Same, Past and Future

In 2020, Gloria Dei engaged in a companion relationship with the Cathedral Lutheran Parish in Same, Tanzania. The goal was to enhance our mutual commitment to the Christian faith through a relationship that is based on learning from and supporting one another. Both churches have task forces/ministry teams in their respective congregations dedicated to this goal. Our ministry team has been meeting on how to foster this relationship. This has included local meetings as well as virtual ones with our friends at Cathedral.

Here’s what we’ve done so far.

  • Assisted in hosting Kajiru and Ruth from Same, for a a forum and coffee in June.

  • Held a special offering for completion of bathrooms for the new school addition in Same.

  • Ken attended a Celebrating and Renewing Companion Synod Relationship conference in Ames, Iowa. 

  • Submitted grant proposal to Endowment fund for help in bringing parishioners from Same to GDLC in the future. We also submitted an increase request for the budget of the committee to assist with that goal. 

  • Set about planning for a trip to Tanzania by team members for this coming July. Pastor Roger, Kathi, Ken and Mavis Fate and Dorothy Fowles will be travelling to Same in early July. Travellers will be funding their own trips. 

  • Held a special offering for 40 desks that were needed for the new addition called Aaron’s Wing at Same School campus. This was held one week after the Same Consecrecration Sunday.

Since 2020:

  • We finalized our covenant between our two churches and have a framed copy ready to hang.

  • Held a pen pal zoom for our pen pals that are continuing to communicate over the internet.

  • Set up Imani Moja, a YouTube channel, to share videos between the congregations.

  • Funded a new IPAD for Same Cathedral for their use to upload videos to Imani Moja

  • Hosted a Compassion Sunday at GDLC for seeking sponsors for children in need in TZ.

In the future, our goals are:

  • Bringing three Same parishioners over here to visit our church community in Iowa City.

  • Reporting back on our trip to the Cathedral Parish this summer. 

  • Starting a Facebook group.

Right now, you can…

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