Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA

Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA Lutherans are represented well at Faith Night at National’s Park! Play ball! 🏟️⚾️ For some fun at home, see if you can spot Bishop Ortiz in the first photo of this post!

Congratulations to our own Rev. Josh Wullenweber!

Always good to visit one of our congregations and see what God is up to through them! Thank you Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-Alexandria, VA for the hospitality!

We rejoice with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Derwood, MD and their newly called pastor, Rev. David Newman! May God bless your ministry together!

We rejoice with the people of Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA as they welcome their newly called pastor, Rev. Doug Ryniewicz! Pr. Ryniewicz was called on August 4th and will make the transition from the New England Synod to the Metro D.C. Synod in mid-September. Welcome, Pr. Ryniewicz!

Join the conversation today at noon!
🔗👇

The DE-MD and Metro D.C. Synods Youth + Family Ministry has been holding their LYO Organizing Retreat this weekend at Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp and Retreat Center. They have been "dreaming" up ideas for the Nov 15-17 Middle and High School event and can't wait to share more details soon!

*With Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA

Learn more & register click here: https://queerconfirmation.org/registration/

There’s still time to register to join our beta group for Q***r Confirmation! The group will meet from late September through April. To learn more & register click here: https://queerconfirmation.org/registration/.

Tomorrow is the final hearing in the synod!
Learn more at https://fb.me/e/21o0hoB9C.

We pray for our Metro D.C. Synod siblings in Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Sinodo del Caribe - Caribbean Synod as they prepare for and endure Hurricane Ernesto.

Tropical Storm Ernesto Expected to Unleash Heavy Rain in the Caribbean The storm, which formed on Monday, threatens several Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico. It is not expected to hit the mainland United States.

Do you have your tickets yet? 🎉⚾

Get 'em now at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Metrodc.

As we approach the final days of the 2024 Paris Olympics, enjoy some of these Olympics-inspired dishes made by the synod staff and their family members during their recent retreat.

So creative and so delicious too! Let’s just say we ate good this past week 😋🤤🍕🥟🧁🥝🥖🥐🍗

One month away! 💛 On Sept. 8 congregations of the ELCA will join together for our annual day of service, "God's work. Our hands." Get ready for your event with graphics, worship resources, a toolkit and more at ELCA.org/DayofService.

The synod staff and their families are grateful to be enjoying some time together at Mill Hill Farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This year’s retreat has included an Olympics-themed appetizer competition, first birthday celebration for the newest addition little Bluey, tie dying T-shirts, a hike and lots of laughs.

Oh, and some work/planning/listening too! 😁

We head home tomorrow. It is a blessing to do this Holy work together.

The Metro D.C. Synod Council and staff are happy to announce a new visual identity for the synod. One aspect of the visual identity is the logo that prioritizes “creating space”—to discover, to belong, and to serve. The bold lines embody the diverse and faithful people of the synod inspired by the work of the Holy Spirit. The negative space between them creates the cross of Christ in which we are rooted.

Learn more at https://metrodcelca.org/visual-identity/.

Another phishing email has gone out impersonating Bishop Ortiz. So please be extra vigilant and aware when checking emails today. Before you open or click on any email, you should be confident in who the sender is and the email address being used.

Any and all emails from the synod staff, including Bishop Ortiz, will be sent by the approved synod email addresses ending in .org.

Thank you to those who brought our attention to this most recent email scam!!

Pastor Dan Roschke, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, officially begins his sabbatical today to rest, refresh, and renew.

We thank God for communities of faith, and their leaders, who understand the gift, promise, and command that is Sabbath.

May we keep Pr. Dan, his family, and all those discerning over their sabbatical proposals in prayer.

You're invited! 🎉

There will be fun for all ages, an opportunity to share and learn about synod ministries, and free t-shirts. Sign up today!

https://metrodcelca.org/event/metro-d-c-synod-block-party/

Are you feeling called to ministry? Sign up now to join a confidential online discernment group designed for holy listening, discernment, and pondering.

Get the details at https://metrodcelca.org/event/fall-discernment-cohort/.

What’s the good news? We’ll see you in Minneapolis in 2027! 😉

After the shooting during former President Trump’s rally, we should unite in prayer for an end to violence and mourning for the tragedy that unfolded today.

Merciful God, grant strength to those who witness great tragedy firsthand, peace to the departed, and those in mourning tonight. Give strength to a nation wrestling with the shock of another shooting in our land. Guide us in compassion and justice so that we may find solace and unity in Your love. Amen.

Nearly 16,000 youth and adult leaders are heading to New Orleans for the 2024 ELCA National Youth Gathering for faith formation, worship, fellowship, and service. Let us pray over them together!

Join online!
www.elca.org/truthandhealing

Next week, youth from across the country will travel to New Orleans for the ELCA Youth Gathering. One of their goals is to create 3,000 disaster relief kits for locals after natural disasters and...

YOU CAN HELP! 👏

Make a donation by ordering personal wipes (we're Region Eight) through Amazon or Target and they'll ship directly to New Orleans.

Learn more and order through the 🔗👇in the comments!

Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA representing at the Poor People’s Campaign Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington. We know there are more Metro D.C. congregations represented here today, so add your photos in the comments!

Play ball! 📣⚾

You are invited to Faith Day at Nationals Park on Saturday, August 31. Reserve tickets for your whole family at only $15 each now! https://fb.me/e/77wOHiLfs