Ideas on how to plan and execute celebrations of significant congregational anniversaries with worship, music and community activities.

Here are a number of ideas about ways congregations can nurture ministry in daily life, as reported in a survey conducted by the Division for Ministry of the ELCA. These suggestions are not just theoretical. The congregations have used them in practice. they occur within existing congregational structures and programs (e.g., confirmation, worship, adult education) and are not "add-ons."

The following information is made available for those who desire to become Mission Partners for the new Lutheran congregation in Eau Claire. It is also one example of starting a new church that might be useful to others who are preparing to do the same in other places. This is a .ZIP file which includes all the RTF's and graphics with an .html file that can help make looking through all the files easier.

Goals of the Sister Parish Program are: To grow in faith and make manifest our unity in Christ through sharing experiences of faith and Christian living. To deepen the commitment to justice peace of both churches through greater understanding of each other's reality. To provide a network of concerned friends to advocate for Salvadoran church workers should they be in danger. To build up the reign of God here on earth as it is in heaven through support of small community-based sustainable development projects.

We encourage congregations to be in consultation with the Global Mission Board regarding all plans, arrangements and decisions involving the companion synod relationship. We discourage individual congregations from acting independently.

We believe that the blessings we will experience as a synod and as congregations as we form congregation-to-congregation relationships are: that we will all be renewed and strengthened in our witness to our Lord Jesus. That we will both give and receive encouragement in our work, our congregational practices, and in our prayer life. That we will be strengthened and inspired by each other in our callings as a "sent people in daily life. that each congregation will learn more about how the Church lives and works outside our own countries.

This brief guide is intended as an introduction to archives for congregational archivists and archives committees. It can help start a congregational archives, but may not answer every question that arises.

The following are some considerations to keep in mind when a congregation rents space to another person or entity. This is not legal advice and any final decisions should be made in consultation with a local lawyer or other professional. The following comments are informational only and may be helpful in becoming aware of some issues.