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Here's Your Black Friday Gift! Not just one item, but five items (one for each petal of the Luther Rose)! All for the low, low price of free!
5PF VOLUME ONE ISSUE TEN will arrive on Friday, Dec. 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. After you're done googling what that feast is, you'll want to give your full attention to that issue of 5PF! NOTE: towards the end of 2023, we will consolidate our subscription list so that (in addition to all clergy and congregations, whose subscriptions are automatic) only those who subscribe will continue to receive the newsletter. Hit the button at the bottom if you want to be sure not to miss a single issue! Additional NOTE: to UN-subscribe, please send a request to our circulation office at delaney@vasynod.org.
Results from Issue 1.8 Random Debate: "How will you celebrate Martin Luther's birthday (Nov. 10)?" Half of our readers pledged to read a bit of Luther, like the Small Catechism. The rest were about evenly split, although we did find that a small percentage would rather pass a kidney stone than read all of 73 volumes of Luther's Works. Understandable.
| THIS WEEK'S RANDOM DEBATE: | |
| What are you most likely to have left over from Thanksgiving? | | | |
The 5 Petals for Vol. 1 Issue 7 of 5PF... | |
WOW! What a wonderful Lost and Found event we had this past weekend at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center! This is our annual faith-sharing retreat for 7th and 8th graders and their adult leaders. Our theme was "Are You There, God?" and we dug deep into Jesus' promise from Matthew 28, "I am with you always," as well as three stories from Exodus 14-17. Eighty-five of us joined together in singing, praying, sharing in small groups, and making new friends, plus enjoying the ice-cream shop, gaga ball pit, and making unforgettable memories of how God is with us no matter where we are. Special thanks goes to our Planning Group (the "Competitive Charades Team"!) and our Small Group leaders, who are always at the heart of our events. | | |
Announcements & Reminders
--> Prayers are requested for our ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who is taking a 4-6 month leave of absence for rest and renewal. Bishop Michael Burk will serve as temporary presiding bishop in her absence.
--> Information and forms for adults who will be leaders at Youth Events:
-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
--> Registration is still open for THE ELCA YOUTH MINISTRY EXTRAVAGANZA (aka,"THE E", aka, the annual gathering of adults who work with youth for fellowship, inspiration, and education) - Jan. 18-21, 2024 - at the regular rate ... All the necessary information and links for registration are available here. ProTip: This event will be especially useful if you're planning to take a group to the 2024 Youth Gathering (see below ... like right below), the "E" will give you a chance to become familiar with New Orleans, and you can even sign up for a tour of Gathering sites!
-->WINTER CELEBRATION is our faith-sharing event for 9th-12th graders and the adults who come with them (Feb. 2-4, 2024 at Eagle Eyrie Lynchburg). REGISTRATION is open! Go to this link for all the info and registration instructions or go to www.vasynod.org and click on the Youth Ministry drop down menu.
-->The early Registration discount has passed for The ELCA Youth Gathering (for youth who have completed grades 8-12 and their adult leaders by next July) in New Orleans, July 16-20, 2024. But you can still register or add participants to your group! All the information and materials your congregation needs to register, plus lots of other Gathering info, can be found at elca.org/gathering. Questions can be directed to our "Synod Gathering Champion" Pastor Bob Vogl (RevBobStTim@gmail.com)
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The ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is ready for new volunteers! The YAGM team must find the next cohort of young Christians ready to step out into the future. Do you know one? If you know such a young adult, aged 21 to 35, this is the time to reach out. Applications are now accepted on a rolling basis, year-round. Those who apply by Feb. 1 will be considered for the service year beginning the following August. Priority will be given to those who apply before Jan. 15.
Talk personally to these young people about what this opportunity will mean for their faith, identity, career and understanding of God’s work in the world.
Download Poster
Watch a Video about Young Adults in Global MissionWatch a Video about Young Adults in Global Mission
YAGM volunteers who apply by Feb. 1, 2024, will begin their service in August 2024.
Through YAGM young adults learn what it means to serve in a spirit of accompaniment as they walk alongside global church companions. They’ll become immersed in a new community and form deep relationships. And they’ll confront poverty, racial privilege, gender privilege, globalization and economic disparity, all through the lens of faith. Learn more at ELCA.org/YAGM.
Young adults will find relevant opportunities for professional experience, including work in:
- Health and human rights: health care, HIV and AIDS, homelessness, immigration and refugees.
- Education: fine arts, youth education, childhood education, working with people living with disabilities.
- Environmental justice: agriculture and farming, development, environment.
- Professional support: office work, communication, technology, finance.
- Congregational ministry: children’s ministry, Christian education, youth ministry, congregational ministry, camp ministry.
Around the world, host families, churches, workplaces and communities are ready to welcome YAGM volunteers.
Don’t wait — spread the word and forward this email now! Those who apply by Feb. 1, 2024, will be considered for the service year beginning the following August. Priority will be given to those who apply by Jan. 15, 2024.
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A reminder about 2024 Youth Events!
We've just completed our "Lost and Found" event, so it's the perfect time to make sure our synodical youth events are on your 2024 calendar!
In addition to the dates listed on the poster to the left, make sure you have "Lost and Found 2024" included on your planning calendar: the dates are Nov. 22-24, 2024! And the location is Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg, as always!
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The Day *after* Thanksgiving Day
Even a limited search of biblical passages that have to do with thanksgiving yields more than 150 results! Is there one that stands out above the others? For the day *after* Thanksgiving, perhaps one of the best is I Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Christian leaders and biblical interpreters throughout our 2000-year history have cited this passage as fundamental to the Christian life. What is notable is that so many have quoted it not when things were going great or when recounting all of life's blessings that could be considered positive and pleasant, but when hardships and sufferings came their way. This may not immediately come to mind when such things happen to us, but giving thanks to God "in all circumstances" brings us into line with the life of the Lord Jesus and the wisdom of countless saints throughout history. Happy (post-) Thanksgiving!
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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 | | | | |
