News & Updates for the Virginia Synod |
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Getting to Know the Online Assembly |
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2021 Assembly Fact #3
Synod Constitutions require 60% of voting members to be lay members.
The Virginia Synod Constitution requires (†S7.21.) that at least 60% of the voting members of the Assembly are lay people. If the Assembly membership is not at least 60% lay members (which it currently is not):
- No business may be conducted, including no voting
- Retired and on leave from call rostered ministers will not be able to vote (per the VA Synod Constitution [S7.22.01. And S7.22.02.])
For more information on the Synod Assembly, click here.
For more information on the youth assembly, click here.
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All Places Together (APT), one of the ELCA’s first online mission starts, launches this week. APT seeks to gather individuals who are searching for God in the wilderness of life, individuals who deeply want to connect to something beyond themselves, and individuals who believe the love of Jesus is embodied in all of God’s diverse creation. Currently, this community gathers on Instagram and Facebook (@allpacestogether), and through their podcast (Spotify, Google, Switcher, Amazon, and soon on Apple). Pastor Colleen Montgomery, mission developer says, “Exploring this new way of being church together is exciting! The Holy Spirit is at work connecting us over the distances to experience and share God’s love.”
You can support this new ministry through:
- Prayer
- Engaging with social media posts
- Amplifying outreach through sharing on your social media platforms and sharing with individuals whom you think would find the community meaningful
- Listening to the podcast and leaving a review
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Financial support by Click here to give to All Places Together. Scroll to "Other [specify]:" under "Gifts for God's Mission". Type in All Places Together to designate your gift to this community!
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Getting to Know All Creation Sings |
In late April, Trinity Lutheran Church of Worcester, MA hosted: All Creation Sings, A Virtual Hymn Festival. Lead by Deacon John Weit, ELCA Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, Executive for Worship, Trinity Choir, and Cantor Mark Mummert. All participants were fully vaccinated, masks were worn, and distancing was enforced.
This festival is a wonderful introduction to both the music and context of many of the new hymns.
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Hymns, prayers, and liturgies from All Creation Sings are now available on Sundays and Seasons online. Assembly and leader copies can be purchased from Augsburg Fortress.
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Meadows and Woodlands: Prayer Poems |
Bishop Emeritus Richard F. Bansemer wrote Meadows and Woodlands: Prayer Poems a book of poetry to encourage our enjoyment of the "solitude of nature and the marvel of God's creation." The poetry is accompanied throughout by the wonderfully reflective artwork of Mary Lou and Williams Hall.
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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, you have served your communities with compassion and creativity, even as physical distancing changed the way we worship and meet. With vaccinations becoming available to more of the population, we hold onto hope that we may be able to gather safely in physical spaces in the upcoming months, as public health recommendations allow. Open Doors is a new initiative to support ELCA congregations interested in meeting new people during this time of regathering in physical spaces. If you have a concrete, actionable idea for meeting new people during this critical time, your congregation is invited to apply for an Open Doors Grant.
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Daily Bread Matching Grants |
A new round of ELCA World Hunger's Daily Bread Matching Grants just launched! Daily Bread Matching Grants support congregations and their partners as they work toward a just world where all are fed.
ELCA congregations interested in raising funds for their feeding ministry through ELCA World Hunger’s online platform, matched with a $500 grant, can register and apply in ELCA GrantMaker starting April 26th. Registration will be open through May 1, 2021, and the application will close on May 7, 2021. Congregations approved to participate will raise funds for their ministry online from June 5 – June 20, 2021 and will be eligible for a special opportunity to explore goals for their ministry with an ELCA Coach.
For details on the grants and eligibility requirements, visit elca.org/dailybread. There are a limited number of grants available on a first-come, first-served basis, so interested congregations should apply as soon as they are able. Congregations that have previously received a Daily Bread Matching Grant are not eligible to re-apply at this time.
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All ages are invited into a synod-wide faith formation experience: Our Journey to Emmaus. Participants will engage the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24) in seven movements over seven Sundays beginning on May 2. Each weekly email will have a portion of the story, reflections for all ages, and movement activities for all types of bodies. You can sign up for weekly emails by registering below. You may participate with your congregation or ministry or on your own. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick (bayerderrick@vasynod.org).
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Starting a New Chapter: Ministry in a Digital World
May 10 & 17 at 7 PM
How do we build on what we have learned over the last 13 months?
How have attitudes and opinions about faith and life changed during the pandemic?
How do we use digital tools to strengthen overall ministry?
The Virginia Synod invites you into a series of conversations on Zoom designed to congregations start a new chapter of ministry in a digital world.
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May 3: Run with Perseverance - Finishing Strong and Building on What We Have Learned (Recording available soon on the VA Synod YouTube page)
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May 10: Stumbling Blocks - Discovering More about the Patterns, Habits, and Opinions of Non-Churchgoers
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May 17: Modern Day Letters - Moving from Broadcast to Engagement
Registration is free and each of the conversations is planned for one hour. For more information, email Pastor Colleen Montgomery ( montgomery@vasynod.org) or Pastor John Wertz, Jr. ( wertz@vasynod.org).
Notes for Registration: You will be invited to make a donation for the Virginia Synod's New Ministry Starts. Donations are not required for participation. Tithe.ly Registration only allows for participants to include two names. You may use whichever two names you prefer.
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What Have We Learned?
What we have learned along the way? Our monthly conversations have planted the seed. Now let’s listen to the stories of ways to enlarge and spread the news of your feeding ministry On Thursday, May 6th at noon, join Sandy Hagman, Chair, Advisory Board Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry; John Stramiello, Director, Micah’s Backpack; Chuck Miller, Mini Food Pantry, Feeding Kids Plus, and Gardens of Grace for this discussion and a wrap of what we have learned along the way.
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Gather together with the Virginia Synod Campus Ministries for online worship this Ascension Day, Thursday, May 13th. On this fortieth day of the Easter season, we celebrate Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the missions and ministries that are still happening “on the ground”. The service will be hosted at 7 pm by Peace and Hope on Altar Live. We will hear from the students, staff, and supporting congregations of many of our campus ministries and celebrate the way that God has been with them throughout this pandemic school year.
Link: www.peacehopeva.org/ascensionday
Note: This link will redirect you to Altar Live. The video will not go live until May 13. If you click before then, it will say that the video does not exist. Fear not. It will
Photo credit: Saget, Father Georges. Ascension, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56518 [retrieved April 26, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KeurMoussaAutel.jpg.
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“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is Sunday, September 12, 2021. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.
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Help Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp and Retreat Center prepare for another unforgettable summer! There is no cost to register or attend and lunch will be provided.
Projects are mostly outdoors and social distancing among separate households is expected. Detailed plans will reflect guidelines and best practices at the time. Contact us for overnight lodging options - 14 days of health pre-screening required for all overnight guests and indoor projects.
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Job Opportunities can now be found on the Virginia Synod website at
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Do You have an announcement, upcoming event, or news story idea?
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Stay Connected with the Virginia Synod: |
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