This past week marked Virginia Synod’s annual Week of Service, which coincided with “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday, the ELCA Day of Service on Sunday, September 13, 2020. The week of service provides the opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. This year our church—and our world—are living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing has changed the way we worship and serve, but the need is great, and God’s church is at work. From September 13th through the 19th, all congregations were invited to participate in acts of service in compliance with local health guidelines, digitally, or by contributing to a project from home. Today we’re highlighting some of the many ways congregations in the Virginia Synod have served their communities!

Keeping Creative with Bedford and Roanoke Area Group Homes

This year the Office of the Bishop took part in this year’s Week of Service by adopting a socially distant service project with enCircle, a Virginia Synod Mission Partner! enCircle group homes in Bedford and Roanoke are hosting an upcoming paint night with their residents. Thanks to donations from the Office of the Bishop, as well as from congregations across the synod, we’re able to support the group home with a fun and creative activity. We are looking forward to seeing all of their creativity on display soon. If you or your congregation are interested in taking part in a socially distant service project with enCircle, click here!

Supporting A Safe Haven for Women and Children

The five congregations of the Blacksburg ELCA Fellowship (Luther Memorial, St. Michael, Shiloh, New Mount Zion, and Christ Lutheran) partnered to support the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley by gathering donations to make a difference for women and children seeking shelter. The goods were collected on August 29th in the Luther Memorial parking lot (donations were dropped off via “drive-through”) and again on August 30th at the Blacksburg ELCA Fellowship drive-in worship service held at St. Michael. Thanks to the generosity of so many donors, the Blacksburg-Radford ELCA Fellowship was able to donate much-needed supplies to the Women’s Resource Center.

Serving Those Experiencing Homelessness in the Blue Ridge Region

For this year’s week of service, 70 Members at Christ, Roanoke made 500 care packages for the Roanoke Area Ministires RAM House and for the congregation to hand out. Roanoke Area Ministries works to provide hope by preventing and alleviating homelessness and hunger, and these care packages will be shared with individuals experiencing homelessness in the Blue Ridge region. The care packages included – water, fruit snack, granola bar, hand sanitizer wipes, and mints. In addition to the care package project, members also teamed up for a project focused on supporting Roanoke teachers. This project sent notes to teachers that are members of the congregation, providing prayers and supportive messages to teachers serving their students through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Giving Back to Students and Campers

Bethel, Winchester hosted three different projects as part of this year’s God’s Work. Our Hands Week of service with volunteers from 21 months up to 87 years old pitching in where needed. The first project had members make and pack 40 bag lunches (in decorated bags) for the Congregational Community Action Project (CCAP). Bethel, Winchester is also hosting an ongoing donation drive throughout the month of September for CCAP’s Bright Futures/Stuff the Bus project.
A second project had the congregation’s youth and adult assistance fundraise $500 for Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center by washing cars. The youth were very excited about the amount of money that they raised for a camp that many of them have attended.

A Time for Meals, Fellowship, and Art

A little group with a lot of support from St. Mark, Charlottesville helped People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM). PACEM is a grassroots organization that coordinates space and volunteers to provide shelter for individuals in the Charlottesville community who are homeless. For God’s Work Our Hands Sunday, members delivered a warm dinner to PACEM’s 50 women guests. We had much support from everyone in the congregation including donating money, time, food, and artwork. It felt so good, and PACEM has extended its needs, so the congregation is looking forward to serving again on Saturday, October 24th.

Supplies for Minnick Students

Redeemer, Bristol sponsored a school supplies, shoes, and socks drive for their local Bristol Minnick School with items collected during their outdoor worship service. When the donations of supplies, shoes, and socks were delivered on Monday, Sept. 14, Redeemer member Ellen Leach said “The Minnick School staff and students could not thank Redeemer enough for our care and generosity. They stated that the students would want to help our church in any way they could. There are kindergarten children up to middle school-aged students.”

Making Guests Feel Welcome

This year members at Apostles, Gloucester put together backpacks filled with supplies for the local homeless shelter Gloucester United Emergency Sheltering Team (GUEST). GUEST is a coalition of religious and community organizations that provide overnight shelter and meals on a rotating basis to homeless adults and families operating from November through March.

Good Gardening at God’s Storehouse

Ascension, Danville members dug, planted, and weeded in the urban garden at God’s Storehouse to prepare for the fall vegetable season at Danville’s primary food pantry and distribution center.  God’s Storehouse works throughout the Danville and Pittsylvania County communities to collect food, distribute food resources to those in need, promote nutrition, and connect customers to local resources.

When bare hands could do only so much good yanking up the thick weeds along an overgrown fence the length of a football field, Ascension member Fred Shanks rushed home and returned with a weed-whacker to slay the stubborn, three-foot high growth. With Fred cutting a path, others ripped and raked up the slain overgrowth!

Coming Together in Norfolk

At St. Timothy, Norfolk members purchased personal care and food items in advance and assembled them in “Blessing Bags” for the homeless in our community. Members at St. Timothy also stocked the congregation’s food pantry shelves with dozens of cases of food. 30 members, making sure to pratice social distancing, wearing masks and disposable gloves in order to continue to keep everyone present safe.
The most wonderful story from the day was the joy that was shared by all, especially the excitement of the children who participated.  Robert Cunningham shared that “The fellowship among the adults at St. Timothy was joyful because this was the first gathering at our church in over five months!”
Thank be to God to all who participated in the Virginia Synod Week of Service! Every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.