Vanco offers new online giving option for ELCA congregations
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has formed a preferred vendor agreement with Vanco, an eGiving software developer and payment processor serving more than 20,000 churches across the country. The agreement offers Vanco’s GivePlus suite of eGiving solutions to ELCA congregations.

Vanco's GivePlus suite provides churches with a full range of eGiving solutions, allowing congregations to accept gifts and payments through credit and debit cards, websites, card readers, text messages and a mobile app. As part of the agreement, ELCA congregations will receive special discounted rates from Vanco on new or additional GivePlus eGiving services.
Virginia Synod Fund for Mission
The Virginia Synod Fund for Mission was started in 2017. Synod Council set aside funds from the sale of former church properties to create an ongoing source of grants for congregations in the area of mission to influence incentives for new communities of worship.

Visit www.vasynod.org/resources/vsfm for more information about the fund, application process and criteria upon which the Synod Council will evaluate grant proposals. Congregations who may want to apply for a mission grant are encouraged to contact the Rev. John Wertz Jr., Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop to discuss the grant and application process.
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 Family Nights
Caroline Furnace is bringing dinner, games, and a campfire for s'mores to churches across the Virginia Synod. They want you to bring your questions about camp and retreat opportunities at Caroline Furnace! They encourage you to invite and bring anyone who may be interested in Summer Camp or a Retreat. RSVP requested for meal count, but certainly not required. No cost to attend.

Tidewater Area  - Sunday March 10 at 5pm - Grace Lutheran Church, Chesapeake VA
Harrisonburg Area  - Sunday March 24 at 5pm - Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, Harrisonburg VA 
Northern VA  - Sunday March 3 at 5pm - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Haymarket VA

*More events to be added. Stay tuned!

To get flyers and bulletin inserts for an event or to RSVP, go to  www.CarolineFurnace.org/family-nights
Upcoming Events at Caroline Furnace
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.
Hearing the Word: And Learning it By Heart Virginia Lutheran Men in Mission Gathering 
In Deuteronomy, we are instructed by the LORD to write the Word on our hearts and to talk about it when we are at home and when we are away, and to teach it to our children. If we are to talk and teach such things, then we can always learn more. At Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond on Saturday and Sunday March 23-24, 2019, together we will immerse ourselves in the biblical story as Pastor Chris Carr shares some parables and other stories with us. We will also have the chance to learn at least one biblical story by heart, allowing God’s Word to get under our skin and work on us in a deeper way as we internalize it and carry it home!

For more information and a flyer, click here.
James R. Crumley Jr. Archives "Friends of the Archives" Banquet"
The annual James R. Crumley Jr. “Friends of the Archives Banquet” will be held at the historic Lexington County Museum in Lexington, S.C. on Thursday, April 4, 2019 . Registration is at 5:00 PM, with dinner and festivities to follow. 

This year’s banquet will celebrate the ministry of Rev Dr David and Mrs Carolyn Donges, historic St Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington, and the S.C. Synod for its contribution to Lutheran history and heritage.  

The Crumley Archives will also recognize the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary during its early years in Lexington, as well as the seminary’s long-time and beloved professor, Rev Dr Ernest Hazelius. 

Invitations will be mailed soon, but you can register for this event at  www.crumleyarchives.org/the-archival-survey . Please contact the Crumley Archives at 803-461-3234 with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you there!
G4TZ Safari - June 13-29, 2019
Is that African Safari on your bucket list? If so, we can help! There are still a few places open for our June Safari to the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, East Afrika!

Check out
www.godparents4tz.org. Click the Safari tab. Questions? Call the trip leader, Pr. Dwayne Westermann, at 540-353-6341. Karibu sana! (Swahili for “You are most welcome!)
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.
Chaplain Position at Keen Mountain Correctional Center
GraceInside (Virginia's State Prison Chaplain Service) has an immediate, part-time chaplaincy position opening at Keen Mountain Correctional Center (KMCC) - near the town of Oakwood in Buchanan County, VA. 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