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| Announcements From Around the Virginia Synod |
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Celebrating Reformation Sunday
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This Sunday, many congregations will sing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" in worship, but that's not the only way congregations will be honoring the Reformation this Sunday!
On October 31st, 1517 Martin Luther posted his "Ninety-Five Theses" in Wittenberg Germany. The resulting debate about Christian teaching and practice led to changes that have shaped the course of Western Christianity for 499 years. It is on this Sunday that we honor celebrating our heritage, history, and affirming our central theological convictions.
There are many kinds of celebrations that congregations and ministry partners around Virginia take part in to honor the Reformation. There's also plenty of opportunities to participate in wider conversation with the church on a national and global level this weekend! |
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Bronze statue of Martin Luther to be dedicated at Roanoke College
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Roanoke College, the second oldest Lutheran college in America, will dedicate a bronze statue of Martin Luther on Reformation Sunday at the new Morris M. Cregg Center's Luther Plaza. Luther Plaza and the statue of Martin Luther serve to honor Roanoke's Lutheran heritage.
The statue was donated by Charles and Helen Schumann of Richmond, Virginia. The Schumanns are longtime supporters of Roanoke College and its Lutheran tradition.
The statue is a bronze one-and-a-half larger than life figure of Martin Luther, created by sculptors Betty and Polly Branch of Roanoke, Virginia. The bronze statue is on a base of absolute black granite. It is engraved with the name of the statue, "Martin Luther," as well as the three Lutheran colleges that make up the Roanoke alumni heritage - Roanoke College, Marion College and Elizabeth College. A plaque placed next to the statue holds a quote from the writings of Martin Luther.
Marion College was a Lutheran women's college in Marion, Virginia, which closed in 1968. Elizabeth College was also a Lutheran women's college in Salem, once located where Roanoke's Elizabeth campus is now. Elizabeth College closed after a fire in 1921. Alumnae of both Elizabeth College and Marion College became part of the Roanoke College alumni body and Roanoke maintains the records of the now-closed colleges.
The ceremony will take place at 4 PM on Sunday October 30th at Morris M. Cregg Center's Luther Plaza. |
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Highlands Conference Reformation Service
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 On Reformation Sunday, the Highlands conference will host a conference-wide worship service. This service is one of several conference-wide gatherings that the Highlands conference hosts throughout the year.
The service will begin at 4 PM at
Grace Lutheran Church in Rural Retreat. Following the service is the Highlands Conference Gathering, which begins at 5:15 PM. All are welcome to attend, and hear form the Transition Team as they lead a series of small group discussions focused on the 2017 Virginia Synod Assembly election of a Bishop.
In addition, a presentation on the ForwardingFaith campaign will be given.
The 2016 Conference Gatherings for all conferences are providing opportunities for members of your conference to gather and share Jesus with each other in order to learn from and be encouraged by one another.
If you're interested in attending your conference's Conference Gathering, check the
Virginia Synod calendar, there are still several conferences set to meet in November.
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| On Reformation Sunday, the Highlands conference will host a conference-wide worship service. At 4 PM |
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Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation
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The Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church will hold a joint commemoration of the Reformation on Monday, October 31, 2016, in Lund and Malmö, Sweden. It will consist of a Common Prayer in Lund Cathedral and a public event in Malmö Arena that will be open to wider participation.
It's a liturgy based on the important 2013 statement of the Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue, From Conflict to Communion, which opens the jubilee year of the Reformation. The liturgy itself, called Common Prayer, was designed to reflect the insights of From Conflict to Communion: expressing the gospel-affirming ways that both Lutherans and Catholics can remember the Reformation. That means lamenting what went wrong and was unworthy of the Christian faith, and rejoicing in what went right and gave glory to God.
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Pope Francis,
LWF President Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, and
LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Martin Junge will lead the Common Prayer service in Lund and the event in Malmö in cooperation with leaders from the Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.
The event will take place in anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, and highlights the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans, and the joint gifts received through dialogue.
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Ecumenical Witness and the Reformation Anniversary Webcast
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On Thursday October 27th, from 7 to 8 PM CDT, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, American Lutheran religious scholar, Martin Marty, and other great panelists will present a live webcast exploring ecumenical and inter-religious witness on the even of the Reformation anniversary. You can tune in to view this webcast, either on the ELCA site or by Facebook.
The webcast will cover a number of topics, including:
- What was the Reformation, and what does it mean for Lutherans and ecumenical partners?
- What is "Declaration on the Way" and why is it significant for Lutheran-Catholic relations?
- How might we understand our ecumenical and inter-religious relationships as part of our participation in the ongoing Reformation?
You can join in with live questions and join in conversation by using #ELCAwebcast on social media!
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How will you and your congregation be honoring the Reformation this year? Share your celebration on social media with the hashtag #Reformation2016
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Do You have an announcement, upcoming event or news story Idea? Send it to Emily Pilat at [email protected] and make sure to follow our
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Lutheran Disaster Response Hurricane Matthew
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"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
- Psalm 46:1
Hurricane Matthew, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in years, has caused heavy rain, dangerous winds and landslides. The National Hurricane Center has reported Hurricane Matthew to be "extremely dangerous" with conditions favorable for it to maintain its strength.
Your support through Lutheran Disaster Response will bring God's hope and healing to those affected by this hurricane. Where the hurricane has already hit the hardest in Haiti, Lutheran Disaster Response's trusted partner is providing pre-positioned relief material. Our response is spanning across several countries, especially Haiti and Cuba. In the U.S., Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators are collaborating with local community leaders, civic organizations, ecumenical partners and officials to begin planning the proper responses.
Together, we will work with congregations, synods, trusted partners and companion churches in the area that know the communities well and will walk with people on the road to recovery.
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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.
For more information, and to register for Lost and Found click here!
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Virginia Synod Bishop Election Feedback Requested
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It is an exciting time in our synod as we approach the election of a new bishop at our 2017 Synod Assembly. Many of you already know that Bishop Mauney has announced his retirement next year and, so, we are preparing for the tenure of a new leader. You can engage in discussions with your pastor, the Dean of your conference, members of the
Bishop's Election Transition Committee (BETC) and at the Fall Conference Gatherings where presentations about the Bishop's Election process and the
ForwardingFaith initiative will be made.
We need the help of congregational members and leaders - that's you! In much the same way as we prepare to call a new pastor in our congregations, we want to prepare to call a new bishop with as much attention and prayer as possible.
These survey results will be helpful for those who are potential nominees, which are determined by ecclesial ballot, to know how we see the ministry needs in our synod. It will also help the 2017 Synod Assembly voting members to know the mind of the Virginia church as they enter into the election process.
Will you please be part of our planning by completing a survey? It isn't very long but it is so very important.
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BED NETS FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA
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Many congregations are involved in the process of developing their 2017 budgets. We would like your congregation to consider including in your budget a donation to the Virginia Synod's program to raise money to send to our companion synod in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for the purchase of bed nets for the prevention of malaria.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 which will be used to purchase 5000 nets for distribution to protect children in the PNG Synod. We hope that you will include in your budget a donation for this program to help the children of PNG. These donations should be sent to the Virginia Synod office with a note designating them as being for "Malaria Nets for PNG". If you would prefer to donate online, this can be done by going to Team2017.org and giving there.
We would like to thank you for giving consideration to this important program which will help our brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea. |
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2017 Tour of Germany "In the Footsteps of Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer."
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Pastor Dave Young and Pastor Heidi David-Young will be leading a tour of Germany during the late summer of 2017. The tour is entitled
"In the Footsteps of Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer." You are invited to consider joining the members of Bethel Lutheran Church (Winchester) and others as we visit sites in Munich, Prague, Leipzig, Wittenberg, Berlin, and much more. We will learn more about our Lutheran heritage. We will visit the Flossenburg Concentration Camp where Bonhoeffer was martyred. We will learn more about J.S. Bach in his hometown of Eisenach, as well as visit the Warburg Caste, where Luther stayed after the Diet of Worms. Throughout we will worship together, pray together, and share together.
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Initial deposits of $350 (per person) are due by
November 15th. The final payment is not due until May 15, 2017. The cost DOES NOT include the flight. Flights will be booked personally.
Feel free to contact Pr. Young (
[email protected]) if you questions. Pastor Young and Pastor David-Young are also available for presentations if your congregation would be interested in learning more.
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Tidewater Lutheran Young Adult Group
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Do you consider yourself a Young Adult?
Do you live in Tidewater (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth)?
Are you interested in socializing with other Young Adults and learning more about God?
If so, please join our new Facebook Group to stay up to date on local events/gatherings.
Coming Up:
TLYA go to Big Ugly Trivia
Thursday, November 3
Come join your fellow Young Adult Lutherans (and friends) to play Trivia at Big Ugly Brewing (1296 Battlefield Blvd S, Chesapeake, Virginia). Trivia starts at 6:30pm, so we will gather around 6 PM to ensure we get seating. The "Sinful Saints" just missed out on winning 2nd place last month...let's see if we can get first this time! If we have enough people, we will form two teams.
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Holiday Bazaar Craft & Vendor Show
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Visit St Mark Lutheran on Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM for fun for the whole family! Over 30 vendors will be on-hand selling hand-made crafts and gift items, as well as a variety of products and services . Also, enjoy concessions, raffles, children's games & activities including reptile rescue, face painting, cookie decorating, and games.
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The Experience at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS)
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The name The Experience was chosen because LTSS believes what you, as a prospective student, experiences is the most appropriate and influential way to determine which seminary is the right place to earn your theological education. During your time with us, we will show you our community and the community surrounding us. You will experience life with our current students and the heartbeat of campus. Also, our faculty will offer you a glimpse of the classroom experience that is essential to your theological formation. We look forward to welcoming you to The Experience!
Jenn Casey, an alum of LTSS and our Enrollment Director reflects, "I remember having a lot of questions during my discernment process and I often wondered if I was the only person with those questions. I also thought I must be crazy for thinking that God was calling me into ordained ministry. I now know I wasn't the only one, but it can be a confusing process!"
We have four opportunities, click on each on for registration information.
Questions? Contact Kohl Friery at 803-
461-3296 or
[email protected]
. If you want to visit LTSS but these events don't work, email Kohl and set up a private visit!
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A Rabbi Brought a Psychiatrist to the Church
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Visit St John's Episcopal Church in McLean, Virginia on November 17, 2016 to attend an event hosted by The Voyagers- a gathering of clergy and church leaders exploring Bowen Family Systems Theory as applied to congregations and leadership by Rabbi Edwin Friedman.
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Reformation 500 Observances
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As the second oldest Lutheran college in the USA, the mission statement of Roanoke College declares that we "honor our Christian heritage by nurturing a dialogue between faith and reason." In this spirit, Roanoke College announces a series of special academic events from late 2016 through the anniversary year 2017 in commemoration of the 500
th
anniversary of the Reformation and in coordination with the 175
th
anniversary of the college's founding.
For more information on this and future events from Roanoke College celebrating the Reformation-
click here!
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ELCA Colleges & Universities
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ELCA colleges and universities have a helpful website whygolutheran.org - for students and parents as they embark on the college search process. On the site families can:
- Learn more about the value of the Lutheran college experience.
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Coordinator of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries - Salem, Virginia
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College Evangelical Lutheran Church seeks applications for a part-time Coordinator of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries.
Under the supervision of the Pastor, the Coordinator serves alongside of congregational leaders, advocates for and facilitates Children, Youth, and Family Ministry programs. Programs include Nursery; Sunday School (Pre K-High School); Confirmation; Vacation Bible School and other summer programs; Youth Group; Campus Ministry; and Family Faith Formation.
To view the full job description, click here. |
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WindsorMeade of Williamsburg seeks chaplain
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WindsorMeade of Williamsburg, a Continuing Care Retirement Community, is looking for a full-time or part-time chaplain (approximately 20 hours per week). Ideal candidate has a Master's of Divinity from an accredited seminary or school of theology, a chaplaincy certification and two years of pastoral care experience, preferably with a senior adult population. Chaplain must be able to serve communion. Fluent English speaking and writing skills, empathy and the ability to listen, good time management skills, computer skills and professional dress, speech and behavior are all required for this position. To apply, submit your information and resume at www.windsormeade.org. Contact WindsorMeade directly for additional information.
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