies that we will bring for the Feast.

• Festival Program
   

• Menu for lunches

Please be careful....see you soon!

Warmest greetings...

Victor and Beverly Kubik

Still interested in attending the Feast of Tabernacles this fall 2011 in Estonia.
Click here for introductory information.

______

September 20, 2011 UPDATE

June 6, 2011 UPDATE

We are really excited about this coming Feast of Tabernacles.  So far nearly 70 people are committed to going.  We have room for more. 

At this time we'd like to ask those going about their musical abilities for the various music needs at the Feast. We have asked Karen Allwine to coordinate music again as she has many times for the Feasts of Tabernacles.  We thank her in advance for this labor of love. 

We have a form that we would like for you to fill out and return via email to Karen.  You can download it here in either WORD or PDF formats.  Then please fill out and send to her as soon as you can so we can start making plans.

MUSIC Q WORD                     MUSIC Q PDF

We would like to invite you to join a forum for any discussion about any aspect of the trip. The forum is at located at

http://kubik.smfforfree4.com/

It is a closed forum, so you will have to REGISTER.  Then wait to receive your invitation.  Please use your real name when signing up, not a nickname.  Make it like Facebook.

Some have asked about travel to Russia. This may be a good way to interact and share information.

Vic Kubik

May 8, 2011

It's Time To Register and Make Reservations!!

We are ready for you to register for the Feast in Estonia and to make reservations at the GOSPA Hotel on Saaremaa Island for the Feast of Tabernacles!

This year we ask you to make your own reservations. It is a very simple procedure and explained on the Registration form which is available here in either WORD or PDF format.

Please e-mail Keidi at keidi.hoogand@gospa.ee for reservations at the GOSPA Hotel on the Island of Saaremaa. Please let her know that you are with the United Church of God. They know us well and are looking for you to contact them.  Payment will not necessary until your arrival in Estonia for the Feast.  

• Registration Form in WORD

• Registration Form in PDF

If you do not have a computer please call Victor or Beverly Kubik at 317 679-7676 and we will make reservations for you. 

Otherwise, you can email the WORD form back to estonia@kubik.org  or FAX either the PDF or WORD to 1 317 536-3388.  We are really looking forward to a great Feast of Tabernacles this fall in Estonia!  Please return these forms as soon as possible so we can firm up our numbers for the Feast. 

Vic and Bev Kubik

Former February 22, 2011 post

Estonia 

Saaremaa Island 

Plans are underway for the Feast of Tabernacles in Estonia. Estonia is nestled between Russia, the Baltic Republics and Scandinavia.  It is known as part of the land of the Vikings. 

We plan to bring brethren together from these areas along with transfers from the United States and other places.   

The Feast will be held on the beautiful, historic and strategic island of Saaremaa, which controls one of the sea gates to Russia.  

We will stay at the luxurious Georg Ots Spa Hotel which overlooks the Baltic Sea.  Scandinavians love their spas, and this location was very popular with Feastgoers in 2009 and 2010 Children and adults alike will love it  

We anticipate around 90 people attending. It is truly an amazing thing to see how close such a small group can become in one week. Previous attendees will testify that Latvian children and young adults (of whom there are many) are quite facile with English, and they RELISH the opportunity to serve as translators. The close relationship between Latvian parents and children was very noticeable.   Americans who came here to this Feast with children, went home with a closer relationship with their children as a result of the Latvian example.

Double room at the spa will be a very reasonable $75 per room per night.  Accommodations are priced in euros and will vary a little with exchange rate.  Here is a summary of room prices.

• Double room 51 EUR per night
• Single room 32 EUR per night
• Family Room 77 EUR per night
• Suite 128 EUR per night
• Children sharing bed with parents no charge, extra bed 6 EUR per night.
• One night free, if reservations is more than three nights.

This price includes a buffet breakfast, unlimited access to saunas, pools and fitness center, use of a personal bathrobe and sandals, Internet connection in the hotel rooms and all taxes.  See their Web site at http://www.gospa.ee/en/. Buffet afternoon meals (daily) are truly a Feast  experience for about $15 for adults – about half price for children. Little else can be eaten by most. The conference room is on the third floor of the hotel.

You will not need to rent a car as many restaurants and sights are within walking distance. Taxis are plentiful, and you can still get almost anywhere for about $5.

Currency and payments are now denominated in Euros. Approximately 4 dollars will buy 3 Euros. 

Median coach airfare from the United States to the capital city, Tallinn, is about $1,100-$1,200 per person.  There are two flights daily from Tallinn to the Island of Saaremaa for about $40 one way.  Additional information about other charges for bus, excursions and group meals will be made available on our Estonia Feast Web site at www.kubik.org/estonia.

First Service will be Wednesday evening, October  12^th at 7:30 PM.  Location of Services:  All meetings will be held onsite in Saaremaa. 

You may request an application by e-mailing Festival coordinator Victor Kubik at estonia@kubik.org or by writing to 3707 Turfway Court, Indianapolis, IN 46228-2095 or by calling (317) 216-0802.

Please come join us for a memorable and enjoyable Feast of Tabernacles 2011!

I am interested in the Feast in Estonia. Please send me more information and put me on the mailing
list for updates. 

• FORUM for the Feast
  
  If you are not a member of this FORUM, you will have to register first with a username and
  password.  We invite you to join this FORUM and learn from one another about the Feast.

Victor Kubik