We are the Virginia Synod:

Bishop Phyllis Blair Milton

"We are the Virginia Synod" features individuals from the Synod talking about a ministry that is impacting their lives and the lives of others.

This month, we hear from Bishop Phillis Blair Milton as she begins her ministry as Bishop of the Virginia Synod. Bishop Milton shares a little about herself and her vision for the ministry of the Virginia Synod.

Virginia Synod Welcomes New Synod Council Officers

After serving as the Secretary of the Virginia Synod for many years, Blythe Scott was elected as the Vice-President of the Virginia Synod at the 2023 Assembly. Vice-President Scott is a member of First Lutheran Church in Norfolk and was elected to serves the Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Norfolk. She is a licensed attorney and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Judy Casteele was elected at the 2023 Assembly to serve as the Secretary of the Virginia Synod. Secretary Casteele has previously served as a member of Synod Council, as president of the Virginia Synodical Women's Organization, and currently serves as the treasurer of the Virginia Synodical Women's Organization. She is a member and Council President of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lexington and is the Executive Director of a non-profit organization in Lexington.

John Krallman was appointed as the new Treasurer of the Virginia Synod by the Synod Council at the June 2023 meeting. Treasurer Krallman is a member St. Michael Lutheran Church in Blacksburg where he served for many years as the congregation's financial officer. He retired from Virginia Tech in 2020 where he served in various positions including Fiscal Officer for the university's IT Division and as the Interim Chief of Staff. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Office of the Bishop Staff Update

This week, the Synod Council affirmed Bishop Milton's request to have the current rostered staff of the Office of the Bishop continue in their positions and to extend a call to Pastor Liz Radtke to serve as the part-time Director for Congregational Leadership and Support. The Synod gives thanks for these talented individuals and the ways in which they support the ministry of the Virginia Synod. To see a complete roster of the Virginia Synod Office of the Bishop staff go to: https://vasynod.org/about/staff/.

Good Shepherd, Virginia Beach Celebrates

Christmas in July

(Shared by Pat Morgan)

A German and Scandinavian tradition is on the night of December 5, children put their polished boots outside the door before going to sleep. The next morning, St. Nicholas Day, they find their shoes filled with small gifts from St. Nicholas.

Good Shepherd, Virginia Beach celebrated the tradition a little differently. We collected shoes, all sizes – toddler to adult, during the month of July for the ForKids organization in Norfolk. ForKids’ mission is breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty for families & children. On Sunday, July 30, “Christmas in July”, 99 pairs of shoes had been donated. They were delivered on July 31. We do make a difference.

Food Forest Garden at Good Shepherd, Galax

(Shared by Pat Carriker )

The Grayson Permaculture Group, Partner of Grayson LandCare, designed & built a Food Forest Garden in collaboration with the Church of the Good Shepherd in Galax to provide beauty, meditation, food for the community, and a demonstration of permaculture methods. The garden improves soil health, provides and connects wildlife habitat, and brings together a community of people who care for it. Watch the video below to learn more about this exciting project.

Hesed House Opens In Fredericksburg

(Shared by Meghann Cotter )

An unexpected blessing of the Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented resources that allowed Fredericksburg to be a community where no one slept outside for more nearly 2.5 years. From that season, Micah Ecumenical Ministries and Micah Street Church learned how effective motels could be in getting our neighbors off the street and beginning to offer the care necessary to successfully transition them into permanent housing.  

When a local church member approached the ministry about buying a motel that came up for sale, we jumped on it. After many months of churches, volunteers and local businesses coming together to renovate and ready 14 rooms that will be made available to our neighbors, Micah's newest ministry--Hesed House--will open next month. 

Hesed is a Hebrew word for God's loving kindness. It is the relentless, always pursuing, never-give up on you kind of love. 

Unhoused neighbors will be invited for a temporary stay at Hesed House while we are working with them to locate housing. Churches will adopt-a-room, preparing, decorating and stocking it each time someone leaves with all the essential items needed in their eventual move to housing. During their stay they will be supported by a program director, live-in manager and Micah's wrap-around team, which includes staff who specialize in housing, income, health, basic needs and spiritual care. 

Sponsor a Room: The ministry is almost finished with renovations. It will only take another $1250 (per room) to finish the four remaining rooms. If you are interested in helping sponsor a room, please use the link below. If a team from your congregation would like to assist with the renovation, please contact Pastor John Wertz at: wertz@vasynod.org.

Living Water, Weems Invests in Ministry in Malawi

(Shared by Judy Barthel)

Living Water Lutheran Church of Weems, VA, designates a special missions project each quarter of the year and our second quarter of 2023 designee was The Mordecai Project. Our small congregation raised enough money to pay annual school fees for 20 girls in Malawi. In Malawi, many children don’t attend school because their parents can’t afford the minimal fees required for public education. (Fees are usually $150 a year.) Girls are more likely to drop out of school because their parents assume that they can just learn to cook and take care of babies. So many girls end up in prostitution, or they might be trafficked to Zanzibar. Others decide to marry as early as 13 to escape poverty, but that doesn’t solve the problems they face. This investment in girls' education is helping to break the cycle of poverty in Malawi! This is why The Mordecai Project exists.