The 5PF editorial bunker has no windows, so we have to take readers' word for it that the leaves are finally changing. But in two weeks, on Nov. 8th, you'll need to tear yourself away from nature's spectacle to watch for 5PF VOLUME TWO ISSUE EIGHT to appear in your inbox. As always, if you're not interested in brilliant news and analysis and you need to unsubscribe, do NOT hit the tiny unsubscribe button at the bottom! Instead, send a request to our circulation department at delaney@vasynod.org. In the meantime, ecclesia semper reformanda!

Christmas already?! We wanted to know your personal preference for hearing Christmas music either at home or out in the world. For 22.7% of our readers, the joy of Christmas goes year-round ("Santa Baby" in June?? Are you sure??) ! December 1st marks the first Sunday in Advent this year, and for 16% our respondents, this will be perfect, since December is the prime month for Christmas music for them. But for a whopping majority of 61%, Christmas music is acceptable ONLY after Thanksgiving, no sooner, but no later!

Now: on to the Reformation edition of Random Debates! We Lutherans are notorious for nailing things to doors! Introducing this week's burning question: what is your favorite thing to nail to your door? We here at the VA Synod office are partial to a blue sticky note that says "door unlocked"!

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM DEBATE:

What is your favorite thing to nail to your door?

A festive wreath! One for each holiday of course!

Obviously the 95 Theses!

A sign that says "Bless This Mess"

The 5 Petals for Vol. 2 Issue 7 of 5PF:

THIS COMING MONDAY

OCT 28TH

is the last day to get the EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT for

Lost and Found 2024 !

LOST AND FOUND is the name of our weekend faith-sharing retreat for Virginia Synod 7th and 8th graders and the adults who attend with them. It goes from Friday evening to Sunday noon at Eagle Eyrie retreat center in Lynchburg and includes lots of friend-making, song-singing, small-grouping, fun-having, and talent-sharing, and we're sure that's not even the whole list! YOU CAN STILL REGISTER AT THE REGULAR RATE AFTER MONDAY, but starting on Nov. 11, contact event director Dave Delaney (delaney@vasynod.org; c: 540-529-6893) before registering to make sure we have room and supplies.

Here is the link to the Lost and Found webpage (for full info and registration instructions) at the Virginia Synod website.

And here is the link directly to the video that shows a little more about Lost and Found.

And AND here is the direct link to a video tour of Eagle Eyrie, where L&F is held!

Reminders & Announcements

>>> CONGREGATIONAL AND YOUTH LEADERS! PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR SYNOD STAFF SOME SOME TIME BY RESPONDING TO THIS SURVEY (via scanning the code to the right or clicking on this site link.) It's just a quick form to let Synod Youth Ministry leaders know who is the best contact person in your congregation to receive information about Virginia Synod Youth Ministry.

(If you have more than one person, you can do the survey more than once!)

>>> FOR ADULTS WHO PLAN TO BE GROUP LEADERS AT SYNOD YOUTH EVENTS!

Here are links to the essential 2024-2025 forms:

>Cover letter for adults who will be leading at 2024-2025 Synod Youth events

>2024-2025 Opportunities for adults to serve as Small Group leaders at youth events

>Small Group Leader Information Sheet (2024-2025)

>Permission to Conduct a Background Check Form

>What it Means to be an Adult at Youth Events

>>>Winter Celebration Registration is Open!

Winter Celebration is a weekend gathering of a whole bunch of Virginia Synod 9th through 12th graders and their adult advisors for Large Group and Small Group experiences with lots of worship, singing, and faith sharing. There is also a big chunk of free time on Saturday when we have our “Open Mic / Talent Show” and time late in the evening to relax and talk with the other youth and adults from your congregation. The early registration discount deadline of Dec. 16 will be here quicker than you think!

Click Here for complete information and links to registration!

Meet our new office assistant and miracle-worker in the Western Office of the Virginia Synod - Lynzie Cape! She's as solid and gentle as she is she is brilliant. Click here to read the 5PF exclusive interview!

The Nov. 5 SYMBOL forum will feature Deacon Jess Liles, ELCA Director of Youth Ministry and the ELCA Youth Gathering !

SYMBOL is the ELCA's team of synodical youth leaders who work to equip synods interested in supporting youth ministry. Each month during the program year, SYMBOL sponsors a forum with guests who provide expert input on topics of use and interest to our leaders. All adults who work with youth are welcome to participate via Zoom, but pre-registration is required.

Click on this link (not on the one to the right, which is just part of the picture) to go to that pre-registration page.

This forum should be of particular interest to anyone whose congregation plans to continue participating in the ELCA Youth Gatherings. (PS - the next one is in 2027 in Minneapolis!)

Where Do We Stand?

One of the most famous biographies of Martin Luther was written by a Methodist scholar and church elder, Roland Bainton, and was named not after a line from Luther's "95 Theses" (whose 1517 posting on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg gives us the date for the festival of the Reformation), but after Luther's defense during his heresy trial at Augsburg in April, 1521. When given the chance to renounce his own teachings about God's grace, Luther said, "Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me, Amen!"

Where do we stand now, more than 500 years later, when it comes to God's loving grace for us and for the suffering and sinful world? Will we try to replace that with some secondary concern of our own, putting some moral or doctrinal standard at the center instead of God's love shown through Christ and his cross, blown into our souls through the Spirit? At least as far as Virginia Synod Youth Ministry is concerned, we must not! Here we must stand, and here we do stand!

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!

If you liked what you read here, don't forget to subscribe to receive 5PF issues bi-weekly! You don't want to miss out on a single issue! Share with your friends and on social media!

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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