Instructions - Connect - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

About Walking Together
WELS Walking Together
Instructions
Walking Together is an annual celebration of what we, by the grace of God, accomplish together as the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. All congregations are encouraged to hold a Walking Together
worship service in November. Instructions, posters, offering remittance coupons, return envelopes, and, for
congregations that don’t subscribe to WELS Connection, the video and Close-up inserts are being shipped to
congregations in July. Worship materials and graphics are posted online at WELS’ Connect Intranet site:
https://connect.wels.net/AOM/MCG/Pages/WalkingTogether.aspx. (From Connect’s home page use the
“Synod Administration” dropdown to get to the Ministry of Christian Giving page. Find the Walking
Together resources under “General Resources.”)
2011 Theme
The focus of Walking Together is unique this year in that it demonstrates how our ministerial education
schools are providing workers for the harvest in one of our synod’s highest priority mission fields, a field
which we feel is important to highlight yet it must be done carefully to protect the workers and the work
being done there. Further details will be shared through the instructions with the mailing as well as the
WELS Connection video and its corresponding Close-up insert. The worship service and sermon focus on
Isaiah 49:1-6 where God calls for his gospel to be shared throughout the world.
Worship and Bible Study Resources
Walking Together is a one-time worship service with readings that replace the regularly scheduled
lectionary readings, but the service was designed to fit well with many seasons of the church year (see the
introduction to the sermon study). The following worship and Bible study resources are available online:
• Order of service
• Sermon study
• Bible study leader’s guide and handout
Another option is to do a shortened regular service and end with a Walking Together emphasis that
includes showing the video, praying the Prayer of the Church, singing a hymn, and referring members to the
special Close-up insert for more information and how they can make a special offering.

WELS Walking Together
Please note that the Bible study may need to be edited down a bit to fit within a 45-60 minute period. We
felt it was advantageous to lean on the side of more than enough content and leave the decision regarding
which areas to discuss to you.
Video
The November WELS Connection is the Walking Together video. Churches that subscribe to WELS
Connection will receive their videos in September. Churches that do not subscribe to WELS Connection
should have a DVD enclosed in their Walking Together package.
Close-up Insert
This year, to avoid duplication of effort, there is no trifold Walking Together brochure as has been done in
past years. Instead the monthly Close-up insert, which complements each WELS Connection episode,
provides further information about the video and offers members ways to learn more and to take action.
Churches that subscribe to WELS Connection will receive the package of Close-up inserts in October.
Churches that do not subscribe to WELS Connection should have their inserts enclosed in their Walking
Together package.
This special edition of Close-up includes a tear-away envelope for a special offering to the WELS Operating
Fund. Members can bring their Walking Together offerings the next time they come to worship and place
them in the offering plate. Churches will be able to order additional inserts, if needed, through a link at the
Walking Together site on Connect after the packages are mailed in July.
Posters
Two posters are enclosed in the shipment for the purpose of promoting your upcoming special Walking
Together worship service. Additional posters can be downloaded and printed from Connect.
Bulletin Graphics
Two Walking Together graphics are available online for bulletin covers or other print and on-screen
resources. On Connect check the box next to the image you’d like to use. Then go to the “Actions”
dropdown menu and choose “Download.”

Remittance Coupons and Envelopes
WELS Walking Together
Members that would like to give an offering are directed in Close-up to place their envelopes in the offering
plate, making checks payable to your church. The church treasurer should send a check of the total amount
with one of the special remittance coupons exclusively for use with Walking Together 2011 to the synod’s
lockbox via one of the return envelopes. Three Walking Together coupons and three return envelopes are
included in your Walking Together package. You can use one coupon with the bulk of your offerings. The
others are in case any additional offerings are submitted. Treasurers are to submit CMO coupons as usual,
using the CMO remittance coupons that were provided at an earlier date. Please do not use CMO coupons
to submit your Walking Together offering.
WELS-Canada congregations: You are not receiving coupons or return envelopes in your packages. You
should instead mail your Walking Together offerings to WELS-Canada Treasurer Jim Petrie at 2934 Mer
Bleue Road, Navan, ON K4B1H9.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you need anything or to share your comments. Phone: 800-827-5482 (Milwaukee area:
414-256-3209) or e-mail: mcg@wels.net.