Three conferences in the Virginia Synod have already had their 2015 Conference Gathering (don’t know which conference you’re in? View our map).
The theme this year, “Finding My Voice!” is intended to help attendees learn how to share stories about how God has impacted their own lives.
At each Gathering Bishop Mauney and other members of the Synod staff present and facilitate small group discussions where people have an opportunity to share stories about their favorite songs, bible passages, and their vocation. During the Gathering Dave Delaney also leads the group in songs that are favorites at Virginia Synod youth events.
During the “Finding My Voice” Tidewater Conference Gatherings Dave Delaney led songs with the help of several youth
The first “Finding My Voice!”gathering was in the Tidewater Conference where Maren Corliss, the Virginia Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) Board President is a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church inNorfolk.
“I think it helped us to connect and tell our stories to others, but to also show ourselves how our stories have developed thus far; as adults and as youth in the church,” said Maren.
“It gave a lot of us a chance to hear the stories of so many people that we may not have otherwise known if we hadn’t gone to the Conference Gathering.”
Not only have members of the Tidewater, Richmond, and Southern conferences been able to share their own stories, as Maren said, each event also allows new connections to be made with fellow Lutherans who are in close geographic proximity to one another.
In the Southern Conference Gathering these two were about the share their own stories about how Jesus has impacted their lives
“This is a great opportunity for our congregational leaders to come together, to recognize that we are not Christians in isolation but that we have great resources in our conference, we have similar obstacles to overcome, we have a common foundation to build upon in Christ Jesus, and that we can and need to be walking together in ministry,” said Cathy Mims, dean of the Tidewater conference.
The 2015 Conference Gatherings are for everyone because the Spirit intends for us all to have a voice to speak! This event is for council members, youth, young adults, teachers, worship leaders, parents, grandparents, and anyone who has a voice that influences others.
There are still eight more Conference Gatherings this year:
Southern Valley Conference:
March 22, 3 pm-6 pm, Grace Lutheran in Waynesboro
Germanna Conference:
April 19, 3 pm- 6 pm, Peace Lutheran in Charottesville
New River Conference:
May 3, 3 pm-6pm, Luther Memorial in Blacksburg
Central Valley Conference:
May 17, 3 pm- 6 pm, Emanuel Lutheran in Woodstock
Highland Conference:
August 30, 3 pm- 6 pm, St. John Lutheran in Abingon
Northern Valley Conference:
September 27, 3 pm- 6 pm, Trinity Lutheran in Stephens City
Peninsula Conference:
October 18, 3 pm- 6 pm, St. Mark Lutheran in Yorktown
Page Conference:
October 25, 3 pm- 6 pm, St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran in Luray
View the events calender on vasynod.org for more details. If you have questions, contact the Virginia Synod office by calling 540-389-1000.
