Being Church in the Time of COVID-19
As of this morning, the Virginia Synod Office of the Bishop has asked its staff to begin working remotely from their homes in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. We ask at this time should you need to contact our staff to do so directly via email (you can find all staff person email contact information on our website). The Office of the Bishop has also suspended all travel related to the office, and has canceled several of our spring events including:  the Spring Adult Faith Formation Retreat , the  Roots & Wings One Day Extravaganza , and the  Women in Ministry Retreat . We will let you know as soon as we make decisions regarding any additional planned gatherings should they be canceled.

The synod office will refund all registrations received for these events. Please be patient as the synod staff is responding to many inquiries for COVID-19 and have numerous refunds to process at this time. We hope to have this completed within the next several. We hope to reschedule these events for a later date, but we do not yet have those details planned at this time. We will share those details as we are able to.

For now please do not plan to visit either the Salem or Norfolk offices in person. Messages and mail will be checked regularly, but please be patient during this time.

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 .
Congregational Resources in the Midst of COVID-19
Digital Ministry Open Office Hours
eFormation, supported by Virginia Theological Seminary, has long been a practical hub for faith leaders to rely on when experimenting with the new digital ministries. This spring offers a different set of frustrations and hurdles with quarantines, health risks, and church closings, so they are offering NEW, FREE Digital Ministry Open Office Hours twice/week: Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Fridays from 12-1 p.m. These opportunities will allow for conversation around how best to serve communities of faith in times of crisis and concern. Register here.
Free courses—Grow in Christ at Home
The threat of the coronavirus has given many of us more time—and a greater opportunity to draw nearer to Christ, so ChurchNext has just launched Prayer and Worship in Our Homes, a free 5-course class open to anyone who would like to take it. Use the class remotely by having individuals take the course on their own or meet in an online classroom together. See the course library for other options.
Best Practices for Remote Work
As teams around the world adapt their work style and business practices to take precautions for COVID-19, staying connected and having clarity around work and priorities is more important than ever. To that end, Asana (a team based work management platform used by some of us in the synod office) wants to help our global customers by sharing tips and best practices around connection, communication, and remote work. Register for this "best practices" webinar that will be held on Wednesday, March 18, from 12-1 p.m.
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
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
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.
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.

These forms are to be completed on an annual basis, and as of today  we have heard from very few of ur 145 congregations  on any changes or updates to communications for those serving on staff and in council roles.

Please take a moment to fill out your congregation's communication update form.
Synod Assembly 2020: General Arrangements and Registration
Synod Assembly is here! June 12-13 will be our time to get together as the Virginia Synod to fellowship, learn about the wider church, do business, and worship. Our ELCA representative this year will be Dr. Mary Streufert, Director for Justice for Women, ELCA.

General Arrangements and registration information are now available, visit vasynod.org/synod-assembly-2020 for more information
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.
Updates and Upcoming Events at Caroline Furnace
Summer Camp 2020
Good indeed is the Lord, whose steadfast love endures forever. God's faithfulness continues for all generations. -Psalm 100:5 Get ready for another amazing summer! Registration is now open for Summer 2020 camps at Caroline Furnace. Campers who are 16 & 17 years old are eligible for the LIT! Program (Leaders in Training). Are you (or someone you know) interested in serving as a Camp Counselor this summer? Every week is a new adventure! Paid academic internships are available. Learn More and Register
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.