The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will join congregations in the Caribbean, Florida-Bahamas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Southeastern and Virginia Synods on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 12 p.m. Eastern time for a regional conversation on God’s Love Made Real. The Rev. Pedro M. Suárez, bishop of the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, will host the online conversation.

God’s Love Made Real is a movement encouraging the ELCA to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation.

During this discussion, the presiding bishop will share why God’s Love Made Real is meaningful to her and the future of the church. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions.

“The Spirit is calling us to move together as one church to share the grace and love we experience every day,” said Eaton.



More conversations about God’s Love Made Real will be scheduled with regional groups in the future.

The Virginia Synodical Women’s Organization (VSWO) of the Women of the ELCA held their 36th annual convention on July 26-27 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Norge, Virginia. The convention theme “Stir up the gift of God which is in us” was from 2 Timothy 1:6-7. “God of Grace and God of Glory” and “Here I Am Lord” were the convention hymns. Opening worship was led by Pastor Jennifer Osheim-Owen, Chaplain at Williamsburg Landing. Bishop Phyllis Milton delivered the sermon and shared greetings from the Virginia Synod Office of the Bishop. Music was provided by Linda Hawks from Trinity/Pulaski, and vocalist Alli Beck from Resurrection/Fredericksburg.

During the Business Session voting members, one from each Women of the ELCA units, helped to finalize the business of the VSWO. Three Awareness Sessions were presented and were very informative. The first was by Encircle on Foster Care, the second by Nicole Ocheltree on how to have a healthier mind by being “Trauma Focused”, and the third was given by Latisha’s House which is a safe house for women of human trafficking. Our Love Offering and In-Kind Offerings benefited Micah Ministries in Fredericksburg.

Feeding the Multitude:

World Hunger 50 Bible Study 

Led by Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick

September 16 & 23, 2024

7:00pm - 8:15pm ET

“Everyone ate until they were full. They filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. About five thousand had eaten.” (Mark 6.42-44 CEB)

All four gospels writers record the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitudes - with just five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish! From the everyday staples of bread and fish, provided by the crowd from what they already had, Jesus fed the multitudes - with food, with compassion, and with community. God is a God of abundance! 

Join Pastor Kelly as we engage this miracle story together. Let’s explore the ways that Jesus invites us into this great picnic, joining in God’s mission of abundant life as together we also share food, compassion, and community. 

This August, two Virginia Synod young adults - Carolina Bowen (College, Salem) and Tim Hoffstaetter (Faith, Suffolk) will join 23 other passionate young adults in a year of international service with the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program. Tim and Carolina will soon begin their transformative journeys, engaging with and immersing themselves in communities globally and growing both spiritually and personally. 

The Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program empowers young adults, aged 21-35, to make a meaningful impact by serving in Argentina and Uruguay, Cambodia, Central Europe, Mexico, Senegal, and the United Kingdom. These young leaders will live in accompaniment as their host communities and our partner churches address challenges in education, health care and community development.

In the coming weeks, Carolina and Tim will each share their stories of being called to serve as YAGMs and preparing to leave for Cambodia (where they will both serve). We invite you to support them in prayer and financially. 

Effective Practices for Innovative Congregations (EPIC) is a one-day leadership development conference that is designed to strengthen congregational leaders for their ministry in the congregation and in the world. There will be four separate opportunities to attend the event at four locations spread throughout the Synod.

During EPIC we will explore what it means to have Strong Connections with topics that explore how to have:

• Strong Connections in the Congregation
• Strong Connections in the Community
• Strong Connections in the Synod
• Strong Connections in the Wider Lutheran Expression
• Strong Connections in God

The event will feature times of worship and large-group presentations as well as small-group breakout sessions covering a variety of topics led by members of the Synod staff as well as local leaders from each hosting area. We are hopeful that attendees will also share ideas and resources with one another for some holy cross-pollinating!

Click the event brochure below for more information which will include event dates, times, locations, and workshop descriptions.

Contact Pr. Liz Radtke at radtke@vasynod.org with any questions.

Thank you for supporting the strong connections in and of the Virginia Synod!



The mission support that congregations shared with the Virginia Synod in July helped strengthen our connections to God, to each other, to our neighbors, and to the world!

One example of those strong connections from July was the Virginia Synodical Women’s Organization Annual Convention. Women from all across the synod gathered at Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Norge for worship, fellowship, service, and official business under the theme “Stir up the gift of God which is in us.” The connections that were strengthened during their time together were numerous–among the women, with God, and to various ministries around Virginia. There were Awareness Session presentations from Latisha’s House, Healthier Minds, and Encircle.

Breaking Point: Tracing the Roots of White Christian Nationalism and How We Can Resist on August 1 and August 8; 7pm ET

Join Broadleaf Books and Fortress Press for an eye-opening two-part webinar series that explores the history and rise of white Christian nationalism and its profound impact today. For those of us who are troubled by the terrifying appeal of white Christian nationalism and what it means for America’s future (politically and beyond), this webinar series will both help us understand how we got here and offer strategies to counter extremist movements. Register now to be part of a transformative dialogue that can shape our collective future.

Can't make the live sessions? No worries! Recordings will be sent out shortly after. Click here or the button below to register and learn more about our panelists.

The Metro D.C. Synod’s candidacy committee invites anyone feeling called to ministry or looking for a space to actively discern their call to join the Fall Discernment Cohort. We are excited to offer this space for holy listening, discernment, and pondering in partnership with the Virginia Synod.

The cohort will meet on Zoom from 5:00–6:00 PM on the first Thursday of the month beginning August 1, 2024, and running through January 2025. If you are interested in joining this confidential discernment group, please click the button below to register.

Roanoke College Lutheran Visit Day

As the Lutheran College of Virginia, Roanoke College is inviting your family to attend a day designed to assist you with the college search process. Roanoke College Lutheran Visit Day will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 10am to noon. Any young person who is discerning whether higher education may be in their future after high school is invited to attend.

PRE-REGISTRATION is not required but encouraged to help us plan space and supplies for the day.

Many families of Minnick School students face financial challenges. To lighten their load, we provide essential supplies for all our students. Your donations make this possible, and we invite you to join us in this annual tradition of community support.

You can make a difference today! Explore Minnick Schools' Amazon Wish Lists and send a gift of supplies or equipment directly to the school!

If your church or community group would like to organize a school supply drive, EnCircle would love to hear from you! Please reach out to thier team at philanthropy@enCircleAll.org

Spiritual Care of the Dying: The Art of Ministering to Emotional and Spiritual Needs at End of Life

This presentation will be held on August 22 and will address spiritual care of the dying and assessing the spiritual needs of the dying will be discussed. The gifts and challenges of ministry to the dying and their loved ones, how spirituality can bring comfort and peace, and stories from a long ministry in hospice will be shared. The importance of clergy, faith community nurses and congregations partnering in end-of-life care will be addressed. There will be an introduction to the communication tool, the Death Cafe, which helps encourage open dialogue about dying.