We have teamed up with the University CoC to co-host a summer sermon series, taking turns having the Sunday evening guest speakers at our congregations. It's always fun.

Our congregation sends a team to work at least one day per month at a local homeless shelter, providing and serving the noon meal. Other area churches send teams so that every day is covered.

We take turns with other churches providing Meals On Wheels.

I know I'm running a little late here, but things are busy during the Summer! Down here in Mexico, the churches of Christ are few and far between, so we try to get together as often as possible. We have picnics, youth rallys, ladies days, etc. We have had a few "combined" worship services in the park with another congregation. I believe the interaction is vital for the members as well as the ministers. There is also a missionary retreat in November for all the missionaries in Mexico.

Our town of just over 1000 (county has 2200) has three churches--Catholic, Lutheran and Assembly of God. The A/G is a "melting pot" of Baptist, Lutheran Brethren, Presbyterian and other denominations. In the past our local ministerial association has worked together to provide Sunday night "Singspiration Services" in which local talent and congregational singing are featured.

Back in 2000 we had an All School Reunion and in 2004 celebrated our city's Centennial Celebration. At both we concluded the week-end with an Ecumenical Worship Service--what a blessing to be one of the worship team comprised of singers from 3 different backgrounds, and experience the crowd crossing denominational barriors as they worshipped the One True God we all serve!

A vision of mine is to have a Singspiration in the park across Main Street from our church. It has a beautiful gazebo, access to electricity, and lots of green grass on which people could gather. I'm not sure if this is just my own idea, or if God has it in mind, too. Patience is always a difficult fruit for me to cultivate!

If you're looking for a nice, quiet escape, Crosby, ND is the place to be. If anyone would like to check us out, go to www.crosbynd.com. Coming up July 20-22 is our annual Threshing Show at our Pioneer Village. It features over 200 antique tractors--and they actually run through a parade both Saturday and Sunday. For more details go to http://oldschoolbb.com/

As Crosby's "First Lady", I extend a warm welcome to all from myself, Mayor Bert & the friendly people of our community!

Diane Anderson (bertswd@nccray.com)

I grew up in the Church. In the past, congregations that I've been a member of typically did very little with one another - though occasionally the youth would get together and attend events sponsored by other congregations.
Currently there are 4 or 5 congregations within about a 1 hour drive from us that we make a point to attend most gospel meetings, anniversary celebrations, men's days, gospel concerts, etc that they sponsor and they do the same for us as well. In addition, many of us attend a 'Midwest Conference' evary year where a few hundred members from 8 states come together. A couple of weeks ago, our youth got back from a 'Midwest Youth Conference' where they had over 900+ youth from the Midwest attend.
Coming together like this serves to give us a 'bigger picture' of the Church and reminds us that the Church is bigger than just our congregation, just our town or even our state or our country! This is particurally important here in Illinois - outside the Bible Belt - where our young people may be the only member of the Church in their entire school and adults may work in a company where they see very few brothers and sisters.
Oddly enough, I don't recall any time we've actually planned an activity together outside of the conferences which we worked directly with other congregations to help plan. Typically the 'host' congrefations does most of the planning and the others attend and support them.

Last year, I was blessed to lead worship for the Western Christian Lectureships in Regina, Canada. I was struck by how well people knew other Christians from hundreds of miles away and the bond that had developed. There was a very close tie with individuals and congregations who were hundreds of miles apart. I came home to Nashville and realized we didn't cooperate and fellowship with sister churches within 3 miles of us!

Also intended in this survey is the question of working on common projects with various denominations with whom we don't normally associate. How many churches do?

We frequently work with and enjoy the company of other churches. Actually, most of them are usually churches such as Baptist, Methodist or whatever else you can think of. We work together to encourage the community through community gatherings, service projects, joint worship events, prayer for the paper mill that may be closing, with the mayor, etc.

Most of you are sitting there thinking "wow, that's wonderful that they spend all this time with other churches that aren't like them." And yes, it is great, but at the same time... we've swung too far on the pendulum and now we have a hard time associating with Churches of Christ or Christian Churches that are more conservative in their views, because we feel that we don't wanna go there again (where we came from). Which I really think does injustice to the entire idea that you could possibly help them see God's Message for their lives and Churches.

I constantly pray that we understand our role of who we are and what we are to be, ESPECIALLY to each other as Christians FIRST and to the world SECOND.


Drew

I guess for us at Memorial Drive in Tulsa the most obvious is the cooperation with Garnett regarding the Tulsa Workshop for the past 30 years.

When I was at Quail Springs, we would co-host a July 4th party called the "Freedom and Faith Festival" with the Baptist church next door. Though each church individually numbered around 1,000, we would have over 3,000 show up for hot dogs, music, kid's games, and fireworks.

I wish more of that kind of thing would occur.

Well, we've been in the Huntsville area for less than two years; I'm not sure if you mean working with other churches of Christ or working with churches of other flavors. Several of the churches of Christ in the area, including Twickenham (our church,) support the Inner City Ministry and its great programs financially and as volunteers; our church held a joint worship service with the Huntsville Christian Church marking the 100th anniversary of the division between us, praying for unity to be attained once again. I know of several individual members of our church who work in/volunteer with programs that are primarily funded by other churches, such as the Crisis Pregnancy Center and the Homeless Center/Shelter downtown.

Don't know if that's what you're looking for, but at the moment, that's what I've got!

It's embarrassing to think about some churches I have known who refuse to have anything to do with anybody else on the grounds of remaining "doctrinally pure." It's a false concept that requires we agree on everything before we can fellowship or risk being "guilty by association." Jesus was known for hanging around those that others would classify as the wrong kind.

There is so much we have in common with others. I wish we would lighten up and build bridges instead of walls. Sermon over. :)

Greg Boyle, our worship leader at First Colony Church of Christ, told us last night that we are going to have a Wednesday night worship service and ice cream fellowship with a neighboring Baptist church. He is hoping to have a number of the praise team members to sing in a chorus that evening. According to Greg, the worship leader for the Baptist church has told his members to get ready to bring it on a night when they are joined by a bunch of singers who normally sing acappella!

Randy Glover

Mike, Shawn, Bruce and Clarissa, it is great to see fellowship and cooperation between sister congregations. I believe we need a LOT more of that. Diane, Andrew, Shane and Randy, I find it to be rare to see so many different groups coming together for common purposes, although it can be a healthy experience. It stretches us outside our comfort zones and expands our horizons.

I was talking to a lady at a Christian Bookstore near Madison, and it warmed my heart when she said, "I'm Baptist, but I always considered Ira North (c of c affiliation) to be MY pastor." That kind of interaction can be very positive.

Sorry to be late to the party!!! I am currently at the Singing School at Abilene Christian and teaching beginning worship leading. Our church, Clear Lake Church of Christ has an ongoing ministry with other local churches of all persuasions where our members tutor at-risk students living at a local apartment project. A great way to show the students and their parents that God cares and we care.

During the evacuation from hurricane Katrina, we worked with Lutheran, Disciples, and other churches to help in relief efforts. Our building served as an initial intake location for those who were arriving as refugees.

Jim