Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA
Companion Synod/Diocese Sunday
Each year, the Delaware-Maryland Synod observes Companion Synod/Diocese Sunday in January. It's a time to celebrate our worldwide relationships with other Lutherans. Your congregation is encouraged to adapt these materials to your own use.
Have a temple talk at the beginning of worship. Here are some points to include.
- Did you know your congregation is a partner in ministry with Lutherans in Estonia, Finland and Tanzania? Our congregation, as part of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is in a relationship of mutual prayer, learning and support with our brothers and sisters in those far-off countries.
- Since 2002, we've been linked with Lutherans in Tanzania, a country of some 37 million people on the east coast of Africa. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is a robust and fast-growing church with about 2,500,000 members, filled with a commitment to evangelism and discipleship. One pastor serves a parish with a number of congregations, local congregations are led by an evangelist, and there is a diocesan bishop.
- Our relationship with Lutherans in Finland and Estonia goes back almost to the beginning of the ELCA in 1988. We are companions with the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, which accounts for about 200,000 of Estonia's 1.4 million citizens. Located in Eastern Europe between Latvia and Russia, Estonia spent 40 years under repressive Soviet rule, during which time churches were closed and religion forbidden. Today, despite growing congregations, the EELC is unable to fund itself, and about half of the church contributions come from the outside the country.
- Just across the Gulf of Finland lies Finland, in which our companion, the Tampere Diocese is located. More than 5 million people live in Finland, of whom about 4.5 million are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
Involve the Sunday school.
- Begin a project of pictures, a mural, or cards that synod members going on future Companion Synod visits could take with them to give to congregations there.
- Invite a guest speaker who's been to one of our companions to address the entire Sunday school or to go from classroom to classroom as a surprise guest.
- Use one of the ELCA Country Packets as a basis for the day's Sunday school classes. You'll find maps, craft projects, recipes, prayers, and many other materials adaptable to all ages.
Use a song in KiSwahili, language of Tanzania.
"A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
Martin Luther
| KiSwahili | Phonetically |
| Mungu wetu ndiye boma, | Mun-gu we-tu n-di-ye boma, |
| Silaha tena ngao, | Si-la-ha te-na n-ga-o, |
| Atukingiaye shida | A-tu-kin-gi-a-ye shi-da |
| Zitushikazo sisi. | Zi-tu-shi-ka-zo si-si. |
| Adui wa kale | A-du-i wa ka-le |
| Afanya hila | A-fan-ya hi-la |
| Ya kutushinda, | Ya ku-tu-shin-da, |
| Ni mwenye nguvu kuu, | Ni mwen-ye ngu-vu kuu, |
| Hakuna amwezaye. | Ha-ku-na am-we-za-ye. |
Say elements of the liturgy in KiSwahili
| Let us pray. | Tuombe (tu - om - be) |
| The Sign of the Cross | Kwa Jina la Mungu Baba na la Mwana na la Roho Mtakatifu. |
| The Lord's Prayer | Sala Ya Bwana |
| Baba yetu uliye mbinguni, Jina lako litukuzwe, | |
| Ufalme wako uje, Mapenzi yako yatimizwe | |
| hapa duniani kama huko mbinguni; | |
| Utupe leo riziki yetu, Utusamehe makosa yetu, | |
| kama sisi tunavyowasamehe waliotukosea. | |
| Usitutie majaribuni, lakini utuokoe na yule mwovu. | |
| Kwa kuwa ufalme ni wako, na nguvu, na utukufu hata milele. | |
| Amen. |
Use a special hymn in worship.
FBF - This Far By Faith
LBW - Lutheran Book of Worship
RWS - Renewing Worship Songbook
WOV - With One Voice
African Hymns
- Amen, We Praise Your Name, 279 FBF, 786 WOV
- Bless, O Lord, Our Country, 301 FBF
- Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia, 92 FBF, 678 WOV
- Come, All Ye People, 138 FBF, 717 WOV
- Come, O Holy Spirit Come, 681 WOV
- Come, Let Us Eat, 119 FBF
- Freedom is Coming, 46 FBF
- Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading, 687 WOV
- Goodness Is Stronger than Evil, R239 RWS
- Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises, 158 FBF, 722 WOV
- Holy Spirit, Descend, 107 FBF
- Hush, Little Jesus Boy, 56 FBF
- I am Thanking Jesus, 286 FBF
- I believe in God, 204 FBF
- Jesus, We Want to Meet, 145 FBF
- Listen, God Is Calling, 130 FBF, 712 WOV
- Lord Have Mercy, 22 FBF
- O Lord, Open My Eyes, 134 FBF
- Praise Be the Rock, 290 FBF
- Send Me, Jesus, R190 RWS, 245 FBF, 773 WOV
- Thank You, Jesus, 280 FBF
- We Are Marching in the Light of God, 63 FBF, 650 WOV
- Your Will be Done, R257 RWS
Other appropriate hymns
- O Lord, Now Let Your Servant, LBW 339
- Lost In the Night, LBW 394
- Your Kingdom Come, O Father, LBW 384
- Arise, My Soul, Arise!, LBW 516
- A Mighty Fortress, LBW 228, 229
- We All Are One in Mission, WOV 755
Use an informative bulletin insert.
- Click here for a camera-ready letter-sized bulletin insert.
- Click here for a camera-ready legal-sized bulletin insert.
In the bulletin, print the Gospel text for January 22, Mark 1:14-20, in KiSwahili, Finnish and Estonian.
- KiSwahili
- 14 Yohane alipokwisha fungwa gerezani, Yesu alikwenda Galilaya, akahubiri Habari Njema ya Mungu, akisema,
- 15 "Wakati umetimia, na Ufalme wa Mungu umekaribia. Tubuni na kuiamini Habari Njema!"
- 16 Alipokuwa anapita kando ya ziwa Galilaya, aliwaona wavuvi wawili: Simoni na Andrea ndugu yake wakivua samaki kwa wavu.
- 17 Yesu akawaambia, "Nifuateni nami nitawafanya ninyi wavuvi wa watu."
- 18 Mara wakaziacha nyavu zao, wakamfuata.
- 19 Alipokwenda mbele kidogo, aliwaona Yakobo na Yohane, wana wa Zebedayo. Nao pia walikuwa ndani ya mashua yao wakizitengeneza nyavu zao.
- 20 Yesu akawaita mara, nao wakamwacha baba yao Zebedayo katika mashua pamoja na wafanyakazi, wakamfuata.
- Finnish
- 14 Kun Johannes oli vangittu, Jeesus palasi Galileaan ja julisti Jumalan evankeliumia.
- 15 Hän sanoi: "Aika on täyttynyt, Jumalan valtakunta on tullut lähelle. Kääntykää ja uskokaa hyvä sanoma!"
- 16 Kun Jeesus kulki Galileanjärven rantaa, hän näki Simonin ja tämän veljen Andreaksen. He olivat järvellä kalastamassa heittoverkolla; he olivat näet kalastajia.
- 17 Jeesus sanoi heille: "Lähtekää minun mukaani. Minä teen teistä ihmisten kalastajia."
- 18 He jättivät heti verkkonsa ja lähtivät seuraamaan Jeesusta.
- 19 Jonkin matkaa kuljettuaan Jeesus näki Jaakobin, Sebedeuksen pojan, ja hänen veljensä Johanneksen. Hekin olivat veneessä, verkkojaan selvittelemässä.
- 20 Jeesus kutsui heti heidät. He jättivät isänsä Sebedeuksen ja tämän palkkalaiset veneeseen ja lähtivät seuraamaan Jeesusta.
- Estonian
- 14 Aga pärast seda, kui Johannes oli pandud vangi, tuli Jeesus Galileasse ja kuulutas Jumala Evangeeliumi
- 15 ja ütles: Aeg on täis saanud ja Jumala Riik on lähedal, parandage meelt ja uskuge Evangeeliumisse!
- 16 Ja kui Ta Galilea mere ääres k
- 17 Ja Jeesus ütles neile: Tulge Minu järele ja Ma teen teist inimesepüüdjad!
- 18 Ja sedamaid jätsid nad v
- 19 Ja pisut eemale minnes nägi Ta Jakoobust, Sebedeuse poega, ja Johannest, ta venda, neidki paadis v
- 20 Ja kohe kutsus Ta nad. Ja nad jätsid oma isa Sebedeuse paati ühes palgalistega ning läksid ära Tema järele.
Contact a member of the Global Mission Committee for additional suggestions and names of speakers regarding Finland and Estonia or Tanzania.