“For about one week at the beginning, I was worried about whether we’d have enough food,” says Pastor Sharon Schulze, pastor of South Durham Connections and Coordinator of the Parktown Food Hub. “Now it’s more like, what are we going to do with all this food? Who’s going to come get all of this?”

New Re-Gathering Guidelines are available. On January 12, the synod's Re-Gathering Task Group approved new guidelines for congregations through this current Executive Order (#188) which extends from January 6 to January 29, 2021.

Did you know that each week the synod offers options for Shared Worship for those who are not gathering for worship? Each week you can: (1)

Watch a livestreamed Sunday morning worship on the synod's Facebook page (times vary), (2) Watch that Facebook recording later on Sunday—or any day of the week, (3) Listen to the sermon by phone. Call 833-924-1988 and press 1, or (4) Use a bishop's staff recorded sermon for your own congregation's worship recording.

Join a FREE online conversation, "Let's Talk about Women's Groups" on Thursday, January 21, at 3:00 p.m. During this pandemic, women’s groups may have dwindled. Join PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) to discuss doing hybrid and virtual women’s groups. Share what you have done, look for new ideas, and brainstorm with us to keep these groups vibrant and ongoing.

In her January/February column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the past year and looks toward 2021. The pandemic has taught us a lot about our church and about ourselves. We are connected. We are generous. We are freed to serve.

Read her column in English. Read her column in Spanish.

This new meeting for mainline Christians on Zoom is open to anyone in 12-step recovery of any kind and is also open to those interested in learning more about 12-step recovery. The Center of Addiction and Faith and the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy host this meeting, offered every Sunday night at 8 p.m. All are welcome. Share with a friend.

The 98th "virtual" Gathering of the North Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission NCLMIM will be held on Saturday, March 6. First, Lexington will host the Gathering virtually by Zoom. The theme this year is "Anchored in Christ." No matter the storm we are grounded in the Gospel. We invite all men around the state to join us.

The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2021 mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and charitable, medical, or moving purposes. Beginning Jan. 1, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) include:

• 56 cents per mile driven for business use, down 1.5 cents from the rate for 2020, and

• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, (unchanged from 2020).

All are invited to the Installation of Pastor Tim Poston on Sunday, January 24, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. (Use this link to join the meeting; Meeting ID: 824 9273 5475). Pastor Tim serves as pastor at St. Philip, Raleigh.

Pastor Beth Woodard has transferred to the Virginia Synod effective 1/8/21.

Pastor Dave Fox and Deacon Elizabeth Fox have transferred to the Virginia Synod effective 1/11/21.

Pastor Zach Harris has transferred to the Virginia Synod effective 2/1/21.

Pastor Karen L. Battle, Southwestern PA Synod, is transferring to the NC Synod and will be living in the Charlotte area.

Megan Clark, the 37-year-old daughter of Pastor John (retired, Lincolnton) and Cindy Duncan, died suddenly on Saturday, January 9. We mourn with her family. Read the full obituary.

Evelyn Ridenhour, the mother of Pastor Steve Ridenhour (chaplain, Trinity View, Arden), died on January 10. We mourn with her family. Read the full obituary.

Deacon Laura Buff Alexander (Westminster Presbyterian, Greensboro) broke her collarbone in a serious car wreck last week.

Pastor Mary Miller-Zurell (Faith, Conover, and St. Timothy, Conover) had her gallbladder removed on January 11.

Clara Santana, the wife of Pastor German Antonio Santana (Arbol de Vida, Durham), became a citizen of the United States of America on January 7.

Pastor Matt Hoffman (campus pastor, Warren Wilson College) and his wife, Samantha Gonzalez-Block, welcomed a son, Javier John Gonzalez-Hoffman, to the world on January 10. Matt reports that Javi (or JJ) and his mama and papa are doing well.

Our New NC Synod Website was launched on January 14. (That's kinda like a baby... right!?)

Pastor Ann Kelly (Trinity, Sanford) married Richard Sullins on January 17. Congrats!

Joshua Lewis Copeland was ordained on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Copeland will serve as pastor at Our Saviour, Christiansburg, Virginia. Watch the service here.

Anna Elisabeth Carter was ordained on Saturday, January 9, at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Carter will serve as pastor at Holly Grove, Lexington. Watch the service here.

From prison to Princeton to the pulpit. That is the road less traveled taken by Erich Kussman, pastor of St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Trenton, N.J.

It was on that road that Kussman found God, found the man he calls his father, and found himself featured on the A&E network series The Redeemed.

Beginning with the statement, “There is no best way to read the Bible,” Luther Seminary Professor Emeritus Mark Throntveit writes with humor and compassion about our failed resolutions to spend time regularly reading the Bible. He argues that what we need is motivation until we develop the habit of regularly reading Scripture.

Lenoir-Rhyne University is an institution that has been recognized for its work providing financial aid for its students. Now Director of Financial Aid Courtney Thompson-Ballard has been recognized and selected to participate in the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Diversity Leadership Program.

Ignite the Church Conference 2021 has gone online! Join us in Adapting to a New Reality: Living into a Fresh Vision for God’s Church. These free monthly webinars are focused on key areas. The first webinar is Thursday, January 21, from 2-3:30 p.m. for the first webinar, Encouragement Beyond Fatigue, with Louise Johnson. After a year of unprecedented challenges, persevering in the spirit of Hebrews 12 has been difficult; many leaders feel overwhelmed and discouraged. So that you may not grow weary the webinar series begins with encouragement.

Manuals help us with our appliances, computers, and automobiles, but when it comes to being human, many persons today are left to figure it out on their own. In order to address this situation, philosopher Alain de Botton founded The School of Life, which seeks to apply the intellectual resources of the humanities to the challenge of being human. Join others in Hood Seminary's six-session Community Education online course beginning the week of February 15, exploring Botton's recent work.

Lutheran World Relief needs your help to bring real, tangible hope to our poorest neighbors. This Lent, your congregation can help by gathering and assembling Personal Care Kits. LWR has created an accompanying full suite of Lenten resources called “Sensing Hope,” including a 5-week sermon series and small group study guide—all of which can be used digitally or in-person to nurture hope and action in your congregation.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) shares their top ten policy priorities for the Biden administration and 117th Congress. Also, LIRS has been cooking! Watch the most-recent third episode of their Culture Kitchen!