Happy mid-Spring, loyal readers!

The next 5PF (VOLUME ONE ISSUE TWENTY) will come your way on April 26th, making it a rare third issue in one month - not as rare as an eclipse, but still ... rare. Be sure that receiving this bi-weekly newsletter isn't a rare event for you! If you haven't subscribed yet, click the box at the bottom. If you need to UN-subscribe, please send a request to our circulation department at delaney@vasynod.org.

The great chocolate shortage of 2024 that was the subject of our last Random Debate inspired true confessions from our readers! A small slice (14%) plans to get into the chocolate black market, slightly more (20%) see this as a sign from God to cut back, but a full 66% plan to stick to their normal intake quota, confirming that Big Chocolate really does control us.

This next one is for science: What was your personal take on the eclipse?

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM DEBATE:

What did the eclipse mean to you? It was ...

A sign from God about the coming day of judgment (Acts 2:20)

An amazing scientific event and inspiration for all humanity to come together.

A chance to snag everyone’s chocolate while they’re all watching the eclipse.

The 5 Petals for Vol. 1 Issue 19 of 5PF:

KAIROS, our annual summer faith-sharing event for rising 9th-12th graders will be held at Roanoke College on June 23-28. Registration is open and continues through the end of May, but for planning purposes, REGISTRATION FORMS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY THE END OF APRIL.

To register, start at the Kairos information page on the Synod Website and then choose either participant or adult registration.

Announcements & Reminders

--> The Planning Group for Kairos 2024 begins their work this weekend, so please add them to your prayer list!

Chaplain: Pastor Joseph Bolick (Epiphany, Richmond)

Adult advisors: Sarah McPherson (Our Saviour, Christiansburg and Clay Arthur (St. Paul, Strasburg)

Planning Group Youth:

Sophia Burnett (St. Michael, Virginia Beach)

Katie Borst (St. Michael, Virginia Beach)

Carter Recupero (Trinity, Newport News)

Pidge Church (Our Saviour, Warrenton)

--> We will need at least a dozen adults to provide Small Group Leadership at this year's Kairos. Adults who will be group leaders at Youth Events must complete the Information Sheet and Background Check permission form each year. Here are links to those forms and additional information:

-Opportunities for Small Group Leaders in 2023-2024

-2023-2024 Small Group Leader Information Sheet

-Permission to Conduct a Background Check

-What it means to be a (Young) Adult at a Synod Youth Event

--> We're in the final days of open registration for this summer's ELCA Churchwide Youth Gathering in New Orleans (July 16-20). Registration closes at the end of the day on Monday, April 15th.

Has your group been thinking about traveling to this event, but are just now getting your plans together? There's still time, but this is your last chance!

Complete information is available at www.elca.org/gathering.

Complete information about the Youth Assembly, including instructions for registering, are at www.vasynod.org/event/youth-assembly.

Here's a reminder that this event will be on Saturday, May 25th from 10:00-3:30 at four locations around the Synod, all connected by Zoom. Each congregation may send up to four youth along with an adult.

We will be hearing from a variety of synod youth and adult leaders, gathering input on youth ministry from participants, and electing our 2024-2025 LYO Board members.

Contact Dave Delaney (delaney@vasynod.org; cell: 540-529-6893) with any questions.

LUTHERAN SUMMER MUSIC ACADEMY AND FESTIVAL is a long-standing and exciting opportunity for young Lutheran musicians to share a month of music in a faith-based setting, building friendships and discerning a possible vocation in the musical arts. Valparaiso University has hosted this festival since 1981, with more than a thousand participants since its inception. For more information, go to https://www.lsmacademy.org/

TAYLOR SWIFT

THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS?

Click on this link to a Google Slides to take a quiz and see whether you can tell whether a phrase comes from the Biblical book of Lamentations or one of Taylor Swift's songs!

Click here!

Keep up with all things VA Synod Youth and Young Adult Ministry by following us on Instagram and liking our Facebook page! Snapshots of each edition of 5PF will be posted there on publication day!

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To provide feedback ... ask questions ... obtain more info on any of this ... contact Dave Delaney, Virginia Synod Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries: delaney@vasynod.org