Winter Celebration "Faith in Action"
Winter Celebration, the Virginia Synod youth event for high schoolers was held this past weekend on January 18-20 at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Convention Center in Lynchburg. This year over 315 youth and adult participants engaged with and witnessed the theme “Faith in Action” which is based off two passages. John 3:18 was this year's theme verse and Luke 10:25-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan, became the focus for this year's large group skits.

If you attended this year's Winter Celebration and have photos to share on social media, be sure to use the hashtag #FaithInActionWC!
VICPP’s Day of all People -- A Day of Advocating at our State Capital
On Tuesday January 22, members of Muhlenberg Lutheran were in Richmond to attend the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy’s “Day for All People” to advocate at the capital on issues that the Center is working on and that we as Lutherans feel strongly should be considered by our representative. We were joined in the 26th District group with students from JMU and EMU’s social work classes. We addressed our thought on several very important Bills that will be voted on in Senate and in the House during this session of the General Assembly.
Need One, Take One Scarves in Stephen City
For the third year running, Trinity Lutheran Church in Stephen City members have purchased or made scarves for those in the community in need of warmth. The scarves are placed in plastic bags and tied to the fence along the church property which borders the busy intersection of Route 11 and Fairfax Street in Stephens City. Two scarves were taken within the first few hours of them being placed on the fence this year.

Does your congregation have a winter ministry you would like to share?  Tell us about it!
Young Adults in the Virginia Synod Unite!
A group of Young Adults in Virginia started asking the question of how can we gather as a wider group of young people to faithfully network, create community, and inspire our churches. We want to gather for a weekend sometime this spring ask the question: What do you want? Please fill out this survey so we have your input as we plan this event.

Peace,
Alyssa Kaplan, Mycah McNett, Samantha DiBiaso, Amanda Silcox, and Pastor Alex Zuber
Virginia Synod Sermons
Sermons are available one month prior to the Sunday service they are to be shared during. View all the sermons shared  on the Virginia Synod website.
Do You have an announcement, upcoming event or news story idea? Send it to Emily Pilat at  pilat@vasynod.org  and make sure to follow our
Announcements
7th Day 2019
7th Day is our annual overnight event for youth in 5th and 6th grades and their adult advisors. During the weekend participants are part if a “Shepherd Group” with other youth and adult leaders and explore a story of the Bible through drama, games, crafts, and music. In the evening youth and adults will have time to relax in their Cottages with their congregation and other congregations from Virginia and discuss how 7th Day is going.

For more information and to register for this event, click here.
Caroline Furnace Pre-Lenten Retreat
Pastors, Lay Leaders and Retired Clergy, you're invited! Be sure to Register by January 25th.

Gather with us at Buttonwood Lodge on Monday, February 4 to Wednesday, February 6 for our Pre-Lenten Retreat, led by Rev. Heidi David-Young, our Director of Resource and Program Development.

We will explore the method of Rehearsing Scripture and work to encounter the five Lenten gospel scriptures as the "repertory church". Not just the title of Anna Carter Florence's new book, Rehearsing Scripture is also the experiential method she outlines to creatively and meaningfully delve into scripture.

Questions about the retreat? Email Heidi at  heidi@carolinefurnace.org .
Upcoming Events at Caroline Furnace
Pre-Lenten Retreat - Rehearsing Scripture : February 4-6 at Buttonwood Lodge, led by Rev. Heidi David-Young
Wild Women: Hiking Retreat : February 22-24 at the Farmhouse
Spring Work Weekend: April 12-14 in the Cabin Village
Board Gaming Retreat :  April 26-28 at Buttonwood Lodge
Pre-Advent Retreat: August 19-21 at Buttonwood Lodge

Call (540)-449-0012 or email  julie@carolinefurnace.org  to learn more!
Ask, Thank, Tell: Growing Generous Stewardship
The Virginia Synod and the Presbytery of the James are offering a one-day Stewardship education event with Charles R Lane, the author of “Ask, Thank, Tell” and “Embracing Stewardship” at Three Chopt Presbyterian Church in Richmond on Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 9 AM until 3 PM. The cost of the event is $15 per person. For this event, you have two options to participate. You can register and participate in-person or by simulcast.

Registration is now open to attend either in-person or through the online simulcast. If you haven't spent all of your continuing education funds for 2018, now is a great time to register to attend this event. To register for the event, click here, for more information about this event, click here.
ACTS 2019 Spring Course: Spirituality and Leadership
April 6 and May 11, 2019 we will gather for our ACTS Spring Course. This year's spring course will be led by Dr. Jill Y. Crainshaw Acting Dean at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. This course will explore how throughout biblical history prayerfully listening to God changed the way leaders served in response to God’s call. The participant will learn ways a congregation can prepare and use their many differing personal and spiritual gifts for mission.

For more information on the ACTS Spring Course and to register, click here.
Lecture Series from Professor Emeritus Mark T. Nation at Eastern Mennonite Seminary
Christianity Stand or Falls with its Revolutionary Protest Against Violence: Bonhoeffer's Persistent Opposition to War, Wednesday February 13th from 6:30-8:30 PM at Martin Chapel located at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. For more information, click here.
The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) application is now open!
The Young Adults in Global Mission is a one-year, international service-learning and faith-formation opportunity in churches and social service ministries for young adults, ages 21-29. The application for the 2019-2020 program year closes February 15th, 2019 . For more information and to apply, click here.

Young adults serve alongside Lutheran companion church bodies and organizations in one of ten country programs around the world, being shaped by the witness of our global neighbors in a cross-cultural journey of faith. For the current program year, the country programs are: Argentina & Uruguay, Australia, Central Europe, Cambodia, Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, and Southern Africa. Areas of service include, but are not limited to, health and development, congregational ministry, human rights, education, homelessness, addiction recovery, women’s issues and children and youth. All site placements provide opportunities for young adults to confront issues of wealth and poverty; racial privilege; economic disparity and globalization, all through the lens of faith. 

Short-term recruiters will be headed around to ELCA Colleges and Universities, Lutheran Campus Ministries, ELCA Camps, and other young adults ministries throughout the fall speaking about their previous year of service and about the program as a whole! Be on the lookout for their upcoming visits!

For more information visit the ELCA YAGM site at www.elca.org/yagm

Also feel free to check out the YAGM Application 2019-2020 Facebook event.
2019 Ignite the Church Conference
The Ignite the Church Conference is an annual gathering on February 19-21, 2019 that seeks to further Kingdom impacting conversation among leaders that will ignite the Church and help it live out its heritage of renewal in the years ahead! Speakers include Bishop Pedro Suarez, Florida Bahamas Synod, Rev. Dr. John Herman, and Beth Lewis, President and CEO Emeritus of 1517 Media. All proceeds from the event support the ELCA Fund for Leaders. For more information, check out their website:   ignitethechurch.net .
Bishops’ School 2019
Many of us have questions about God and our faith, but don’t always know where to go with them. Many of us would love to talk about our faith, but there isn’t always an easy place to do that. You don’t exactly ask someone across the lunch table at school, “Someone told me ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ That would mean God planned all those school shootings. What do you think?” Bishops’ School is your opportunity to be with people like you – people who want to talk about God, to think theologically. In addition to interactive classroom times, small group gatherings, and service projects, there will be plenty of time for making new friends and having fun! Bishops’ School 2019 takes place at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

For more information and to submit a nomination for Bishop's School, click here.
Job Opportunities
ELCA Career Listings
Explore and apply for opportunities available with the churchwide organization or global service on the ELCA Job Board at elca.atsondemand.com
Chaplain Position at Greensville Correctional Center
GraceInside (Virginia's State Prison Chaplain Service) has an immediate, part-time chaplaincy position opening at Greensville Correctional Center (GRCC) - near Emporia, VA. For more information and to apply, click here.
VP of External Affairs for Lutheran Family Services
This position is responsible for the oversight of the agency’s marketing, resource development, and communication departments. The Vice President of External Relations will work in collaboration with the Senior Executive Team to build strong internal and external relationships with agency stakeholders, increase awareness of the agency in the communities in which we serve, and assist in the creation of clear and compelling communications that further the mission of Lutheran Family Services of Virginia. For more information and to apply, click here.
If you have a position opening you would like posted, please email Emily Pilat at  pilat@vasynod.org.