Weekly Update
Announcements From Around the Virginia Synod
Reformation Celebration Sunday
Across the globe Lutherans gathered to observe the 499th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and many great celebrations happened right here in Virginia! Working within community, exciting homecomings, fun activities that honored the Reformation, and connecting to the global church by the joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation in Sweden were just a few ways that congregations in the Virginia Synod reflected upon our heritage, history, and the affirmation of our central theological convictions.
Trinity Lutheran in Stephens City Celebrates by Serving

This past Reformation Sunday had members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stephens City gathering in a decidedly different way.
Nobody wore their "Sunday best" or even their Sunday second best. Instead, the sanctuary was awash with folks in jeans, shorts and a sea of yellow T-shirts with bold, black printing on the front declaring:  "God's Work...Our Hands..."
Trinity members reflected the "continuing reformation" of the Church by spreading into their community for a day of service. Trinity workers with rakes and bags, mowers, paint brushes, hammer and nails, blowers, and cleaning rags tackled a dozen plus projects at 8 different locations. These projects ranged from hedge trimming and household repairs for needy members of the broader community, to yard work at the nearby Stone House Museum, and lunch for residents of the Winchester Rescue Mission on Cameron Street in downtown Winchester.
"The Church, especially the Lutheran Church, continues to re-form," Pastor Cameron Keyser observed. "We thought this would be a very visual and specific way to share our faith in the way Christ has called us to do."

"St. Augustine once encouraged Christians to 'Preach the Gospel at all times.'," Keyser observed, "'Use words only when you must.' That's the realistic expression of the faith we want our Church to make manifest in the world. And, Reformation  Sunday was a great time to make it happen."

After the work was completed, members re-gathered in the church's parish hall for a light luncheon and to share their experiences. "We discovered a common thread in our discussion," recalled Carolyn Gregory,"Every person who participated felt they had received much more than they had given - in hugs, words of thanks, and the huge smiles we encountered. I have an idea this may become a Reformation Day tradition for our congregation."
Luray's Reformation Homecoming
In their third combined worship service of the year, Beth Eden, Grace, and St. Mark Lutheran of Luray joined together for worship to commemorate Reformation Sunday. The service was a homecoming of sorts as the Rev. Dr. John Hoffmeyer was invited back as a guest preacher. Dr. Hoffmeyer's presence served as a unifying factor for all three churches as he grew up in Luray attending St. Mark where his father was pastor. Dr. Hoffmeyer is currently a professor of Systematic Theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where Vicar Alex Zuber, of Grace and Beth Eden, is a student.

Dr. Hoffmeyer's sermon was focused on the words of Psalm 46 and Luther's expansion of those themes in "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", reminding us that not only is God's "little Word" more steadfast than our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, but it is all around us in baptism, confession, preaching, and eucharist. The Rev. Nicholas Eichelberger of St. Mark was the celebrant with The Rev. Mary Louise Brown and Vicar Alex Zuber assisting.
Nailing the Reformation
College Lutheran of Salem had their Sunday school kids live out Luther's journey to reformation as they 'nailed' copies of his 95 thesis on the front door of the church!
Faith Lutheran, St. Matthew, and St. James of Mt. Rogers Parish all gathered together in joint honoring of the Reformation. There Martin Luther himself, portrayed by David Winship , made an appearance and joined in the celebration.
Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation

This past Monday, Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Martin Junge led 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.

This was the first joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation at the global level, serving as a sign for reconciliation and peace, as well as visible unity between across the church.

"Now in the context of the commemoration of the Reformation of 1517, we have a new opportunity to accept a common path, one that has taken shape over the past fifty years in the ecumenical dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church," Pope Francis stated in his sermon, adding that, "We have the opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another."

Upcoming events honoring the Reformation
While Reformation Sunday festivities have concluded, there are still many ways to honor the Reformation as we look towards its 500th anniversary next year!

Roanoke College is continuing to honor its Christian heritage with a series of academic events in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, and in coordination with the 175th anniversary of the college's founding. The most upcoming of these events is a lecture by Professor Molly Worthen. On November 29th at 6 PM in the Colket Center, Professor Worthen will compare and contrast contemporary North American evangelicalism and Martin Luther who advocated the doctrine of justification by faith alone. For more information on Roanoke College's series on the Reformation, click here.

The ELCA also has a site dedicated with information on and resources for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. There you can learn more about observances, find Reformation books and resources, and find information on events hosted nationally and globally by the church. To find out more, click here.
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Lost and Found

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!
Virginia Synod Bishop Election Feedback Requested

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. 
  
BED NETS FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA
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.
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.  
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.


Tidewater Lutheran Young Adult Group


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. 

RSVP on the Facebook Event   or to Pastor Leslie (of Grace LC, Chesapeake) at [email protected]
Holiday Bazaar Craft & Vendor Show
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.  
The Experience at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS)
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!
A Rabbi Brought a Psychiatrist to the Church
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. 

To find out more information and to register, visit www.clergyvoyagers.org
Reformation 500 Observances

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!
LARCUM CONFERENCE, 2016: "Reformations, Then and Now"
With the bronze statue in place at Roanoke College and the Lutheran World Federation and Catholic Church holding a Common Prayer service in Lund, Sweden, led by LWF President Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan and Pope Francis on October 31, 2016, we Lutherans in Virginia are ready to dig deeply into this reforming Church with our LARCUM (Lutheran/Anglican/Roman Catholic/United Methodist) partners.
 
This year's LARCUM Conference (December 2-3 in Ashland, Virginia) is an opportunity for members of congregations and rostered leaders to wrestle with the question: What is the church now called away from and where is the church called to go?
 
Session topics for the conference include:
  • The Body Lies Bleeding: Wounds of the Divided Church
  • Body Language: The reality of the body of Christ
  • Call and Response: The call of the present Christ
  • Proclaiming the Gospel in a "Secular Age"
 
Our speaker, Dr. Joseph Small of the Presbyterian tradition, is a seasoned ecumenist of international scale who knows his way around this topic. He is author of such works as "Proclaiming the Great Ends of the Church" and "Fire and Wind: The Holy Spirit in the Church Today."
 
Take advantage of this opportunity to prepare yourself for the 500th anniversary commemoration. Registration deadline: Nov. 18. Contact your pastor or the VA Synod for brochures and registration forms. Or email Pastor Eric Moehring, Ecumenical Representative of the VA Synod at [email protected] . You won't want to miss this one!
ELCA Colleges & Universities

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:
Spread the word by downloading posters and bulletin inserts to incorporate in your congregational communications! Click here to download resources.

Job Opportunities
Coordinator of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries - Salem, Virginia
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.
WindsorMeade of Williamsburg seeks chaplain
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.
All posts can also be found online at  www.vasynod.org/job-opportunities. If you have job opening you would like posted, email [email protected]. 
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