Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wytheville is examining Martin Luther's Small Catechism throughout the season of Lent with a Sunday sermon and devotional series hosted by The Rev. Colleen Montgomery titled "Exploring the Small Catechism". The series comes in three parts: a sermon on Sunday to kick off the week, a paper devotional booklet, and a video series hosted by Pastor Colleen. Every weekday during the season of Lent, Pastor Colleen is sharing her videos on Facebook, featuring snippets of the catechism, reflection questions, and a short prayer.  

"Exploring the Small Catechism" has been a great opportunity to invite folks and families on the go to participate in daily devotions during Lent. Since the series focus is on the Small Catechism, it's also reaching members who did not grow up Lutheran or for whom catechism classes were a long time ago. Catechesis is for all ages! This series has shows how these words from 16th century pastor still speak and guide us today.

"This has been a meaningful way for those participating to connect and share their stories and their questions. Folks who may not usually talk every Sunday are interacting online in meaningful ways. It also helps me deepen my relationships, which will enable me to preach and teach more about the experiences and concerns of our community," said Pastor Colleen about the Lenten series, "I hope it opens up more conversation around how we might use Facebook to connect with members, connect with other Lutherans, and hopefully reach those who don't feel connected to a particular faith community. If we do this again, I'd love to include other faces and voices in the videos to share a broader range of experiences."

To watch Pastor Colleen's Lent Series on the Small Catechism, visit Holy Trinity, Wytheville's Facebook page. Paper copies of the devotional booklet can be downloaded from Holy Trinity's website: holytrinitywytheville.org. 

Jesus… asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; others Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:27-29a NRSV)

It has been a remarkable two weeks since the murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Once again violence has touched the lives of most Americans and reignited the ongoing debate about what legal controls are needed for firearms and other weapons in our country.

These are important questions. They deserve our prayerful attention and response as Christians, and as Americans. We have learned that gun violence in this country far exceeds gun violence in many other countries around the world. We urgently need to find the right balance between our individual rights and liberties on the one hand, and the protection of innocent people in our society on the other.

For us, as Christians, this conversation begins, ends, and is wrapped in prayer and careful discernment, based on our understanding of who Jesus is and how we can most faithfully follow Jesus. The danger is that, like the disciples, we become distracted by the competing voices and sound bites of others.

Who do we say Jesus is? Jesus is the One we are called to follow and emulate. No one else will do… So, in addition to our prayers for the victims, their families and communities, we are called to prayerfully engage with one another in study and respectful conversation that leads us to faithful responses as we lift our voices, send our emails, call our representatives, engage in public witness and advocate in the way of Jesus. What better place than our congregations to offer ongoing faithful dialogue and support?

To share the Gospel with the world is our unique calling, and in times like these, is also a truly helpful perspective to offer our democracy, as together we search for justice and peace in a broken, deeply divided and often confusing world.

Let us hold one another in prayer as we journey together in support of all victims, peacemaking, advocacy and the bold proclamation of the Gospel.

—Bishop Bob Humphrey

To read Bishop Humphrey's complete response, click here .

Bishop Bob Humphrey has been working with both synod and ELCA Domestic Mission leaders to call a new Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) / Assistant to the Bishop. 

Serving under the direction of both the ELCA and Virginia Synod Bishop, this leader will be responsible for Mission development and re-development, working with rostered ministers, synod staff, congregations and institutions and agencies to find creative ways to proclaim the Gospel, grow in stewardship and foster new or renewed vitality in congregations and communities. They will lead and support the synod in areas of mission, stewardship, evangelism, leadership development, and justice. They will also serve as an assistant to the bishop, responding as needed throughout the synod. 

Seventeen applications from all over the country were submitted representing a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. Steps over the next couple of months will include prayerful conversations and structured interviews that hopefully lead to a call for one who is deeply inspired and truly gifted for this important ministry. Your prayers for all involved are requested.

All job postings can also be found online at  www.vasynod.org/job-opportunities. If you have a position opening you would like posted, please email Emily Pilat at  [email protected].