We are steadily approaching Spring, 5PF-sters! Hang in there!

5PF VOLUME ONE ISSUE EIGHTEEN will be a very special issue that will come out *not* on Friday, March 29th, 2024 (during your Good Friday fast), but on MONDAY, APRIL 1. Brace yourself!

As always, here is a double reminder: 1) subscribe to 5PF by hitting the button at the bottom of the page, unless you already have, in which case you're good to go! 2) If for some strange reason you would like to UN-subscribe, please send a request to our circulation department at delaney@vasynod.org.

Our last Random Debate was the seasonal version of glass-half-empty / glass-half full. A hefty 39% of our rugged, survivalist subscribers insist that March is still winter, while an even heftier 61% of our optimistic, forward-thinking readers view March as basically spring. Right now at the 5PF headquarters, it is 74 degrees and sunny, so you can imagine what our editorial staff thinks!

Last issue we promised a Random Debate that would observe March 15th (the Ides of March, when Julius Caesar was assassinated ... btw did you know that adding a day to February every four years was Caesar's idea?). Which leads to this issue's Random Debate:

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM DEBATE:

Do you "beware the Ides of March" like Julius Caesar should have?

Yes - you can never be too careful when you’re a tyrant like me.

No - my loyal subjects love me, so I got no worries.

The 5 Petals for Vol. 1 Issue 17 of 5PF...

Thanks be to God - and to all who contributed leadership and energy - for this year's Seventh Day (or "7th Day") event on March 2-3! Our theme was "Listen, God is Calling!" and we welcomed nearly 100 youth and adults at Eagle Eyrie conference center. If you would like to see a few photos from the weekend, click here for a short video!

Announcements & Reminders

--> BISHOP'S DAY, originally scheduled for on Saturday, March 16th at Grace Lutheran Church in Waynesboro has been canceled for this year. Thanks to those who showed interest but just couldn't fit it into their schedules. We will be working to craft another experience for youth who are interested in discerning a call to ministry. Stay tuned! In the meantime, if you would like to discuss what it means to be in the church's service, talk to your congregation's pastor! And then they can put you in touch with synodical leadership to continue that conversation!

--> Registration is open for KAIROS, our summertime, week-long faith-sharing experience for youth who will be in 9th-12th grades in the fall. It is held at Roanoke College in Salem, VA. Complete information about Kairos, including instructions for registering, are available under the youth ministry tab at the Virginia Synod website (www.vasynod.org) or by clicking here.

--> 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

--> Lutheran Student Movement is sponsoring a Region 9 Spring Retreat at Camp Kinard in South Carolina, April 5th-7th for all college students, Lutheran or not! The cost is only $20 and it promises to be an exciting time to gather with others for faith-sharing and inspiration. Registration closes March 18th.

For more complete information and the online registration form, click this link.

Registration for the Virginia Synod Youth Assembly will be open starting this Monday, March 18th.

Youth Assembly brings together participants from all of our congregations (up to four from each congregation in grades 7-12, plus an adult advisor) to participate in and learn about the ministry of our church beyond the congregation and elect our Lutheran Youth Organization Board for the coming year.

This year we are identifying four sites for our Youth Assembly that will be connected by Zoom.

The event is on Saturday, May 25th from 10am to 3:30 pm and costs $25 per person.

Starting Monday, March 18th, go to the Virginia Synod website www.vasynod.org, click on the "Youth Ministry Tab" and scroll down to the "Youth Assembly" link for complete information and registration forms.

The widely-respected publication Youth Today reports on the whole youth services industry and often includes items of interest to those of us who support young people in religious contexts. The article in their Feb. 20 issue, "On paper, teens are thriving. In reality, they're not" contains some sobering and useful insights for anyone who provides guidance and care for young people. Click this link to go to the online version of the article.

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