Brandon Oaks 26th Annual Golf Tournament
This Monday, May 15th, Brandon Oaks hosted its 26th Annual Golf Tournament at Roanoke Country Club. Through the generosity of this tournament and other events, Brandon Oaks is able to continually enhance the comfort and quality of life for its nursing and rehab center residents.

Golfers from all around the area came out to enjoy a beautiful spring day, and to show their support for the care and services that Brandon Oaks provide.

Brandon Oaks has seen tremendous growth in recent years with the construction of Pine Crest in 2010, the opening of the state-of-the-art rehabilitation expansion at the Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2014, the opening of Brandon Oaks at Home offering home health care and home care to the greater Roanoke community, and most recently the completion of the Pine Ridge condominiums in 2017.  

Prizes were awarded for closest to the pin and the longest drive. Corporate sponsors for this year's tournament include Comfort Systems USA, Davenport & Company, Grand Home Furnishings, Lionberger Construction, Sodexo, Wellness Concepts, H.B. Rehab Services Inc., Healthcare Services Group, Inc., and Union First Bank & Trust.

The funds raised at this year's tournament supports Brandon Oaks Auxiliary. The Auxiliary works throughout the year to enhance the quality of life and spiritual well-being of residents through a number of programs offered to the residents of the Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Many golfers participating this year have either personally benefited or have family members who are supported by the service and care provided by Brandon Oaks. 
 
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Announcements
Synod Assembly 2017: Ambassadors for Christ: Forwarding Faith

Synod Assembly is here!  June 9-11  will be our time to get together as the Virginia Synod to fellowship, learn about the wider church, do business, and learn more about worship.  Presiding over the Bishop's election and our ELCA representative  this year will be the  Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla , Executive Director‐ELCA Division of  Global Missions. 

For more information and to register for Synod Assembly, click here
Virginia Synod Kairos 2017
Kairos  is our annual week-long faith formation event for youth who will be in 9th-12th grades in the coming fall. It is a chance for youth who are already committed to a life of faith to be part of a unique Christian community for an entire week, to have a fresh experience of the grace and presence of God in that community, and to develop habits for discipleship that can be taken home as they live out their call to be “Ambassadors for Christ.” Kairos is different from our weekend events in that congregations do not send advisors with youth; the event staff serves as small group leaders and dorm advisors for the week. “Kairos” is the New Testament Greek word for “special time.” It is used whenever God’s people want to talk about a time of change, of renewal, of God’s special work in the believer and the community.

For more information and to register for Kairos, click here

Roanoke College's Theology for Teens
Our second annual summer camp introducing teens to biblical and theological scholarship, exploring contemporary challenges & how their faith tradition can meet those challenges. Starting Sunday July 16, 2016 through Sunday July 22, 2017 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.

For more information and to register for T4T, click here

Virginia Synod LAUNCH 2017
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.

For more information and to register for LAUNCH, click here

Power in the Spirit 2017: "On Our Way Reforming!"
Hosted at beautiful Roanoke College in Salem Virginia, 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. In addition, congregational leaders—teachers, organists and choir directors, choir members,committee or council members, family life consultant, pastors, and others—will find Power in the Spirit nurturing and challenging as they consider their mission and ministry.

The Reformation didn’t “fix” the Church. In fact, you might say it’s just one example of how we’re always “recalculating” our way forward as individuals and as a Church. In that spirit, this year’s theme for Power in the Spirit 2017 is:
On Our Way Reforming!

For more information and to register for Power in the Spirit, click here.

The Tri-Annual Gathering of Lutheran Men in Mission: The Bold Gathering

Every couple of years, men from all over the country gather together for a weekend huddle that is called the BOLD GATHERING!

In 2017, join us in Minneapolis to be encouraged, to worship, and to connect and serve!

Hundreds of us will be gathering in the Minneapolis Marriott City Center to celebrate being bold daring followers of Jesus Christ!

The Lutheran Men in Mission Business Meeting is the pre-conference event that starts on Thursday.

EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS MAY 31.

To register for The Bold Gathering, click here 
For information on the 2017 Lutheran Men in Mission Tri-Annual Gathering, click here

Women of the ELCA Tenth Triennial Gathering
Mark your calendars for the Tenth Triennial Gathering, July 13-16, 2017, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. 

We are real women talking about our faith. About our doubts and challenges. About joy and what inspires us. We’ll experience simple conversations between friends—old and new—that will develop into a movement sweeping the church, inspired and infused with the Holy Spirit.

To register for the Tenth Triennial Gathering, click here 
For information on the 2017 Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering, click here

Caroline Furnace: Have you registered for summer camp?
It's our 60th Anniversary and we're celebrating with a summer of old favorites and new programs. Our traditional summer residential programs are designed for rising 1st-12th graders. Family camp is perfect for families with younger kids who want to try out camp together.

To register for summer camp at Caroline Furnace, click here 
For information on the 2017 summer schedule and pricing, click here

11 Steps to Increase Giving in Your Church
Scripture doesn’t shy away from conversations about money, but church leaders often do. Learn some simple and effective ways to create a culture of increasing generosity in your church, including suggestions for joyfully engaging givers at every age and stage of life. We’ll talk about transforming your weekly church offering into a time of celebration, coaching church leaders to effectively talk about stewardship, creative ways to thank your givers, why a major gifts strategy makes sense for churches, how to keep your offering numbers steady during the summer, and more. 

We've had ALDE member pastors ask for more discussion on the latest trends in congregational stewardship, and we listened. This is for you! If that's not you, please share the webinar with any pastors and congregational leaders; seminary students and officials; and district/synod/national church leaders you know who could benefit. We want this to lead to rich discussion and beneficial ideas sharing. If you can't attend live, you may still register for the webinar and receive a recording. 

Webinars cost $75. Register now

For more information on the ALDE webinar, click here

Job Opportunities
Part-time Director of Worship and Music

Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach seeks a part-time Director of Worship and Music beginning in May. 25 hours per week. Salary depending on previous experience. See the PD and application instructions at ELVB.ORG under the “Jobs” tab.

Part-time Church Secretary

Part-time church secretary, 10-12 hours/week. QuickBooks knowledge needed. Small church in the Vinton area. If interested, please call 540-342-1715 and leave a message.

Part-Time Nursery Attendant

Grace Lutheran Church in Chesapeake seeks a caring and able bodied person to serve as part-time Nursery Attendant for Sunday mornings (approximately 8:15am-12:30pm) and occasional other times. See full job description and application on the “Jobs” tab on the church website (http://www.gracelutheranchesapeake.org/jobs.html).

Part-Time Bookkeeper

Grace Lutheran Day School in Chesapeake seeks a part-time Bookkeeper (approximately 20 hours/month) to handle payroll, other payments, financial reports, etc.  Compensation is based on education and experience.  See full job description and application on the “Jobs” tab on the church website (http://www.gracelutheranchesapeake.org/jobs.html).

Application Deadline: June 1, 2017

Full-Time Director of Music/Organist

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Winchester Virginia, a dynamic, historic (1753), and still growing ELCA congregation of approximately 800 members in the northern Shenandoah Valley is looking for a full-time Director of Music/Organist.  The general responsibilities of this position would include overseeing the entire music program of the congregation, leading music worship for two liturgical services each Sunday and one contemporary service each Saturday, and directing the choirs.  A 28-rank, two-manual Schantz organ; a Yamaha grand piano;  five octaves of Schulmerich handbells; five octaves of Malmark choir chimes; and plentiful children’s percussion instruments are used.   The candidate should have knowledge of Lutheran liturgy.  

Applicants should submit a resume and an audio recording that includes one prelude, the hymn “A Might Fortress,” and one postlude—all on the organ and one hymn of the candidate’s choosing performed on the piano.  The material may be sent to Pastor Martha Miller Sims, senior administrative pastor, at grace@gracewin.org.

Salary is commensurate with education, skills, and experience.  Full benefits package is available.

A background check is required.

Contact the church for a complete job description.  Resumes accepted through May 31.  Applicants should be prepared to begin the position on September 1.

All job postings can also be found online at  www.vasynod.org/job-opportunities. If you have a position opening you would like posted, please email Emily Pilat at  pilat@vasynod.org