THE TRAVELLERS' CHURCHES 2001	CONGREGATIONAL LIFE There are 165 congregations in EELC. Congregations outside the Republic (Upper-Suetuki, St. Petersburg, Petseri) have already for several years belonged to the Estonian Church, and Estonians in Riga, Helsinki, Vilnius and Moscow have been able to enjoy sermons in their native language. The regular and orderly services have been the main concern and highest aspiration of Estonian clergy throughout all times, especially during those decades when the church could function only within its own walls. But even in the worst period of suppression, over 9000 services were annually held in 140 congregations. It meant that the small-numbered clergy held two and more services, Sunday after Sunday, in addition the weekday services, prayer meetings and Bible studies, sometimes to very small audiences. In most congregations the services are held regularly every Sunday at 10 or 11 in the morning and follow the established order, which has, in its essentials, remained the same throughout this century. The Church Council has asked the liturgical commission to renew the Service Book, and several congregations try out new kinds of services which invite more active participation of the congregation, attempt to find various ways to use the space of the church and emphasise more clearly the altar sacrament and eucharistic fellowship. Christmas services always enjoy the liveliest participation, bringing together also those who do not have a steady and regular connection with church. Although quite a few church holidays which occur in weekdays have been proclaimed public holidays in the Republic of Estonia, and do not require going to work (Christmas Day, Good Friday, St.John's Day), the number of people attending the services on these days is far smaller. At the same time the participation in Sunday services has grown and in different congregations the average number of those participating in regular services is about 5-25 per cent of the whole congregation The membership of congregations has grown younger over the years, since a considerable number of young people join the congregations through confirmation. A certain part of them retains closer contacts with his or her congregation and turns up at regular services. The confirmation age is between 15 - 21 years and about half of the people is confirmed within that age limit. In the first Estonian Republic, the clergy also acted as officials of the registry office, and a wedding meant a legal marriage. This practice has been missed by many members of congregations who now have to register their marriage in a lay establishment before the church wedding. When in 1985 the number of church funerals exceeded threefold the number of christenings, then by now there are far more christenings than funerals, although the number of the latter has also grown. The majority of Estonian people cannot stay indifferent as to how they or their nearest and dearest leave this world; because even those who have little contact with church hope to find eternal peace in God.