On March 3, powerful tornadoes hit Alabama, Georgia and Florida, causing widespread destruction. At least 23 people have died in Lee County, Alabama, and others are still unaccounted for. Search and rescue, debris removal and damage assessments continue in Alabama and Georgia and more than 1,000 homes and have been reported damaged.

Response: Lutheran Disaster Response is working with the Southeastern Synod, local congregations and Inspiritus (formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia) to provide immediate and long-lasting support to communities impacted by this disaster.

Looking for help with Stewardship? Want to change the impression that stewardship equals fundraising? Invest your time on Saturday, March 23 in learning about stewardship from Pastor Charles Lane. You can attend in- person or online for on $15. The presentation will last from 9 AM to 2 PM and if you bring a team you’ll have 2 to 3 pm to work and on an action plan. To register today click here, or contact Pastor John Wertz, Jr at wertz@vasynod.org for more information.

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.

Tidewater Area Family Night: Sunday March 10 at 5pm - Grace Lutheran Church, Chesapeake VA

Harrisonburg Area Family Night: Sunday March 24 at 5pm - Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, Harrisonburg VA

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!

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.

Christ Lutheran Church, Staunton–Pastor Rob McCarty, Dean of the Southern Valley Conference, and Music Director Florence Jowers–is sponsoring Bach Around the Clock on March 23rd , from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. The church will once again partner with the Heifetz Institute and Nicholas Kitchen, Artistic Director, to feature the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, the greatest Lutheran church musician, composer, and organist. Each hour individuals or ensembles will play and sing the music of Bach, who wrote over 300 sacred cantatas, hundreds of organ works, many string compositions, and elaborate pieces for various instruments. The event is free, though a “Bach’s Lunch” may be purchased for $10, and donations are encouraged, especially for the evening program.

Christ’s Director of Music, Florence Jowers, will present an organ recital on the Taylor and Boody Organ at 10:00 am, and Christopher Jacobson, Duke University Chapel Organist, will perform in the 7:00 o’clock hour. At 8:00 pm a Choral Extravaganza will take place as guest soloists, chamber choir, and orchestra perform cantata arias, duets, and choral settings. Pastor Paul Weber will conduct the combined forces in a fitting conclusion to the day. Come and enjoy the elegant music of Bach in Christ Lutheran’s acoustically vibrant space! The church is located at 2807 N. Augusta Street, Staunton. For more information and a complete schedule, click here.

If you wish to support Bach Around the Clock in a special way, you may request a patron letter from Christ Lutheran Church at celcsta@gmail.com.

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.

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!

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!)

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.

Explore and apply for opportunities available with the churchwide organization or global service on the ELCA Job Board at elca.atsondemand.com

Know a young adult who has what it takes to work at Summer Camp? They'll be signing up for 2 weeks of staff training and 8 weeks of varied outdoor adventure - May 31 to August 9. There are opportunities for select applicants to begin a couple weeks early and stay a week or two later. They can expect new experiences each week, to gain new skills, and to make friendships that will last a lifetime. They'll need an endless supply of energy, love, enthusiasm, patience and kindness. They must be able to share their faith story and encourage young people to grow in their own relationship with Jesus Christ. They must embrace the adventure of the outdoors and work well in a team. They must be willing to unplug from technology and focus on their relationship with God, nature, and the people around them. Academic Internships are available. Housing and meals are provided for the summer. Pay is based upon experience and certifications. Learn more and apply online.