Experiences and Encounters from the Finnish Urantia Association’s Summer Days August, 2026
I am happy and grateful that Jukka Makkonen, president of the Finnish Urantia Association, responded to my confused inquiries and questions and recommended me to become a member of the Association and attend the Summer Days. Upon arriving in the stunning natural landscape of Tervaniemi, I had the pleasure of meeting the charming Line St-Pierre, President of Urantia Association International. We stayed in the same cabin with Karoliina Auvinen and her son, and I learned key details about the Association in my home country and around the world. Right from the start, I was also able to share my own enthusiasm with our small group. Before turning in for the night, we chatted with Jukka and Esa Irri, who was remarkably eloquent in English.
On Saturday morning, the first thing I received was my official certificate of membership in the Urantia Association! More manna was on the way: Matti Tossavainen’s lecture, “Eternities,” lived up to its title—it was deeply thought-provoking and demanding material, but I was able to follow along more or less. At some point during the day, I jotted down a touching sentence—I’m not sure where it came from: “God is present in a ‘subdued’ (milder) form farther from Paradise (our Southern Universe)—not upward, but inward.” This left me pondering… the Spirit has no spatial constraints…
Line St-Pierre brought the international organization within our reach. I was deeply moved by her radiant presence; I recognized something truly beautiful. Line also mentioned the upcoming international gathering in May in Brazil (May 27–30, 2027) at the border of Uruguay and Argentina: The Triple Frontier, where the Iguazú and Paraná rivers mark the boundary between these three countries. That piqued my interest!
Splitting into small groups is often rewarding, and this was true for the group work session as well. It gave me the chance to get to know a few of the participants better. I was also delighted to have my friend Sari von Becker, a theologian, join us; we both belong to the same community, The Christ Light Circle. We believe that we will gain something new for our work from The Urantia Book. During the event, we both experienced a very personal “connection” — we were not at the gathering by chance. The annual meeting also reinforced this. Overall, the atmosphere at the summer gathering was inspiring and encouraging.
I was looking forward to the informal program after dinner; I had many questions, as I often do. Fortunately, I’m able to admit when I’m wrong, if necessary. I haven’t always thought things through completely; questions remain. But isn’t that part of what makes a conversation interesting?! I found the conversation meaningful—hopefully, on both sides.
Ari Kalaja’s presentation was spot-on for a new member. It was a comprehensive historical overview, complete with tangible written evidence, including international newspaper articles in addition to national material. Admittedly, human attitudes have been marked by the assumption that there is no life elsewhere in the cosmos! We therefore did not give the Earth a name. Among its planetary siblings, it would have been Urantia.
Karoliina Auvinen expertly led the working group, and the discussion was lively. There were about 30 of us at the gathering. I tried to get to know everyone at least a little, and there were also three participants from my hometown. I heard that there is a regular study group in Oulu. Reading The Urantia Book inevitably raises questions for which one hopes to gain a deeper understanding. A discussion would be—and is—a welcome opportunity in that regard.