Being Church in the Time of COVID-19
Click here, or on the video below to view a Pastoral Message from Bishop Humphrey shared on March 18, 2020.
The Virginia Synod continues to update the COVID-19 webpage at  vasynod.org/covid-19  sharing updated information from the ELCA, CDC, and covering a number of  prepardness resources , as well as  liturgical resources .
Prayers for the Virginia Synod – from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG)
Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick reached out to our sisters, brothers, and siblings in Christ in Papua New Guinea to let them know that we are praying for them in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. Bishop Jack Urame of the ELCPNG and Pastor Tobby Eleasar of the New Guinea Islands District (Virginia’s companion synod) responded with their prayers for us, in our “solidarity as community of believers.” PNG has its first confirmed case of COVID-19; please keep them in your prayers.
Congregational Resources in the Midst of COVID-19
Therapist Tips for Managing Mental Health During the COVID-19 Outbreak
LFSVA Counselor Emily Webb Olsen shared her tips for managing mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Read the full article.
Online Small Groups
“As the Parent has loved me, so I love you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9 During this time of crisis we are learning to abide in new ways. Join with ELCA young adults (18-35) all around the country once a week for small group fellowship, conversation, and prayer. Registration is now open, click here to register. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/ELCAYoungAdults or @elcaYoungAdults on social media.
PRC webinars
Practical Resources for Churches   offers webinars (live and recorded) on so many topics relevant to the situation we now find ourselves in:
Click on the titles above to register and watch on demand or browse on their website for more options. For information about moving to Online Church, join the PRC  Facebook group for Online Church .
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
Online Worship Opportunities
Are you and your congregation planning on sharing online liturgy or worship opportunities? Please share information them with Emily Pilat at  pilat@vasynod.org . We're working to share as many of these opportunities for digital worship as we can on our website at www.vasynod.org/online-worship and on our social media accounts, and promote them each Sunday.
Zoom and Other Resources for Being the Church Online
While the realities of COVID-19 mean that social distancing is now required to slow the spread of the disease, there are digital tools available to help communities remain connected even as we are physically separated. One of the simplest tools to facilitate connection is Zoom ( zoom.us ), an online service that allows you to create video conferences from your computer, phone, or tablet. Even though Zoom is relatively easy to use, it is not free. To help support congregations, the Virginia Synod will reimburse congregations for a two month Zoom subscription for a Pro Account ($30) and will provide training on how to use this tool.

Here is the link to the Zoom pricing page:  zoom.us/pricing . On this page, you will see account options. You can sign up for a  Basic Account  which is free, but meetings are limited to 40 minutes or less. You also have the option to sign up for  Pro Account  which allows you to have longer meetings, up to 100 people participating, and allows you to record your meetings. If you’d like to try Zoom, then create a personal Basic account and you can get a feel for how the tool works. Once you have created your account, please use this Zoom Reimbursement 2020 to submit your request for reimbursement.

For more information and resources on using Zoom in your congregation, visit  www.vasynod.org/zoom
Communication Update Form Needed
As we are all reacting to a changing world in the midst of implementing preventive measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19,  we are asking you to take a moment to be sure the contact information we have on file for you is up to date ! We'll be relying more on digital communications, so it is incredibly important that the Synod has the most up to date contact information for you, your staff, and your congregation including those who serve on your congregational council (ie Presidents, Treasurers,). Having updated contact information on file keeps us better connected and better informed.

If you have not already done so , please take a moment to fill out your congregation's communication update form.
Region 9 Rostered Women's Gathering
Join us November 2-4 for the Region 9 Rostered Women’s Gathering to be held in Atlanta.

  • Imagine a place where your stories are shared and believed.
  • Imagine a community where pain is expressed and hands join together to hold it in the light.
  • Imagine conversation with coaches, counselors, and spiritual directors helping you to discern and do the next right things.
  • Imagine investing in your vocation not because you are deficient but because you are uniquely gifted to carry out ministry as a leader in your place.
Now don’t imagine it, join us for such a time together all for the sake of building up women leaders who build up the body of Christ. Register today, there's early bird pricing until April 1. All the details are on the website, but if you have additional questions email Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick.
Job Opportunities
Job Opportunities can now be found on the Virginia Synod website at vasynod.org/job-opportunities If you have a position opening you would like posted, please email Emily Pilat at  pilat@vasynod.org.