#52Ancestors52Weeks...Week 51 Theme...Good Deeds...Glaedelig Jul and Godt Nytaar!

    This  little pocket-sized booklet was found with the John Hansen family papers and was something Vere Hansen saved.  It measures 3" by 5" and is bound by a once-colorful cotton string. The front is translated "The Seamen's Mission's Christmas Carols".  Who were these Seamen and what was their mission?  

  

   back 

    The Norwegian Church Abroad or the Norwegian Seamen's Church is a religious organization that serves Norwegians and other Scandinavians traveling abroad. It was originally founded in Bergen, Norway in 1864 and was devoted to serving Norwegian seamen where ever they found themselves in the world. The religious organization was commissioned by the Norwegian Parliament in order to secure the moral and religious education of Scandinavian sailors far from home.  The church also served as a safe haven abroad where seamen could visit and converse with fellow countrymen. 

  Contents: 

It looks like these are a combination of Norwegian religious songs and Christmas Carols.  

   The Norwegian Church Abroad is still in existence and has 28 Norwegian churches across the globe.  It now serves expatriates and changing generations of traveling Norwegians.  The organization makes visits to hospitalized Norwegians in different countries, and also performs weddings. Its national celebrations and religious rituals allow expatriates across the world to stay in touch with their heritage, and they help to alleviate feelings of isolation.  For most Norwegians living or traveling abroad, the Sjomannskirken is a nice place to rest where one can read newspapers from home, buy Norwegian food and speak the language with others.  Many Norwegians living abroad use the seamen's churches as their home church. 

The locations of the Seamen's Missions at the time of this publication (unknown). The United States and Spain currently have the most locations due to large Norwegian populations in those countries. 

Merry Christmas! 

Happy New Year! 

    I do not know when this little booklet was picked up, or where it was picked up.  Several family members traveled to Norway  or traveled from Norway over the years and I'm sure it was saved as a memento of one of those trips.  Grandpa was in Antwerp, Belgium on his way back from Norway in 1930 and he may have stopped at the church there.  It is one of those mysteries!  But someone, somewhere in the family received the benefits of the Seamen's Mission and church abroad.  

References: 

Sjomannskirken--Norwegian Church Abroad by Anna Akopyan May 9, 2024 

https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/05/09/sjomannskirken-norwegian-church-abroad/

Norwegian Church Abroad  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Church_Abroad