Roots & Wings

Roots and Wings Logo

“Roots & Wings” is a ministry of the Virginia Synod for families of children from birth through grade 5. Like our Facebook Page.

With great thanksgiving for all who have worked on our Virginia Synod Roots & Wings ministry over the years, especially those who developed it at the start, we are now concluding the production of our in-house resources as of August, 2021. When the monthly activities calendar and weekly insert were first introduced, this was a new idea that provided high-quality and reliable resources that were difficult to obtain other places. Since then, publishing houses and other online ministries have begun producing materials that can be easily and reliably downloaded and used, and congregations and leaders can find links to some of those below. All of the older resources will remain available at the links below.

The most reliable weekly page is provided by Sparkhouse, a division of our ELCA Publishing House, for a modest cost per quarter-year: https://wearesparkhouse.org and search for “Spark Worship Bulletins.”  If any congregation finds the cost to be prohibitive, please contact the Synod Office for guidance and assistance.

The best montly faith reflection calendar for families is from Concordia Publishing House and is free for downloading:  https://communication.cph.org/everyday-faith-calendar.  It is also accompanied by a blog: https://blog.cph.org/serve/tag/everyday-faith-calendar.

Four Keys: For Faithful Living

For more information on the ACTS program you can contact:

The Rev. Suzanne M. Stierwalt
Roots & Wings Director
1301 Colley Ave.
Norfolk VA  23517-0010
suzanne.stierwalt@gmail.com

If you would like to be included in Roots & Wings mailings contact Lenae Osmondson at osmondson@vasynod.org

Nurturing Faith is a weekly bulletin that is usually sent out on Wednesday of each week.  To be added to this mailing just email osmondson@vasynod.org and include your first and last name.

Previous Nurturing Faith Bulletins:

Sharing the Faith is our monthly newsletter full of ideas for that month.  To be added to this email mailing email pilat@vasynod.org and include your first name and address you would like to receive it.  This mailing is usually mailed out around the 20th of each month and is great to be included in church newsletters too!

Previous Sharing Faith Mailings:

Resources

Links

Our Mission:

Through the baptized community, enable children (birth to grade 5) to discover and claim their vocation as Ambassador’s In Christ.

Our Goals:

I. That each child will have deep sense that, “I am a baptized child of God.”

II. Move From:
Institution-centered-family/home supported only
TO
Family/home-centered-Institution-support partnership

III. Parents and care givers will know the faith and understand that they are
the primary faith sharers for their child.

  • Helping parents to articulate their faith to their children:
    • Being comfortable to articulate in their home/neighborhood;
    • Living and sharing faith at home (one on one);
    • Breaking the faith out of the Sunday morning niche and making it work at home for the week.
  • “Whatever happens at Church” (worship, preaching, Sunday School, small groups, etc.) begins the conversation or sets the tone for the week, in the home, community and daily life.

IV. All congregations of the Virginia Synod will actively equip children to be
Ambassadors for Christ.

  • Congregations have active conversation on how the children are baptized members, integral to the whole life of the congregation (worship, service, hospitality, evangelism, etc.)
  • Congregations who equip people to live into their baptism:
    • Every congregation have pre-baptismal instruction (4 to 6 weeks) – confirmation renewal for parents.
    • Sponsors and mentors part of on-going ministry
  • Premarital Counseling and Instruction – children born into faith community-healthy foundation before conception – baptism, praying together, dealing with conflicts.
  • Healthy children will have healthy parents – “a Healthy Family System’s Model.”

V. As baptized children of God, will see themselves “sent as Ambassadors for Christ.”