Roanoke College's "R-House"
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The sounds at the start of the school year are familiar, like the screech of a bus arriving at its stop in the morning, or the sharp bell ringing out to begin the day. But at Roanoke College, the sounds of hammers hitting nails ring out in a different kind of chorus to begin the school year. Each year incoming students at Roanoke College spend their first few days together building a house with Habitat for Humanity. There are plenty of new Maroons on campus to pitch in this year, with 584 freshmen and 54 transfer students strapping on hard hats and getting to work.
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This year marks the 13th annual Roanoke College and Habitat’s “R-House” a program founded by Roanoke College Chaplain Emeritus Paul Henrickson. Construction began on R-House in the Hawthorne Road parking lot on Sunday, August 26 and lasted through Tuesday, August 28. Groups of Roanoke students, Habitat staff and volunteers have worked together to build sections of the house. Soon, the construction will be moved to its permanent location on Fairfax Avenue in Roanoke.
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Each student at Roanoke College is involved in the construction of the home in one way or another. There’s plenty of excitement and curiosity as students of all skill levels get to experience working on a building site. Students receive hands on experience, anything from raising the walls to hammering down the roof sheathing.
When their shift is done they sign their name in on the beams of the home, becoming a permanent mark of the home they have worked on.
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Students have continued opportunities through the fall semester to continue to build the home off-campus starting after Labor Day. The four-bedroom R-House is being built for a single mother and her four children. Most Habitat homes are complete in four to six months, with this home looking to be dedicated at the end of this year. R-House has students build new friendships, learn new skills, and sets a foundation for a life of service.
To learn more about service opportunities like R-House at Roanoke College, visit the Roanoke College Center for Community Service at
www.roanoke.edu/communityservice
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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.
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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
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This year's spring ACTS course will be held October 20th and November 10th at Grace Evangelical Lutheran in Waynesboro (or at two Simulcast locations). The Rev. Dr. Timothy Wengert will present on Lutheran Confessions.
For more information on the Fall ACTS course and to register for this fall's course,
click here
.
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Lost and Found is our annual weekend retreat for youth in 7th and 8th grade and their adult advisors. We have Large Group gatherings that consist of singing, energy, comedy, worship and a presentation on our event theme. After each Large Group gathering each person is part of a Small Group made up of about 8 youth and a couple adult leaders where participants will get to know other Lutheran youth from Virginia and discuss life, faith and other topics that arise throughout the weekend. On Saturday afternoon there is large chunk of Free Time during which we will also hold out annual Talent Show. In the evenings you will relax in your Cottage and talk with other youth and adults from your congregation and other congregations about how the weekend is going.
For more information on Lost and Found and to register for the even,
click here
.
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End of Summer Update Caroline Furance Lutheran Camp and Retreat Center
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We have been blessed with an incredible Summer Camp season here at Caroline Furnace! With the help of God, as well as the communities and individuals that support this ministry, we had eight weeks filled with faith, fun, and friendships that will last a lifetime. A total of 297 campers came to Caroline Furnace this summer! Of those 297, over 100 campers had financial support from their congregation, an outside organization, or from our camper scholarship fund. God's love and grace is tangible here, and the magic of camp really does change everything.
What's Next?
As summer ends and fall draws near, our summer staff will go out and serve the Lord in new places. Zach will begin at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul MN and be working part-time in youth and young adult ministry at Redeemer Lutheran in Minneapolis MN. Shannon is serving in the AmeriCorps beginning in January. Noah is moving to Oregon for an internship at Washington Family Ranch, a Young Life camp. Rachel is planning to serve in the Peace Corps beginning in January. Nick will begin an internship at Pine Lake in Wisconsin. Justin, Erin, Andy, Maddie, Ashley, Caroline, Callie, Johnny, Kara, and Chris are returning to school. Laura will continue to work at Caroline Furnace until October.
Although Summer Camp is over, there are still many opportunities to stay involved! Join us this Fall for Work Weekend, Fall Fest, or our Wild Women: Wine Retreat. Bring your small or large group to the Farmhouse, Cabin Village, Sukkah Village, or Buttonwood Lodge for a retreat! We would love to help you plan a retreat for your youth group, mens or womens group, church council, confirmation group, or hobby-based group. Let’s plan a family reunion, school field trip, or scouting trip.
We are your Outdoor Ministry, and we look forward to sharing God’s creation with you.
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Fall Work Weekend: September 14-16 2018
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Join us in giving back to Caroline! Please sign up online or call us by Monday, September 10.
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Fall Fest and Camp-out: October 27-28 2018
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Fall Fest is held in the field at St. John's Chapel and features a bluegrass worship service, provided picnic lunch, field games, and pumpkin carving. All are welcome! This is a fun opportunity to come see us at Caroline Furnace, either for the first time ever or the first time in awhile. Please RSVP for Fall Fest on the Facebook event posting if you are able, and sign up online or call us to reserve your space for the camp-out.
*Youth leaders: contact us for more information on the youth group camp-out in the main field on Saturday night!
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Wild Women: Wine Retreat: November 2-4 2018
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Join us for a weekend of relaxation and fellowship! This retreat is hosted in the Farmhouse, and we will visit local wineries on Saturday afternoon. Feel free to bring a book, your latest crafting project, and your favorite wine to share. Registration closes October 19.
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Introducing Three Sides Podcast
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Three Sides is a monthly podcast featuring stories from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). As a church that believes God is calling us into the world – together, Three Sides will present diverse voices from across the ELCA.
Listen
as we share unique stories from across this church.
In our
first full episode
, our hosts, Shanna Crawford, Philip LaDeur and Andrew Steele, introduce you to ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton; Dr. Sylvia Sloan Black, a retired professor and now an executive coach; and Wendy Davidson, president of U.S. Specialty Channels at the Kellogg Co.
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safeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone
September 29, 2018
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safeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness that will be offered Saturday, September 29 from 9 AM to Noon at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Staunton. It helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training—anyone age 15 or older who wants to make a difference can learn the safeTALK steps.
The Reverend Carl Trost will serve as facilitator of the program. Chaplain Trost has over thirty years of experience on the front lines of suicide intervention, community support and suicide intervention education while serving as a Navy Chaplain and youth pastor.
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Spiritual Direction Certification Program
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary at
Lenoir-Rhyne University
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Holy Listening – We believe holy listening is at the core of spiritual direction. It’s listening to one another, and most attentively to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The real and most genuine spiritual director is always the Holy Spirit.
Everyone is Welcome to Apply – Our primary purpose is to train people who feel called to be such spiritual friends, spiritual companions; however, those who are interested in deepening their own spiritual practices are also welcome.
Within the Christian Tradition – Ours is an experience in spiritual direction grounded in Trinitarian faith. However, we recognize that there is deep spiritual wisdom that can be found in other faith traditions. We will draw on those traditions and will integrate them from a Christian perspective.
What
- four intensives, always from Wednesday noon until Saturday noon
- small cohorts, each with its own mentor
Between the intensives
- read key books and short reaction papers
- participate in a closed Facebook group with your cohort and mentor
- find and meet regularly with a spiritual director
- find a willing person to be their spiritual directee
When
- new intensive groups begin in January of each year
- application deadline is December 22
- intensives are held in January and June over a two year period
- the next cycle of intensives is January 17-20, 2018; June 13-16, 2018; January 16-19, 2019; June 12-15, 2019
Costs
- total cost for the program is $3,000 (price includes tuition and food)
- participants find their own lodging (limited on-campus housing is available for $25 a night)
Interested? We’d love to hear from you:
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Reflect, Renew, Recommit Seminar
September 24-29, 2018
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Reflect, Renew, Recommit (3R)
, a week long discernment retreat will be offered September 24-29, 2018 at Lutheranch in Tallapoosa, GA. This experience creates a safe place for rostered leaders and spouses to process, share, worship, embrace prayer practices, use tools for vocational support, and discover a newfound community. If you know a leader that might find this retreat helpful, please invite them prayerfully to consider attending.
The total cost to attend is $1100. Synods will be asked to support leaders in sharing the by contributing $550 toward their tuition. Participants will contribute $550 and spouses an additional $300.
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Explore and apply for opportunities available with the churchwide organization or global service on the ELCA Job Board at
elca.atsondemand.com
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ELCA Foundation Director of Gift Planning
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T
here are two key responsibilities for this leadership position:
- Through the direct supervision of a national staff of about 20 regional gift planners (coaching and managing), lead and manage a robust fund-raising program to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospective donors of current and planned gifts;
- Manage the business relationships with ministry partner organizations through on-site visits.
This position is located in Chicago and reports to the Executive Vice President of the Foundation. It requires about 30% travel, visiting regional gift planners, donors, and ministry partnerships.
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ELCA Executive Director for Domestic Mission
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This senior leadership position brings decisive and visionary leadership to this unit charged with wide-ranging work and relationships with churchwide units, synods, congregations, and other partners. The work involves equipping synods and congregations; developing new ministries, seeking to renew strategic ministries; and working with synods and congregations in programs and strategies for evangelical outreach.
Reporting to the presiding bishop, this position requires about 25% travel. It is located in Chicago.
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Part-Time Organist/Pianist at St. Timothy Lutheran
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St. Timothy Lutheran is a small congregation located in Vinton. We have an immediate opening for a Part-Time Organist/Pianist. The position requires playing for an 11:00 a.m., Sunday worship service and monthly music planning with the Pastor. Weekly choir rehearsal is desired but negotiable; no choir during the summer months.
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Do you know someone who might be called by God to serve as our next Chaplain at Marion Correctional Treatment Center? Would you help us find the ONE? Please help us by spreading the news - just ten hours a week!
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Part-Time Coordinator of Programs, St. Luke Lutheran Church in Richmond
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St. Luke Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia is recruiting a Part-Time Coordinator of Programs. The Coordinator of Programs is a person of committed faith, with a passion to further the ministry of
St. Luke through intergenerational programming. This position is responsible for the creation, development, and implementation of programming, with one special focus on the needs of younger members, young adults, young couples and families and a second special focus on seniors which includes but is not limited to Education, Fellowship and Outreach.
For a complete position description, and information on how to apply,
click here.
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ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow- Washington, DC
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Through the support of ELCA World Hunger, ELCA Advocacy works to end hunger by engaging directly with local, state and national governments and equipping people of faith to seek justice through advocacy. ELCA Advocacy is a ministry of the ELCA Domestic Mission Unit. This is a twelve-month, non-renewable contract position.
The Hunger Advocacy Fellow will participate in a 12-month transformative experience that combines leadership development and faith formation with impactful advocacy that moves us toward an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed.
The 2018 Hunger Advocacy Fellow is a full-time contract employee (with benefits) of the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington D.C. The Fellow will serve as a member of the ELCA Advocacy national staff team.
Focusing on analyzing and addressing the root causes of hunger and economic injustice, and promoting a holistic approach to hunger ministry, the Hunger Advocacy Fellow will build ELCA World Hunger capacity to end hunger by deepening and expanding Lutheran advocacy efforts in synods, coalitions and networks.
For a complete job description, and to apply for this position,
click here.
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If you have a position opening you would like posted, please email Emily Pilat at
pilat@vasynod.org.
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Stay Connected with the Virginia Synod:
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