Pastor Jason Allen Darty was installed at Hebron, Madison, on April 28 and his wife, Pastor Jessica Skinner Darty, was installed at St. Luke, Culpeper, on May 5. They moved from parishes in Eastern North Dakota Synod. He is a novice on a path to become a spiritual director in the Order of Luther Franciscans. The Dartys have a son, Isaac, and expect a daughter to be born in July.

            Pastor Scott Mims, Good Shepherd, Virginia Beach, has started a three-month sabbatical. He said he plans a retreat at Holden Village in Washington State. At the Water's Edge, an annual junior high servant event, is planned for July 21-26 at Good Shepherd. Youth in grades 6-8 will have a week of learning, worshiping, serving and having fun.

            Pastor Patsy Koeneke has come from Arizona to be interim pastor at Emmanuel, Virginia Beach. She follows Pastor Aaron DeBenedetto, who moved away.

            Pastor Meredith Williams, Ascension, Danville, was among faith leaders who objected to a proposed gambling casino in Danville. She said a casino would pose a risk for those struggling with gambling addiction and would tempt poor people into spending money to try to strike it rich, according to the Danville Register and Bee. "It's a risk to those who are vulnerable," she said. Danville city leaders support the proposal because they say the resulting tax revenue would meet local needs.

            At St. Stephen, Williamsburg, a reading of The Gospel According to Mark was presented by Acting Pastor Shannon Rye Walk, 1st Congregational Church, New Milford, Ct., on May 4  

            Pastor Lauren Miller, Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg, married Nate Eanes on May 26.

            At Luther Memorial, Blackskburg, Gail King, organist, and   Tom Wilson, choirmaster, are retiring after more than 30 years of service. A retirement celebration for them is planned for June 23. Cooper Neeble of Luther Memorial was named Class 3 male athlete of the year by the Virginia High School League, a recognition for students who have excelled in the classroom, communities and athletic and academic activities. He plans to attend Roanoke College in the fall.

            In commemoration of the 125th anniversary of First Lutheran, Norfolk, members will receive a stained glass piece recalling the Melcher window in the church given by the late John Hackney in memory of his wife, Jo Melcher Hackney in 1961. Trina Winfield has started work as office administrator/bookkeeper at First.  She formerly worked for Baltimore City Health Department and Black Charities. The Contact, newsletter of First Lutheran, also reports that in the past year the congregation helped the neighboring Ghent Area Ministry  by 2,194 visits, utility assistance for 75 families, prescriptions for 78 clients, food for 340 households, 308 lunch bags for the homeless, 525 client visits to a clothes closet and 978 bus passes.

            Grace, Waynesboro, invited friends from Christ Tabernacle Church for a service and a sermon by Pastor C. D. Brown, followed by a potluck meal on May 5.

            Mary Barb received the Lamb Award for contributions to scouting at St.  Paul's, Jerome. The award was presented by the Stonewall Jackson Boy Scout Council.

            Pastors Randy Lohr and Chris Carr of Christ the King, Richmond, renewed an old tradition of "beating the bounds" on May 30 when they visited the edges of their church territory, stopping for breakfast, coffee, lunch and beer and hymns in Midlothian, Ashland, Mechanicsville and other Richmond suburbs. Also, at Christ the King, volunteers delivered 223 quilts, 81 health care kits and supplies for 82 school kits to Lutheran World Relief warehouse in Maryland.

            Members of Trinity, Roanoke, raised a whopping $2,476 to buy three farms, including three cows, six goats, 26 chicks, six pigs, farm tools, seeds, training and support, a fruit tree nursery, six honey bee hives and three roosters for the ELCA Good Gifts Program.

             For Mother's Day, members of Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg, held a special appeal to support single-area homeless families with children under 18.  

            Members of Trinity Ecumenical Parish, Moneta, have been invited to Sounds of Silence, a guided meditation beginning a day of personal reflection, led by Vicar Shea Berbaum, on Saturday, June 15, from 8:45 a.m. 1 p.m. This day apart "allows us to put aside the busyness of our daily lives and simply 'be,'" according to the parish newsletter.  

            The Islamic Society of Winchester and Valley Interfaith Council thanked the congregation of Grace, Winchester, for its hospitality in hosting an interfaith prayer vigil for the victims of shootings in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

            Holy Trinity, Lynchburg, held a mini-recital by J. William Greene, organist-choirmaster, on Ascension Day, May 30.    

             A summer camp for youngsters from third grade up will be held at Hungry Mother Lutheran Retreat Center from Sunday, June 30 through Friday, July 5. For information, contact Chris at 276-655-3796 or [email protected].  A quilt made by Edie Hildebite, St. John, Abingdon , will be sold as a raffle for the camp. Also, the camp has adopted the Clyburn Hollow Trail in nearby Hungry Mother State Park "in the spirit of being good stewards of the land."