Ten Things to Remember about VBS
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Vacation Bible School. It's not exactly a vacation. It doesn't happen at school. And hopefully the Bible's in there somewhere. About two-thirds of churches host a VBS every summer, but it's always a daunting task to plan and execute. To help you in your time of need, Courageous Storytellers offers 10 things to keep in mind for this year's VBS.
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2019 Virginia Synod VBS Decoration Contest
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Have your VBS volunteers outdone themselves in transforming your space into something exciting for kids and adults alike? Show off all the hard work with this year's
Virginia Synod VBS Decoration Contest
!
Congregations and individuals are both welcome to submit photos of their spectacular designs from their VBS programs!
To enter, send the best photo of VBS decorations to Emily Pilat at
pilat@vasynod.org with the subject line
"VBS Contest"
from now until
Monday, August 12th.
With your entry photo please include the following information:
- Your full name
- Your congregation name and location
If a photo you submit has children featured, please be sure you have permission to share their image from their family or guardians.
On
August 15th
two randomly selected winners will be announced as part of the edition of the Weekly Update. Both winners will receive a copy of
Samuel Sparrow and The Tree Of Light,
a children's book about Chrismons
!
If you have any questions about the 2019 VBS Decoration Contest, please contact Emily Pilat at
pilat@vasynod.org
Best of luck to all who enter, and happy decorating!
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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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LAUNCH is an event for youth who have just graduated from high school. Its purpose is to give them a chance to take stock of where their faith life has led them so far and also to provide an opportunity to engage in discussion on matters of faith and life that are likely to face them as they move on to the next stage of their lives, whether it be the workforce, military or other public service, college, or something else. If participants are veterans of our Virginia Synod ELCA Youth Events (Lost and Found, Winter Celebration, Kairos, etc.), they will find that this event is structured differently. We will spend our three full days together in a rhythm of worship, informal presentations to the whole group, small group discussions, and individual reflections that engage the mind as well as the spirit. Of course, there will be time for fellowship and relaxation and enjoyable meal times together.
To register for this event,
click here
. The registration deadline is June 14, 2019.
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Power in the Spirit: July 11-13, 2019
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Power in the Spirit is an inspirational conference for everyone who wishes to explore God’s call to service through joyous worship, Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, and fellowship.
To view this year's event packet with information on everything happening at this year's Power in the Spirit,
click here
.
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Junior High Servant Event: July 21-26, 2019
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Junior High Servant Event is a week-long servant event for Youth who have completed the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, and their adult advisors and focuses on learning about the needs of others, serving and growing in faith. We spend the week together experiencing the Christian life through worship, fellowship, and service. Of course, being in Virginia Beach, we will also spend some time having fun at the water’s edge.
To register for this event,
click here. If you have any questions, reach out to Pastor Cathy Mims of the Junior High Servant Event Leadership Team at
cmims@flcnorfolk.com.
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Theology for Teens: July 28-August 3, 2019
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Our fourth annual summer camp 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.
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21st Century Tools for Ministry Workshop:
August 28 @ 5:30 - 8:30 PM
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Our
workshop leader
will be Sarah Stonesifer who works in
Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
as the Manager of Operations and Digital Missioner. She focuses on digital engagement, resources and training for thoughtful, innovative Christian formation for all ages.
Church leaders have been reinventing the best ways to communicate, teach, and preach since the earliest days of Christian community. In this workshop, we’ll explore the 21st century tools for ministry, how we can maintain healthy boundaries and genuine connection at the same time, while engaging in the work of the Jesus Movement. Ministry leaders will walk away inspired to be digital evangelists and hearing authentic ways to connect, ending the evening equipped with tools and resources. This workshop is recommended for anyone already engaged in the use of digital media in ministry or those desiring to learn.
The
cost
per person is $15 and dinner, snacks, and refreshments are all included. To register,
click here
.
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Upcoming Events at Caroline Furnace
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The 2019-2020 Retreat & Event Calendar for Caroline Furnace is live. We have an exciting mix of new retreats, collaborative retreats and returning favorites - and something for everyone! Check out the
Year at a Glance on our website to learn more.
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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 Hunger Advocacy Fellow in Richmond, Virginia
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Through the support of ELCA World Hunger, ELCA Advocacy works in partnership with statewide advocacy ministry networks across the United States to end hunger by engaging directly with local, state and national governments and equipping people of faith to seek justice through advocacy. Each office relates to the synods in their state and works closely with hunger leaders and synod teams.
For a complete position description, and to apply,
click here.
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Director of Music Ministry- Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Blacksburg
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Luther Memorial Lutheran Church has an immediate opportunity for a Director of Music Ministry. The candidate filling this half-time position (~20 hours per week) will work with the Pastor and the Congregation to plan and to lead the music ministry for the church including traditional Lutheran liturgy which incorporates but is not limited to organ, piano, and choir. The Director of Music Ministry will also be responsible for administrative leadership of music ministry, working with volunteer musicians, and engaging other professional musicians as necessary to involve our worshiping community in making high-quality, beautiful music to the glory of God.
The desired candidate will be a trained organist with experience in choral and liturgical music. This half-time position includes benefits. Luther Memorial is a Reconciling in Christ congregation that welcomes all individuals. To learn more about this opportunity including a detailed job description and our congregation, visit our website
lmlc.org. To apply for this position, send your resume or curriculum vita in PDF format to
luther@lmlc.org with Director of Music Ministry in the subject line. Please include a cover letter describing why your skills and gifts fit this position. We also welcome supplemental materials such as links to recent performances.
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Director of Church Music- College Evangelical Lutheran Church, Salem
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College Evangelical Lutheran Church (Salem, Virginia) seeks applications for a part-time Director of Church Music (Organist and Choir Director) position. The weekly working hours will average 20-25 hours per week with the understanding that some weeks may require more than 25 hours and some weeks fewer than 20 hours. Scheduling will be determined by the Director of Church Music in consultation with the Pastor.
To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume, and references electronically to: LuAnn Yates, Personnel Ministry Team Chair
yateslax@comcast.net. Applications are currently being reviewed. For additional information about College Lutheran Church, go to
www.collegelutheran.org.
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Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network Program
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LEVN, the Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network, is looking for young adults (age 21-30) with Bachelor's degrees for an 11-month program of non-profit volunteer service and learning about social justice. From the end of August 2019 to the end of July 2020, our corps members will be provided housing, utilities, health coverage, spiritual direction, and a $535/month living stipend. We also offer a $1000 re-entry grant at the completion of the program.
The placement sites for the upcoming program year include faith-based non-profits, secular non-profits, congregations, outdoor ministry, and our campus ministry at UC Davis. These service sites address issues of homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment, children and youth ministries, and other important social justice issues facing our communities.
We gather each week for evening prayer, dinner, and formation. The corps members live in intentional community in one of two residences: The Belfry, an apartment attached to our campus ministry center in Davis, CA, or The Priory, an apartment at All Saints Episcopal Church in Sacramento, CA. We're an ecumenical program in the Episcopal Service Corps network; applicants needn't be either Lutheran or Episcopal to apply—interest in Christian spirituality is the only expectation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2019.
Visit levn.org or contact Program Director Casey Dunsworth at 530-756-1550 or
pastor@thebelfry.org for more information!
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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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