In his primary role as director of evangelical mission, Wertz will focus on developing generous stewardship, new and renewing congregations and synod mission strategy. He will be based at the Eastern Synod office at First Lutheran, Norfolk, but he will be working with congregations across the synod.

            At St. Michael, he helped found Micah's Caring Initiative (www.micahci.org), a community partnership which works with over 200 partner organizations to provide weekend meals for hungry students, monthly meals to low-income seniors and fresh produce in the summer to local food pantries. The Micah's program is probably the largest operation of its kind in the synod.

            A South Carolina native, Wertz is a graduate of Southern Seminary and served Good Shepherd Lutheran, Walterboro, S.C.,  in 1997-2004. He helped start Shepherd's Care, an Alzheimer's respite program, and expanded a food pantry.

            Wertz comes from a family of Lutheran pastors. His grandfather, the Rev. Lester A. Wertz, served in the Shenandoah Parish, Emmanel-St, Matthew, Shenandoah County, and the former Woman's Memorial, Pulaski, as well as Tennessee congregations in the former Knoxville Conference. His father, the Rev. John Wertz Sr., served in South Carolina and an uncle, the Rev. Allan Wertz, served at the Toms Brook Parish and Our Redeemer, Petersburg. 

            Wertz has a passion for putting God's work into action. In addition to the Micah's program, he served on the Synod Executive Council and presently is on the board of National Lutheran  Communities and Servixces, ELCA Region 9 Stewardship Council and the Synod Tapestry Team. He has experience and training in consulting with congegations and organizations on church leadership, fund-raising and developing community-based ministries.

            On April 27-28, two brothers from the Ecumenical Community of Taizé, located in Burgundy province, France, led a retreat at Messiah, Mechanicsville, for young adult guests from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and all across Virginia. Participants were Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox Christians.

             During the weekend, registrants and others who came just for the famous meditative, musical worship gathered four times for prayer as in France. This included prayer around the cross, a practice developed in Eastern Europe during the Cold War and which continues in their village in France each Friday evening.

            The brothers also shared two bible reflections followed by small group discussions. During a "Signs of Hope" portion of the program, participants reflected upon Inexhaustible Joy, this year's letter from the community's prior, Br. Alois, sharing four proposals potentially leading to greater reconciliation, trust, justice and solidarity among peoples of the world. They also learned about local signs of hope such as Messiah Lutheran and All Souls Episcopal's shared ecumenical ministry, the Richmond Hill Ecumenical Community's racial reconciliation and justice efforts, and the community life of L'Arche Metro Richmond which brings together in shared life those with intellectual and physical disabilities and those more abled. Portions of a new movie about the community's founder, Br. Roger, and his legacy were also shown.

            Former Pastors Robert Anderson, Dave Delaney and Wayne Shelor joined former vicars, Pastor Ben Sloss, Margaret Ashby and Suzanne Stierwalt. Also attending were three former members now ordained-Pastors Laura Olsen, Theresa P. Hannon and Shannon Anderson. An anthem for the anniversary was composed by Christy Lumm, a member of the choir.                

            Karen Murphy of Bethlehem, Lynchburg, is the first-place winner in the annual Hearts & Hands Service Awards conducted by Lutheran Family Services of Virginia. Her work is in the Helping Hands Clothes Closet at Bethlehem.

            LFS started the awards in 2008, finding stories of grace and service. They honor members of the Lutheran community whose passion, energy and delight in service are creating abundance in the lives of brothers and sisters in the church. In honor of its 130 years of service, LFS will recognize them at the Synod Assembly on June 9.

           

	Perry

Second place winner is Jane Perry, Zion, Edinburg, for her work at Spring Forward, an after-school program. Third is Kim Begnaud, Trinity, Stephens City, cited for service in several social ministry programs. Information and pictures of their ministries are at lfsva.org.

            Honorable mention awards are announced for Bob Ballard, Holy Trinity, Wytheville; Rick Sizemore, Mt. Tabor, Staunton, and Donna Wright, St. Philip, Roanoke.

            LFS thanked many members pf the Lutheran community who submitted nominations.    

           For this first Lost&Found, we were at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp. We had only 35 kids plus their adult advisors. As we had done with senior highs, we held large group sessions in the lodge and small group sessions on the cabin porches. The weather cooperated, so on a beautiful Saturday morning, I found myself with nine junior highs, six girls and three boys, sitting on the porch of Cabin #3. They had already proven themselves to be fun kids, laughing and joking with one another. There was one exception-Alex. He was the smallest member of the group yet to hit that adolescent growth spurt that most of the others were in the midst of. And, he was quiet, very quiet, not singing with the rest in the large group and sitting apart, the only one who came from his Virginia Synod congregation.

            In that Saturday morning's discussion, we were dealing with relationships: our relationships with others, our friends, our family and with God. The learning plan asked the kids to go and find three rocks: a "Me Rock," a "Family Rock," and a "God Rock," and, bring them back to the cabin porch. The girls said they thought this exercise was "totally stupid" because having to dig up the rocks resulted in damage to their finger nails which they had all painted for one another last night! Sorry, ladies!

            Needing to make two trips, Alex returned with only two very large rocks, almost more than he could carry! After everyone settled down, I asked them to "Share the Story of the Rocks" they had brought back by arranging the rocks to show how they felt about their relationships with Self, Family and God. With the exception of Alex, most of the kids arranged their rocks somewhat predictably, side by side, on the cabin porch, a linear model of the solar system! Their 7th Grade science teachers would have been proud!

            When it was Alex's turn, he shoved his hand into the pocket of his jeans and produced what only can be described as a pebble. He put the pebble down on the cabin porch floor. Then he maneuvered one of the large rocks on top of it! Next, he was trying to put the other even larger rock on top of that! In spite of group members coming to help him, his rock pile fell apart and his "Me Rock," that little pebble, rolled across the cabin porch, fell through the space between the wooden, floor slats and disappeared.

             I said, "Oh, really sorry, Alex!" Your 'Me Rock' fell through the cracks." Alex looked at me and said, matter-of-factly, "It's okay; that's just how my life really is." There was complete silence. Even the girls inspecting their damaged finger nails were quiet. It was amazing to see this young boy entrust himself to me and to the kids around him. And, his trust was not misplaced. The girls left their places on the cabin porch to go and sit with Alex. They hugged him and in so doing, they hugged themselves because they knew his hurt. The other two boys showed their affection and support by crawling under the porch in search of Alex's "Me Rock." One or the other, would emerge to ask, "This it?" "No, sorry, Alex would reply." Eventually, this whole search and rescue for the "Me Rock" turned into complete hilarity! Everyone waited for these two totally dirt-covered boys would bring up another little rock from under the cabin porch, only to have Alex shake his head and the whole group burst into laughter. I don't remember whether Alex's "Me Rock" was ever found, but my suspicion is that Alex hoped it would never be found as long as he was experiencing the joy of having himself found for the first time in his young life.

            If one were able to trace a defining moment in youth ministry for middle school kids in Virginia Synod youth ministry, that was it. It became clear to us that middle school kids could handle abstract reasoning in the youth event context. And, that metaphor (the "Me Rock") was a tool they understood and could use themselves.

           It has been a very exciting 36 years since that first Lost&Found! We have seen our youth events expand to five or more excellent opportunities for over a thousand youth every year. Many of those kids who sat on cabin porches at Caroline Furnace may well be sending their own kids to Virginia Synod Youth Events.

We simply must continue this legacy for all the kids like Alex and have the synod staff available to continue to coordinate these events far into the future. That's what ForwardingFaith is all about.

          Here is an opportunity for each of us to help make certain that our Virginia Synod youth events continue for many years ahead. Please give as you are able. Learn more about  ForwardingFaith here.

(Westermann is the synod's ForwardingFaith 

Campaign Manager)