Looking for bulletin inserts?  
The following are produced by the ELCA and available free-of-charge:

"Our Muslim Neighbors" 

A pamphlet that serves as a basic introduction to Islam.  It is an  excellent resource from the Division for Global Mission.  Call 1.800.328.4648 to order.

"Jesus Christ Hope for the World:  Predominant Religions" 

A four-page brochure that provides some quick facts about the world's  predominant religions (including Islam) and addresses how we as Christians can witness  in the context of our relationships. Call 1-800-328-4648; order code 67-9194

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Does your congregation have a book club?  
Recommend the following for discussion:

Schimmel, Ann Marie.  Islam: An Introduction.  Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1992. Luther Seminary  Call Number:  BP55 .S34 

This book is very easy to read and presents a thorough overview of the history and teachings of Islam.  Read the whole book, or choose a chapter to discuss: Arabia Before Islam, Muhammad,  The Expansion of Islam, The Koran and Its Teachings, The Tradition, The Law, Theology and Philosophy, The Shi'i and Related Sects, Mystical Islam and Sufi Brotherhoods, Popular Piety  and the Veneration of Saints, and Modern Developments Inside Islam.  Order for $14.95 (new) or $11.25 (used) from Barnes and Noble, at www.bn.com.

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Is your congregation interested in what Islam looks like in America?
Watch a video about Islam in America:

Islam in America: The Christian Science Monitor Video.    Produced and written by Lindsay Miller.  60 min.  Christian Science Monitor, 1991.  Videocassette.

Appropriate for all age groups, Islam in America dispels stereotypes about Islam by giving an insider view into Muslim communities around the United States.  The video is arranged in five sections, systematically journeying through the five pillars of Islam to show how these practices influence the life of Muslims around the country.  Discussion questions follow each section, and the video comes with a learning guide leaflet containing additional discussion questions.  Lutheran lay or ordained leaders can check out the video from the Luther Seminary Library (videocassette 267) or the Eastern Minnesota Resource Center (651 641-3607).

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Are you curious about what goes on in a Mosque, how Muslims’ faith enters their daily life, or what Christians and Muslims have to offer each other?

Mosque aims to provide non-Muslims with a respectful introduction to Islam.  This thirty-minute video introduces how the Mosque functions as a central role within the lives of Muslims.  The narrator first explains the important practices that occur within worship, as the camera scans worshippers in a Cairo mosque.  He then takes viewers within family life to see how these practices influence daily living.  The third stop is to a Christian missionary who shares how conversation with Muslims has enriched his own faith, and what Christians and Muslims have to offer each other in interfaith dialogue.  The video ends with a beautiful prayer from the Qur’an.  This video will certainly provide a gateway into interesting group discussion.  Lutheran lay or ordained leaders can check out the video from the Luther Seminary Library (videocassette 276).

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Are you looking for an activity to do with a youth group?

Doug Cox, an ELCA pastor in Maryland, suggests some practical activities for junior high  and high school youth groups in Moving Beyond Muslim Media Images.   

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Is your congregation interested in women's rights within Islam?

-Watch a video and facilitate small group discussion:
Islamic Conversations: Women and Islam. Produced and directed by Mahmood Jamal.  30 minutes. Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 1994.

Listen to Leila Ahmed address the common questions people ask about the role of women in Islam, including the origin of the veil, issues of marriage, and women’s rights within marriage. Ahmed uses contemporary and historical examples of women’s roles in the Islamic world to demonstrate that oppression of women is not inherent to Islam itself.  The video is only 30 minutes, which leaves plenty of time for reflection and small group discussion.  Lutheran lay and ordained leaders can check out the video from the Luther Seminary Library. 

-Read and discuss a newspaper article addressing women's rights within Islam:

Thaney, J.  (2000, August 2).  "Women & Spirituality: Islam Gives These Twin  Cities Women Strength, Honor and Elevated Status." Womenspress.

This article from Women’s Press would be excellent to discuss with a women’s circle or an adult forum, or simply refer to others. Read about Islam from the perspective of women who live in Minnesota and who view Islam as liberating.  http://www.womenspress.com/newspaper/2000/16-10MuslimWomen.html

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-Find a resource person in your area:  

Call the ELCA 1.800.638.3522, extension 2596, for the name of a resource person in your area: a number of highly qualified missionaries and local pastors across the United States are available to speak with groups about Islam.

- In Minnesota?  Invite a speaker from the Muslim Women’s Speakers Bureau of Minnesota:

Call Kishwar Bayunus at 651-459-9568 for more information.