OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL FOR DISTRICT AND SYNOD MISSIONS St. Paul writes in Philippians 1:5 that he is thankful for the “partnership in the Gospel” he enjoyed with the people of the Church in Philippi “from the first day until now.” The word “partnership” there can also refer to our “fellowship.” “God is faithful, by whom we were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 1:9). In Baptism Jesus gives us “the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). In the Body and Blood of our Lord, given in the Supper, the Lord Himself feeds us and gives life to His Church. A WORD AND SACRAMENT PARTNERSHIP God does not keep us separate from each other, but by His Word and Sacraments gathers us in a “partnership in the Gospel” in our congregations. Sharing in a common confession of Christ, our congregations are joined together by God in the Southern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in order to bring Christ’s Word to people beyond each local parish. In other words, we believe God has united us in a “partnership in the Gospel” so that we can walk together to do mission work none of us could do separately. Our agreement here is to give form and shape to our partnership.

In joyful response to the Gospel of God’s grace, and as part of the partnership in the Gospel God

Illinois, along with the 95 other congregations of the Southern Illinois District intends to work toward the goal of designating

of our congregation’s anticipated receipts for the Gospel work we are doing together through our District and Synod. This intention, which is provided for budgeting purposes only, represents an approximate dollar amount of

Because this work has been given to us by God, we depend on His continued grace to fulfill this intention. This intention is contingent upon the actual receipts of the congregation.