|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| Announcements From Around the Virginia Synod |
At this year's Kairos, there was a small group room that rapidly became engulfed
in flowers and pastel cards bearing the words of Psalm 92:12-15. These tokens, assembled by Small Group 7, were a part of their proclamation presentation, a tradition at Karios that each small group participates in Thursday afternoon and evening.
Small groups devote a majority of their afternoon meeting times leading up to Thursday planning and preparing their proclamation for the Kairos community.
These proclamations are a chance for the Kairos small groups to communicate what they have discovered about their passage, and the conversation surrounding it in a way that announces the good news of God's love to the rest of the community.
The Kairos small groups are asked to live with the text as they work on their proclamation throughout the week, diving into it through conversation and planning to find the nuances of the word- and Small Group 7 took this task to heart. Throughout the week the group discussed their faith in depth, and the struggles they each have personally endured throughout their faith life.
The plan for this proclamation presentation from Small Group 7 in a way worked to bounce back the overarching Kairos theme, "Reflections" based off of 1 Corinthians 13:12.
|
|
|
| The Kairos Planning Group performing their skit |
|
|
The verse was presented to the Kairos community by this year's Planning Group, made up of Anna Derrick from Muhlenberg in Harrisonburg, Thomas Garret from Christ Lutheran in Fredericksburg, Callie Hammer from Epiphany in Richmond, Zach Highsmith from St. Timothy in Norfolk, Nano Masters from First Lutheran in Norfolk, Monique Smith from, and Elle Tomko from Peace in Charlottesville. The Planning Group has helped shape the week-long event, spending months in preparation before the participants arrived at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia for Kairos.
The most visible presence that the Planning Group takes on throughout the week is performing skits for all the participants to watch. This year the Planning Group skit gave the group a chance to glimpse into their future- living as senior citizens in a retirement home in the year 2116.
The skit addressed various aspects of growing old and reflecting back on life past, providing a lot of laughs and a unique perspective for the Kairos community to consider as they broke out in small groups.
The week-long event has made an impressive impact on the Planning Group youth that will carry them and their faith far after this week, as Anna Derrick said, "My experience on Kairos planning group has prepared me to be a better ambassador for Christ by teaching me how to share my faith and show joy to everyone around me. I've truly been blessed to be part of such a phenomenal group."
|
 |
It's thanks to the Kairos Planning Group skits, as well as conversations during small group that the idea for Small Group 7's proclamation was formed. The group always turned back to Psalm 92:12-15 in conversation, eventually finding a personal group mantra to reflect the passage:
You are a child of God and that love is eternal. Our greatest struggles are our greatest strengths. It's okay to doubt your faith because that is what makes it grow. Love never fails.
"Our proclamation affirms to me that God's love is everlasting, and no matter how dark and twisty it gets, we need to trust in God to find the light." said Zach Schwertz, a member of Small Group 7 from Epiphany, Richmond.
Putting their idea into action the group collaborated to assemble an enormous amount of faux flowers for the almost 200 participants at Kairos to receive. Each flower had a tag tied to the stem, with one side bearing the printed Psalm, and the other the mantra Small Group 7 wrote together.
These flowers were then placed inside offering baskets, and presented to each individual member of the Kairos community during the group's presentation. As the flowers were presented Small Group 7's youth spoke words of affirmation to those receiving flowers, while the Kairos community sang songs of love- all coming together to form a powerful message for those in attendance to take home with them.
|
 |
|
"It's getting the Kairos community involved, they're not just spectators to our proclamation, but equal participants" said Alice Chandler, a member of Small Group 7 from Emmanuel, Virginia Beach.
These flowers carried on over into the evening's worship service by Kairos chaplain, Pastor Brett Davis from Muhlenberg in Harrisonburg. She used leftover flowers from Small Group 7's proclamation to decorate the space nearby the altar, reflecting the love that was felt during Small Group 7's proclamation out into the evening.
Year after year youth come to Kairos yearning for community, love, and God, and this year they will return with an everlasting reminder from their peers of all they came seeking and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Power in the Spirit Registration is Now Available!
|
Register Now for Power in the Spirit!
Join us July 14-16 at Roanoke College for a conference with Lutherans from all across the state. Hear Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kleinhans lead us through two days of talking about God's grace. The registration deadline is
JULY 1.
|
|
Help with West Virginia Flood Recovery Efforts.
|
|
Following the historic flooding in West Virginia, there is great need for disaster relief volunteers to aid in the recovery efforts. Working with Community Lutheran Partners, there are some steps you and your congregation can take to help with West Virginia flood recovery efforts:
Update your tetnus shot if it has been more than 10 years
Log onto
clp-online.org to download volunteer forms (found in volunteer link at the top of the page
Once you have completed these steps, Sherri will work with you to find a site that fits your skill sets.
|
|
60th Anniversary Celebration at Lutherock-Aug 19-21
|
|
Come celebrate 60 years of ministry at Lutherock Lutheran Camp and Conference with us! Join us for a day or weekend of celebration and reconnecting with your brothers and sisters in Christ. The weekend will be full of fun camp activities such as: ice cream making, skits and songs around the campfire, hiking on the property, climbing the Challenge Tower, zipping off the ropes course and so much more! Overnight accommodations are based on availability and require pre-registration. Space is limited, so register early!
Enjoy picnic lunch, recognitions and day activities: Free will offering and does not require pre-registration.
Tent camping: $10/person or $20/per family each night
Moretz Lodge, Cabin Village, Founder's Lodge, or Stone Lodge: $20/person or $40/family each night
Crow's Nest: $30/person or $50/family each night
Rates include meals, lodging and programming for the weekend!
|
|
Volunteers Wanted For Disaster Recovery in New Jersey
|
Some homes in New Jersey still haven't been rebuilt after the destruction of hurricane Sandy. Are you and your church looking for a mission trip opportunity? Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey (LSMNJ) Disaster Recovery continues to need volunteer teams interested in doing disaster rebuilding work. All skill levels welcome for a weekend, few days or week of work. There are more than 9,000 families still displaced and volunteer housing is available. If interested please contact Amy Pennenga at
[email protected] or 609-699-4137.
|
|
Theology For Teens at Roanoke College: July 24-29
|
Rising 10th and 11th grade teens!
Ask the big questions
Live on campus for a week
Learn with professors and Roanoke College students
Sunday July 24, 2016 through Friday July 29, 2016
An all new, week-long summer program introducing teens to biblical and theological scholarship, exploring contemporary challenges & how their faith tradition can meet those challenges. We will focus on the life & thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer-a church leader who met the challenges before him-we will explore today's social issues & encounter other faiths by engaging the students with leaders from those various communities. Come and discover a sense of mission, be equipped with theological tools to enable you to meet the challenges facing the church today. Go to
www.roanoke.edu/t4teens for more information.
|
Part Time Organist--Petersburg, VA
|
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Petersburg is looking for a part-time organist-keyboardist. This could be on a rotation schedule with other organist-keyboardist, so it would not be an every Sunday commitment.
|
Do You have an announcement, upcoming event or news story Idea? Send it to [email protected] and make sure to follow our
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
