The Virginia Synod Council has prepared weekly devotions to invite reflection and prayer on the 2025 Virginia Synod Assembly’s theme: Intertwining Hope. Each Wednesday, a different person connected to the council will share a story of hope based on one of key biblical stories in the General Arrangements. 

This week we hear from Deacon Lavelva Stevens. Deacon Stevens is the president of the Virginia Synodical Women’s Organization and is also called as organist to Holy Trinity, Wytheville. 

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Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Israel, listen! Our God is the Lord! Only the Lord! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Write them on your house’s doorframes and on your city’s gates.

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This Old Testament passage is called the “Shema”.  The first word of verse 4, which is “hear” or “listen” is “shema” in Hebrew.  It is a foundational teaching in Judaism and Christianity.  Devout Jews recite it every morning and every evening. 

This passage is a reminder that we should respond with love because of God’s love for us. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the law is, he responded with this verse and added: “This is the greatest and the first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:38-40 NRSV)

These Old and New Testament passages give us guidelines for living a life full of hope, both for ourselves and for everyone we meet. God is with us, working in our lives, giving us strength to be His people in the world. And, everyone in this world is our neighbor.

Years ago, I had a 9-year-old neighbor who told me I live in a ‘princess house’. She may have thought this because my house has a large driveway and flowers that were planted years ago by the woman who lived here before me. (I’m not a gardener.) She knew that I lived by myself in my house and was worried that I might be lonely. What a lovely surprise when she brought me cookies one day that she had made herself! How good that felt! What a good neighbor she was being.

There is a hymn, ELW 648,  the words were written by Susan Palo Cherwien. The first and third verses are: “Beloved, God’s chosen, put on as a garment compassion, forgiveness, and goodness of heart.  Above all, before all, let love be your raiment that binds into one ev’ry dissonant part.”

Because God is with us, we can be in and of the world, with all its dissonance, making a difference with those we meet: all of our neighbors near and far. We have hope that God is working through us, with us and in us.

We would do well to recite/remember/live into the words of these 2 passages every day; to commit them to memory. They bring us hope that there is a better way to treat people and why; it is a call to action, to love and to listen to our neighbors…ALL people. 

Dear Lord, write these words on our hearts and in our lives, so that we may be transformed to do your work in the lives of everyone we meet. Amen. 

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Prayer Requests for the week: 

  • For God to call people to serve in elected positions in the Virginia Synod
  • Thanksgiving for all Virginia Synod committees and teams as well as mission partners and their work