Congregations Respond to the Call to Discipleship

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairhope, AL, is a mission congregation that began July 1, 1999. Holy Trinity’s pastor, Bill Funk, says, "First we developed our theme: Call to Discipleship-Forming the Church Together. Then we developed a plan for a chartering process, creating a brochure to present all the parts of the program and general schedule. Next we offered the Growing Disciples Bible Study (featured in the Congregational Guide for the Call to Discipleship) with lay persons leading the sessions. Over two-thirds of our adults are in the study! We are now planning to use the seven Faith Practice bulletin inserts and a temple talk with personal witnessing. We have also incorporated the seven faith practices in our congregation’s mission statement." 334/990-5973; 10/1/00

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Elgin, IL celebrated Living Faith Sunday September 10, 2000. Upon arriving, members were handed a worship folder that included a Living Faith bookmark, refrigerator magnet and a copy of the booklet, Doing Faith: Basic Practices for Growing Christians (AFP product). Once seated, worshipers noticed a new Bible in their pew with the label: "Need a Bible? We encourage you to take this one with our compliments." Looking up from their pew, attendees gazed upon seven new worship banners, each one highlighting a faith practice: pray, study, worship, encourage, invite, serve and give. The order of worship included hymn, a litany of commitment and sending rite all focused on the Call to Discipleship. After worship, in the fellowship hall, members saw another set of seven banners. These listed opportunities and present ministry offerings focused on the faith practices. Contact: Pastor Mark Lund, 847/742-2025; 10/1/00

The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Emmaus, PA is excited about Living Faith. They plan to begin their emphasis in January 2001. They are putting together a planning team over the fall, using the suggestions from the Congregation Planning Guide. Pam Bonina, Director of Member Ministries has developed a ministry position description for those who would serve on the planning team. The description is posted on the Call to Discipleship Web site. Contact: Pam Bonina, 610/967-2220. 10/1/00

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Canton, OH began planning their call emphasis in the summer by engaging 24 leaders in the Growing Disciples Bible Study. These leaders served as the planning task force. In the fall, several of these leaders are now facilitating new discipleship groups in the congregation using the Bible study. On Rally Day, the congregation experienced a home-grown Discipleship Hotline Skit, highlighting ways members of the congregation practice their discipleship. The youth of the congregation experienced a similar creative learning experience built on the popular game Hollywood Squares, featuring questions from the Bible and about Christian discipleship. During the Fall, the pastor is preaching a sermon series on the faith practices. The congregation intends to continue deeper on this path through the year. Contact: Sue Neel, AIM; 330/492-0072. [note: David Anderson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod, is a good contact to find out what a number of the congregations in this synod are doing. The Call is finding significant expression in this synod.] 10/15/00

Pastor Joe Walde, Bone Lake Lutheran, Luck, WI led a discussion on the Call to Discipleship with his congregation council. One council member stated, "You know, Pastor, I don’t think we really understand what it means to be disciples." With that admission, Pastor Walde found an opportunity for the "building" to begin. "I suggested that what we need to do is get back to the basics of discipleship – study of scripture and prayer, in order to allow God to lead us in His way." Contact: Joe Walde, 715/472-8153; (gleaned from the Sept.\Oct. Northwest Wisconsin Synod newsletter). 10/15/00

Pastor Bill Stewart, Our Savior’s Lutheran, Stanley, WI, reminds his congregation, "For a whole year, September 2000 - August 2001, we will be walking together with other ELCA congregations in an intentional focus upon a key aspect of what it means to be a Lutheran Christian: Discipleship. The congregation is busy planning how the call and its resources will be implemented throughout this year. Contact: Bill Stewart, 715/644-3665 (gleaned from the Sept/Oct. Northwest Synod of Wisconsin newsletter) 10/15/00

Concordia Lutheran, Superior, WI has a creative approach to embracing the Call. Pastor Maggie Speich has developed a mnemonic device to remember the seven faith practices: PS...WISE...G. She says, "The seven faith practices seem to be ‘post script’ for our lives because it is WISE to have them. "G" is at the end because if we have the other six faith practices in place, to give is the end result. She also presented a challenge to her members: "Next time you see me, challenge me to rattle these [seven practices] off. If I can, I’ll give you a dollar. But I’ll expect you to do something special with it as a disciple of Jesus and let me know about it. Contact: 715/394-3762 (gleaned from the Sept/Oct NW Synod of Wisconsin newsletter) 10/15/00

Zion Lutheran, Stratford, WI is focusing on one faith practice a month. They created a theme banner utilizing the art work of the Call and hung it at the entrance of their sanctuary as a reminder of the year long journey they are taking. Pastor Sue Eidahl says, "These faith practices are ‘God-shaped and God-shaping.’ They are core and central to the Spirit-driven faith. Contact: June Hanneman or Pasto Eidahl, 715/394-3762 (gleaned from the Sept/Oct NW synod of Wisconsin newsletter) 10/15/00

Trinity Lutheran, Hammond, WI is working through its congregation council to plan their discipleship initiative. Pastor Tanya Rist shares that their focus will be on the faith practices: "they’re not new, but we’ll be experiencing them in new ways, along with the traditional ways. Trinity’s council is excited about the discipleship initiative, and so am I." Contact: 715/796-2788 (gleaned from the Sept/Oct Northwest Synod of Wisconsin newsletter) 10/15/00

Abiding Presence, Burke, VA is engaging the Call in a big way. For their Sunday school opening each week they are using puppets speaking over a backdrop featuring the Call to Discipleship art. "Every four to five weeks we are focusing on a different faith practice. We began with prayer and sent home a mat and candle for each family to place in the room where they gathered most often. The mat was designed by a member of the congregation. The mat has the seven faith practices and their Bible verses in the center. Families are asked to center their prayer around the candle. The pictures were drawn freehand from the clipart in the Living Faith Congregational Guide. Each family colored their own mat and laminated it. Debbie Streicher, on staff at Abiding peace, is happy to share pictures and ideas via email. bstreich@erols.com   Contact: 703/455-7500. 10/16/00

First English Lutheran, Grosse Point Woods, MI. Pastor Walter Schmidt shares: "we are presently using the Bible study and are finding the material is good stuff." The faith practice themes are serving as a newsletter article each month. Pastor Schmidt is planning his Lenten 2001 preaching series on the faith practices. I think they are a natural for a Lenten series for they represent what being a child of God, under the cross of Christ, is all about." Contact: 313/884-5040. 10/15/00

Peace Lutheran Church, Knoxville, TN is dedicating significant attention to the call this year. Pastor Jim Kroniger writes "I want to reiterate how valuable the Living Faith resource has been for Peace. It has created a tremendous yearning for spiritual growth among our members. I am eager to see how this year unfolds for us and the blessings God provides." Each month, the pastors’ lead article in the newsletter focuses on a faith practice. Some of the special highlights around prayer include developing a homegrown "Prayer Ventures" list and distributing green dots as memory triggers inviting members to stop intentionally and regularly to pray. They have made use of the CTD bookmarks as well as other pieces. Contact: 423/690-9201; 10/15/00

Trinity Lutheran, Spooner, Wisconsin offered a fall sermon series using texts from the Call to Discipleship Bible study in the ELCA resource notebook. After the sermon series the congregation is being asked for a month to go a step deeper by filling out commitment cards about specific things they will take part in this year for the sake of spiritual growth. The cards are then placed on a wall for others to see, and the people who fill out the cards are being prayed for during the year. As many Trinity groups as possible will use the Bible study during the year (church council, choirs, womens groups, Bible study groups, prayer chain, etc.) Each month of the 2000-2001 school year will have a discipleship theme, which will be emphasized in worship, music, preaching, bulletins inserts, Kid’s church and with special activities (e.g. a healing service during the Prayer month). Advent and Lent Wednesday evening services will all feature sermons on the faith practices. Pastor Will Mowchan writes: "very soon after planning and starting these things we became convinced that this needs to be much more than a one year emphasis. Discipleship is the church! It can’t be only a one year emphasis." Contact: The Rev. Will Mowchan, 715/635-3603; mowchan@spacestar.net 10/23/00.

Good Shepherd Lutheran, Somerville, NJ began by inviting the council to endorse the call as a focus for their year, calling it "Call to Discipleship - Building Our Faith", and connecting it to a building expansion program they are engaging. Study and affinity small groups are being invited to engage the CTD Bible study this year. The congregation’s spiritual ministry teams have also been invited use the focus of the Call as a screen in selecting their ministry offerings this year. Newsletter staff are organizing their newsletter items by faith practice to reinforce the notion of practices. The Director of Children and Youth Ministry, Cathi Reckenbeil, and the Pastor led an overnight retreat for 21 Sunday School teachers and Youth Leaders on Oct. 20-21. The purposes of the retreat were 1)to reflect on their personal faith practices and what it means to continue to grow as a disciple of Jesus and 2) to consider ways to invite their youth to grow in discipleship. The retreat format was four sessions, using of the first four CTD Bible Studies from Luke, which explored how Jesus’ followers began as new partners and became mature disciples. It included large and small group sharing, personal reflection, and devotional time. The also spent considerable time reviewing the seven faith practices and then broke into seven small groups who were charged to come up with a creative way -role playing, drawings, homemade songs, charades - to explain their faith practice to the whole group. The group brain stormed how to bring faith practices to the children and youth this year. At Sunday school and youth leaders’ meetings later in the year and into 2001, they will continue with the 5^th and 6^th session of the Bible studies and ongoing conversation about how to apply these learnings. Contact: Cathi Reckenbeil, 908/685-1660; d.reckenbeil@att.net   11/7/00

Hope Lutheran Church of the Sierra, South Lake Tahoe, CA is using the Call to Discipleship as part of their intergenerational Sunday school program. They utilize an upcoming lectionary text along with one of the seven faith practices. (Eg. for 19^th Pentecost, Oct 22, the practice of serve was tied with the story of James and John competing for places of honor; the group participated in foot washing, Bible study and made hygiene kits for a local food pantry.) On All Saints Sunday, with the pastors gone, the "saints" preached a sermon based on the seven faith practices. Contact: Eric Utto-Galarneau, madanvil@aol.com; 530/541-1975 11/7/00

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Reno, NV began in September 2000 with a month long focus on discipleship; then from October through May, focusing for a month on each faith practice with a first Sunday bulletin insert from CTD materials and a temple talk and the adult ed class focusing on the same practice for the month. The leaders also commissioned the writing of a song called "He Calls Us" with seven verses for each of the seven faith practices. They are considering one practice a month, and each month they add the appropriate verse. In the final month, they will be singing all seven verses as part of their worship services. A lead sheet for "He Calls Us" is available upon request. During the month they focus on "serve", the outreach team is emphasizing how this practice is an important part of the congregation’s life and ministry. Contact: The Rev. Carl Wilfred, 775/329-0696; pastor@goodshepherdreno.org 11/7/00

Pastor Tim Martin, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, shepherdofbethlehem@yahoo.org,   developed a sermon series on the faith practices to begin in October. He has posted his notes and thoughts to the Call Web site. 11/16/00

Pastor John, JSt7061454@aol.com, writes "our task force has been busy." We kicked off our Call to Discipleship emphasis on September 10, which included a chicken BBQ following with a special concert by the band Paragon. They sent out personal invitations to persons who had not been active for a period of two years and to newcomers in the community. They are emphasizing one of the faith practices for each six week period during the year. The six week Bible study is being offered throughout the year in various forums. 11/16/00

Central Lutheran Church, Winona, Minnesota introduced the Call with a series of sermons following Rally Day this fall. Each Sunday focus was on one of the faith practices: Prayer, Study, Worship, Invite, Encourage, Serve, Give...with the corresponding litanies used on the designated weekend. A resources table has been set up with materials for the taking to assist people in their faith journey. The Bible study material has been used in an adult setting. A second sermon series is planned for the season of Lent, again focusing on the seven faith practices. "Concerning the commitment cards", Pastor Wade E. Davick says, "we think that people come to the point of commitment at different times, therefore we have created commitment cards for placement in the pew racks which people may use in their own time." These cards are received and placed in a large transparent container placed on the altar as a reminder throughout the remainder of the year of the commitment that has been made. Contact: Pr. Davick, 507/452-5156; wedclc@luminet.net 11/16/00

Zion Lutheran Church, Ferndale, Michigan began working on the Call in preparation for Rally Day. They made banners and sent a flyer to all members describing the day’s events. For Rally Day, Joy McKinney, Asst. to the Bishop for Congregational Life was invited to speak on the topic of discipleship. She related her talk to the seven faith practices. Zion’s pastor also prepared a study for adult Sunday school on Bonhoeffer's book "The Cost of Discipleship". Two weeks after Rally Day, an all committee meeting was held to spread the word to each committee about how they might proceed expanding on the topic of discipleship. The stewardship committee has since held a program using the Legacy materials. As the year continues they plan to add programs related to this theme. Contact: Muriel, mlhnurse@gateway.org; 248/398-5510; 11/16/00

Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Mi-Wuk Village, CA began highlighting the language of faith practices in their September and October newsletter. Included were articles highlighting the purpose and plans for the Call for the year. On All Saints Sunday, November 5, Commitment Sunday, the Call to Discipleship commitment cards were used. Cards were placed as an offering on the altar and then placed on a Living Faith Tree (a Norfolk pine - standing beside the altar). On this particular Sunday, there were two adult baptisms and two children's baptisms along with ten new members received into membership. The Opening Rite and Sending Rite from the Congregational Guide were also used during the service. The theme focus for the month of November is GIVE - and is being used to support commitments for Stewardship Sunday, scheduled for November 12^th. The theme ties in well with their WELCA thanksgiving offering also scheduled for November 19^th and Thanksgiving worship later in the month. The congregation will continue to highlight this theme in December - it is better to give than receive - focusing on the time and talents of GIVING during the season of Christ's birth. In January 2001, plans are to engage the six week Bible study - and focus on the other faith practices on a monthly basis. Each month we will feature an article in the newsletter, handout the 'take it home' litany sheets at the first Sunday of the month services, using the response during the Offertory. We have a beautiful banner made by one of the women of the congregation hangs in the sanctuary above the Living Faith Tree. Contact: Donna Burroughs, 209/586-3616, 10/17/00

Faith Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Montana launched into the Call to Discipleship with a seven week sermon series...lifting up the seven faith practices beginning on Rally Day in September. They also offered a six week adult Bible Study using the study included in the Initiative notebook. "We are exploring how we can do better at growing disciples rather than members...our congregation has been doing some vision planning...and trying to sharpen our ministry priorities. Making disciples...mentoring leadership has been lifted up as priorities for our future." Contact: The Rev. Steve Van Gilder, 406/363-2964, 10/17/00.

St. Mark’s Lutheran, Charlotte, NC plans to emphasize the Call during Lent 2001 using the Bible study in small groups throughout the area in homes and in the church building. Plans are to use the seven faith practices as themes for the Wednesday evening services during Lent. Contact: Wayne Nelson, Director of Education; 704/375-9185, 10/17/00

All Saints Lutheran, Worthington, OH is using pieces of the Call to Discipleship program and materials in a new discipleship process they have just designed called Quest: Journeys in Christian Discipleship. It is a 16-week course that has four four week modules that help people find their spiritual gifts, discover God’s Word, strengthen their leadership skills and find a place to use their gifts in the world or in the church. Contact: The Rev. Glenn M. Zorb; 614/885-0112, 10/17/00.

Salem Evangelical Lutheran, Houston, Texas introduced the Call in July to a small committee of six who began laying the foundation. In order to involve more people, they asked their program committees to help in highlighting a faith practice each month. In August they sent out a letter to the congregation introducing the Living Faith initiative along with a Living Faith magnet. In September, they launched the initiative on Rally day with camp songs and a skit (which is on the ELCA web site). At the end of September they had their commitment Sunday (each person filed past the baptismal font, dipped their finger in the water and made the sign of the cross, then placed their commitment card nearby in a basket). The first Sunday of each month, they focus on the faith practice of the month in worship by reading the responsive reading on the "take home" bulletin insert. In October, the focus was PRAY with newsletter articles, posters, printed table prayers at breakfast (the men serve breakfast every Sunday), and reminders in the Sunday bulletin. In November, the focus is STUDY with newsletter articles, posters, e-mail devotions, and an adult Bible study on discipleship during the SCS hour. There are also two other Bible studies going on week nights to offer another chance/choice to attend a Bible study. In December, they will highlight WORSHIP with all the opportunities for worship in the Advent and Christmas season (they are mailing special homemade invitations listing all the services for the month), a devotion booklet, and posting newsletter articles and posters. They are working on the other four faith practices for 2001. Contact: Susan Senti; 713/723-3509; salem.houston.tx@ecunet.org 10/17/00

St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran, Mansfield, Ohio began highlighting the Call on September 10 lifting one faith practice each week utilizing the bulletin insert offered with the Call materials. The sermon ended each week with the responsive reading. One of the two adult classes and the youth class studied the theme each week. The mid-week Bible study group also focused on the theme with the "discipleship word of the week." The congregation plans to repeat the series of bulletin inserts for the seven Sundays of Easter in 2001. When the seven faith practices were complete, the congregation began to use "GO FISH" discipleship studies, calling the series the "ABC’s of Discipleship." This series will carry through until Pentecost 2001. The congregation offer a series of weekly readings each week related to the Word shared in the Sunday bulletin. St. Luke’s also distributed the refrigerator magnets and uses the note cards as thank you’s for various ministries done around the congregation. In addition there are a number of posters and banners hanging around the church building. Contact: The Rev. Steve Patrick, 419/522-0943; revstevpat@aol.com or www.stlukesweb.com   11/17/00

Hosanna! Lutheran, St. Charles, Illinois began by gathering about 30 "influencers of the church" together last spring to make plans for the Call for the seven months they would express this initiative. This group established four goals for the Call: 1) bring at least one person to faith in Jesus Christ, 2) Help those who worship at Hosanna! grow in their faith and discipleship, 3) Help people get to know one another, and 4) involve at least 105 people in leadership roles at sometime during the seven month focus. The pastor then hand picked leaders to serve as chairs for each area of discipleship. Those leaders were to involve at least 15 other leaders. They could meet as often as they wanted, so long as they were prepared to serve during their given month. Some are meeting monthly because of the friendships made. Preaching then focuses on the theme for the month. (October – Theme: Prayer – Preaching Focus: The Lord’s Prayer; November – Giving – Time, Talent/Spiritual Gifts, Passion and Vision, Thankfulness; December – Worship – Praise; January – Study – The Gospels; February – Encouragement – Great Encouragers of the Bible; March – Invite – What does it mean to be a missional church?; April – Serve – Jesus came to serve.) During the month of October and the focus on Prayer, the congregation held a Concert of Prayer and a Prayer Vigil. Scripture referring to prayer was posted throughout the church. In November, with Give as a theme, a number of people have been writing on "What does Christian giving mean to me?" Pastor John Nelson writes: "people have responded well. I get the most joy for the people who have come to faith because of this."  Contact: The Rev. John P. Nelson, 630/584-6434; office@hosannachurch.com 11/17/00

Faith Lutheran, Hutchinson, MN has been involved in an exciting experiment in "Living Faith" this fall. Pairing Wednesday night worship and small groups they have been able to engage over 200 people (adults and youth) in a journey of growing as disciples. Their model, easily adapted to Advent and Lenten worship services, was built around their 6:30 p.m. weekly worship service and the Bible study found in the Living Faith: ELCA Call To Discipleship Congregation Guide. The ministry team lit up the project with creative teaser announcements that hinted at the coming project using mysterious numbers. Eventually the congregation learned that they were seeking 30 small group leaders for a two month adventure in worship and Bible study. The leaders were recruited to lead six 45 minute Bible studies. Their job was to recruit 5-10 people who had signed up for this project or who they thought would enjoy being in a Bible study. Some groups are made up of friends, one is for single moms and others show great diversity. The small group's leaders are responsible to participate in the worship training, direct conversation and convene the group. Faith's previously lightly attended Wednesday evening service became the leaders training time, participants who are interested also attend. The normal sermon time morphed into a teaching sermon on the weekly theme for the Bible study. Worship has become less formal and significantly larger. Every other week the worship service focuses on the theme. The small groups are encouraged to meet on alternating weeks. The small groups meet in all kinds of times and places. There are 23 small groups; with three teen groups being led by teens. Great freedom and responsibility has been given to the small group leaders and this has helped the project bloom. Now that the project is drawing to a conclusion the people are ready for more. "What will we do next?" is their question. Current plans look to take a break during December and then start up a new theme and groups in January. They have heard the "call to discipleship" and are having a lot of fun learning, growing and caring for one another in Christ. Contact: Marsha Huckey, Director for Lay Ministry, 320/587-2093, 11/17/00

Grace Lutheran Church, Waynesboro, VA has assembled a group of 12 leaders to form a "Living Faith" Task Group. The Task Group meets monthly to discuss one of the seven faith practices and to define ways to bring greater focus to that area of the emphasis within the congregation. Present strengths are celebrated and new ideas for ministry and education are planned. Each SCS classroom is highlighted with a "Living Faith" logo identifying the class and teachers; the logo is used on all stewardship materials, including pledge cards. Their time and talent directory has been reorganized using the seven faith practices as categories. The congregation council and men's breakfast group is using the Living Faith Bible study, and the pastor uses the Living Faith note cards. The response of the congregation has been very favorable and a decision to continue the emphasis beyond this year was made at their annual leadership planning retreat. Contact: The Rev. Bob Humphrey, 540/949-6171, humphrey@cfw.com, 11/27/00

King of Glory Lutheran Church, Arvada, CO is participating in the Call in a big way. The council formally adopted the program this past summer and called for active participation. The program was formally begun with the Rally Day in late August. For Rally Day, the fellowship hall was "decorated" with banners and posters of all the faith practices. The young people presented skits based on the faith practices. Resource materials have been laid out for all members to see and use. Refrigerator magnets were sent to all members to gently encourage them to participate in the many activities associated with the Living Faith program. Each month has a focus on a specific faith practice. During that month, each Sunday School class, inclusive of adult classes, sets aside time to focus on the practice and discuss how they might work it into their daily lives and activities. King of Glory is offering Living Faith Bible classes each month...so far, three classes have been offered with excellent participation. The participants in the first class were asked to be "Living Faith program Leaders", encouraging all members to get involved. They have used the recommended liturgy in their monthly services. "Our goal is simple - to help each individual, family, and our congregation as a whole, strengthen their faith over the course of the year by engaging some, or all, of the faith practices." Contact: Living Faith program leader, Mary Haeger, 303/421-9930, gschenenga@worldnet.att.net , 11/27/00.

Living Faith Lutheran Church, Pembroke Pines, FL has incorporated the Call into its new member program. Since they are a mission congregation that has not yet opened their charter, they saw the opportunity to invite those who want to become more involved in their ministry to make a commitment to discipleship. They use the Commitment to Discipleship service found in the Congregational Planning Guide. So far, they have celebrated two Commitment to Discipleship Sundays. The first was on June 21, 2000, as part of their Pentecost celebration and the second was on September 10 as part of their Rally Sunday. So far 120 people have made a commitment to discipleship. On each occasion, they gave out Living Faith mugs, magnets, book markers and friendship bracelets to all their guests. Beginning on Rally Day, they began a seven week sermon series based on the faith practices. Their adult class also studied the practices in conjunction with the sermon series. The practices have also been incorporated into their 2000-2001 Confirmation Program. Contact: Rev. David A Charlton, 954/442-2123, RevDCharlton@aol.com  11/28/00

Grace Lutheran, Corvallis, OR organized its fall adult education classes according to the faith practices listing them in their adult ed brochure under the applicable faith practice. The theme was "Listen, God is Calling," which was pulled from the list of suggested hymns. The song was used in worship each service during September and October and a banner hung with these words on it and the Call to Discipleship logo. One faith practice a week was highlighted during children's time -- "On October 19^th, we had the "final exam" where we reviewed all the practices and handed out bookmarks to the congregation", writes Pastor Martha Maier. "This winter our theme will be ‘Marching in the Light of God.’" The congregation also provided an article featuring one faith practice each month in their newsletter. Staff meeting devotions have highlighted a different practice each week. At a fall middle school meeting, students prepared brief skits on the faith practices. Contact: The Rev. Martha Maier, 541/757-1600, prmaier@proaxis.com 11/28/00

Zion Lutheran Church, Clay Center, NE began their response to the Call with the Growing Disciples Bible study. Then with the help of the Holy Spirit, a chairperson + 3 were chosen for each faith practice to review how each practice is already being addressed and then to brainstorm new ways to lift these faith practices. To build attention to the Call "Sally Mae" dropped by from time to time to visit with the pastor during the announcements. On one of her first visits, she came with a poster board and color markers in hand because she heard we were "making disciples". The pastor then clarified the purpose for the Call itself. The celebration of the congregation’s 110th anniversary included a special worship service which involved using the Call to Discipleship video, the signing of commitment cards, and praying the calling and sending litanies. Each family was also given a window cling and a magnet. The congregation is using the litany for each faith practice for four to five weeks, culminating the end of May 2001with the final litany. The goal for the congregation was to adopt at least two new ways to follow each faith practice. "We are finding that with all the new ideas offered, there are many new and exciting things happening at Zion." Contact: David and Lynda Higbea; 402/762-2723, dh64551@navix.net 11/28/00

Iglesia Luterana "Principe De Paz" (Prince of Peace), Miami, FL has used the Spanish language materials developed for the Call to launch a large and meaningful school for discipleship meeting weekly on Wednesdays through the year. Leaders report that more than 130 adults and youth have committed to the journey. The group gathers for worship, prayer and a brief teaching on the theme, utilizing the materials, and led by Pastor Lenier Gallardo. They then break into small groups for Bible study, conversation, application and prayer. Prince of Peace created a special four page newsletter that was sent to out as an invitation to members and friends of the congregation. Much of the text was simply downloaded from the Call to Discipleship Web site and pasted together to create their own unique material. Contact: Eva Gallardo, Director for Discipleship, 305/264-9059; principedepaz@access.pro.net 11/28/00

Ezekiel Lutheran, River Falls, WI has instituted a daily devotional program through e-mail as the congregation concentrated on the "study" faith practice. Samples of the daily devotion, with directions for receiving them, were distributed on a Sunday morning. Now, many congregational members begin their busy day with quiet time in front of their computers. Contact: Rev. William Montgomery, 715/425-8294, 11/28/00 (gleaned from Nov/Dec Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Newsletter).

Pastor Laurie Engesser, Salem Luther, Shell, Lake, WI, reminds her congregation that working on the faith practices is much like practicing a musical instrument. She tells of learning to play the trumpet, and that practicing it at first was not a lot of fun. But she persisted, and over time, the skills she learned came naturally. She says, "Just as practicing a musical instrument takes discipline before it pays off, so it is with the practices of faith." 715/468-7718 (gleaned from Nov/Dec Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Newsletter).

The staff at Grace Lutheran, Eau Claire, WI, set in motion the year-long study by concentrating on a Bible study each Wednesday morning for six weeks on the subject of discipleship. Upon completion, the "Living in Faith" Bible study was offered to the congregation four different times during the week and three different times during the year. Contact: Rolf Nestingen, 715/832-9713. (gleaned from Nov/Dec Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Newsletter).