You are invited to the 2011-12 Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball Faith Night on Monday, November 21st at 7:00 p.m. vs. William & Mary. Admission is free by showing a church bulletin at Cassell Coliseum (2 people admitted free per bulletin). The evening will also serve as the Montgomery County Christmas Store night in which fans are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy to help underprivileged families have a memorable Christmas season.

The Blacksburg Ministerial Association is sponsoring a weekly interfaith prayer vigil for our nation on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in front of Blacksburg Baptist Church beginning this Wednesday, November 16. Each week one faith community will be responsible for spoken prayer. We will also have a time of silent prayer. The prayers will be non-partisan, praying that our leaders will work together to make laws and create a budget that are just for all people. The Ministerial Association hopes that people of all denominations and faiths will participate in prayer together.

The Virginia Lutheran contains stories about the ministry of the Virginia Synod and our sister congregations. Here is the link so you can read the November issue: Virginia Lutheran.

In October, Micah’s Backpack delivered 714 backpacks of food representing 4,308 meals to 181 students in our community. For a full report on the ministry being accomplished by Micah’s Backpack, you can download the October 2011 Sharing the Story report.

The Lutheran Lakota Shared Ministry is one of many efforts that provide assistant to families on the Pine Ridge Reservation. For the last several years, some of our Christmas Shoe Boxes have been distributed through ministry by Pastor Karen Roop and her work at the Pine Ridge Retreat Center, a joint Lutheran-Presbyterian Ministry. You can read the brochure about the ministry here and find additional information including a ministry slideshow on the South Dakota Synod website at: http://www.sdsynod.org/ministries/multicultural-ministries/.

Stories from the Pine Ridge Reservation

Each year, St. Michael joins with other congregations and community groups to provide Christmas Shoe Boxes to children on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Recently 20/20 did an entire episode about live on the Reservation. You can find a link to the episode here.

If you are interested in providing a Christmas Shoe box for the children of the Pine Ridge Reservation, you can pick up an empty shoe box in the front hallway of the church.

Proper Medicine Disposal

The Blacksburg Rec Center will be hosting an Over the Counter or No Longer Needed Prescription Drug DISPOSAL site on Oct. 29th from 10am - 2pm. Feel free to take any drugs, you no longer use, so they can be disposed of properly.

You can read the letter from our new seminary partner on the “Partners in Ministry” page of our website.

Be part of a day of gleaning which is scheduled to draw participants from all over Virginia. A group will depart from Luther Memorial’s upper parking lot at 8:30 a.m. This is a great activity for all ages and an easy way to make a difference for the hungry. All turnips gleaned are distributed through the Society of St. Andrew, part of a nationwide gleaning network.

Directions if you prefer to meet us at the site: Go 5.3 miles south on Route 8 from I-81. Turn left on Rustic Ridge Rd and go 1 mile. Turn left on Creekside. Farm is at the end of the road, 1540 Creekside Rd., Riner, VA.

On Sunday, October 16, youth and adults from around the New River Conference gathered at St. Michael for faith sharing, food and worship. Here are a few pictures from the day.