Keeping the link alive
Twinning links need to be active if they are to retain their vitality. Even an annual exchange may not be sufficient to keep the link alive, and if it is difficult to arrange exchanges more than once a year, the problem is magnified. However, there are still ways of maintaining positive contact between the two churches.
- Use the new technology
- Faxes and emails are quick, cheap and easy ways to keep in touch.
- Create a joint website.
- Use the old technology!
- Send copies of church magazines, newspaper items, etc.
- Encourage church members to write to friends in the partner church.
- Make a special notice-board for the Twinning - and keep it up-to-date!
- Social events.
- Arrange occasional parties for the whole church with wines, cheese, cakes etc. from the partner-church's region.
- Personal visits
- Personal friendships will naturally develop, so encourage church members to include a visit if on holiday abroad.
- Send or receive a group of (e.g.) young people to spend some time with the partner church.
- Swap your ministers (and families?) for a month or two - it might do wonders for them! You might have to ask permission of church authorities, although there are several Agreements now which have opened doors of recognition between national Churches- e.g. Meissen, Porvoo and Leuenberg.
- Quarterly Twinning Service
- Fix a regular date in both linked churches for this.
- Ministers can use the same texts for readings and sermon - they might even work on the same outline or theme.
- A worship group can liase with their partner church's music group to use some hymns or songs in common.
- Send and receive beforehand up-to-date news for prayer and thanksgiving to use during the service.
