If you would like to be part of the music on Good Friday and Easter,  see Eric!  We would love to have you join us.

Here is a sneak preview of the Good Friday music.

On Easter, the choir will sing, and we will play the multi-colored handbells at both the 7am and 11am services.

The 2010 Time and Talent Survey is now available for download.

Thank You from the Virginia Synod

We received this thank you note this week from the Virginia Synod.

“Dear Sisters and Brothers of St. Michael Lutheran Church Congregation!

We have received your most generous commitment and support for the work of the Virginia Synod and the wider Church through the ELCA and the Lutheran World Federation. . . . We thank you so much for your obvious partnership and your making every effort possible to extend the mission and ministry of the Church so that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ might be known in word and deed.

We pledge to you our prayers for you and your congregation in its mission and ministry, and give thanks to God that you are our letter of recommendation as ambassadors of Christ in your parish setting. . . . You are a leader in our synod, in our journey together. Your giving lifts our spirit and makes a difference for the sake of the world.

May our Lord bless you and abide with you in this coming year.

Yours in Christ,
The Rev. James F. Mauney, Bishop
Charles E. Poston, Vice-President
George E. Zubrod, Treasurer.”

Health Kits for Haiti

So far St. Michael has received 90 Health Kits for Haiti. There are a few more coming in today, so we anticipate shipping over 100 Health Kits later this week. Thank you for your generous support of this helping ministry!

Sunday, January 31 - 11 AM Service Only

Because of the snow, St. Michael will only have an 11 AM Service on Sunday, January 31. There will be no 9 AM Service or Sunday School.

God’s Work, Our Hearts and Hands and Voices

While most of us are aware of the ministry that goes on at St. Michael, it can be difficult to see the ministry that your generosity enables the larger church to undertake in our name. You can find information about the ministry of the larger church on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) website: elca.org. You can find details about the ministry you support through the ELCA on the Stories of Faith in Action page. If you are interested in the ministry that you support through the Virginia Synod, check out the synod website: vasynod.org.

An Ecumenical Green Congregations Training Workshop
Sponsored by Luther Memorial Lutheran Church and
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light

What: This is a FREE training event for Green Teams of congregations-offering practical and inspirational guidance and resources for the process of bringing “care for creation” into your congregation.

When: Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg, Virginia

Who is leading: The Rev. Dr. David Rhoads, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Director of the Green Congregation Program, www.webofcreation.org

You can find more information on the event and how to register here.

Prayers and Sympathy
Pastor Jake Young, who served as pastor of St. Michael in the early 1970’s passed away last week. Our prayers and sympathy go out to his family. You can find Pastor Young’s obituary here.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

On Tuesday, January 12, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the island country of Haiti. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, this catastrophe will exacerbate the suffering felt by many already living with hunger and poverty. You can find information about how to help through the ELCA’s Disaster Response website for the Haiti Earthquake. You can read Bishop Hanson’s statement on the tragedy here.

For the last several years, St. Michael has partnered with the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary to provide prayers and support for Kristy Buyok through the Seminarian Partner Program. Last Sunday, December 13, Kristy was ordained and has accepted a call to serve as the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pomeria, South Carolina.