The Rev. Philip C. Hirsch, Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop, Metro D.C. Synod, will be the guest speaker on Thursday, June 2, for the Lutheran Lay Fellowship Luncheon. The topic will be "Current Trends in Congregational Life and What the Metropolitan Washington DC Synod Is Doing to Meet the Challenges of the Church in our Day." The luncheon takes place at St. Luke Lutheran in Silver Spring at noon.

  

The Village at Rockville is hosting its final event in its 2010-2011 Artist Series. Orfeia, an all-woman vocal ensemble specializing in music of the Balkans, will present a program of songs and traditions from Bulgaria, Russia, Macedonia, Serbia and beyond on Sunday, June 12 at 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public; sponsored in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. A reception will follow. For further information, contact www.thevillageatrockville.org or 301-354-8466.

  

The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington will honor four interfaith bridge builders at its Seventh Annual InterFaith Bridge Builders' Awards program on Tue., June 14 from 6-9:00 p.m. at American University. The Rev. Richard Graham, bishop, Metro D.C. Synod, will be present as Randy Benn, Fr. John Crossin, Dr. Sulayman Nyang and Bhai Gurdarshan Singh are honored. Learn about the honorees and find event details at www.ifcmw.org.

  

Sojourners Connect Retreats for clergy and church leaders are held on the second Tuesday of every month at Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp & Retreat Center in Jefferson, Md., 10 miles southwest of Frederick. The day is scheduled from 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fee is $30 including lunch.

→ Through August, the retreat theme is Walter Wink's book, The Powers That Be. The Rev. Dr. Scott W. Gustafson will lead. Second Tuesdays include June 14, July 12, and Aug. 9.  EXTRAS 
→ Beginning September 13, Sojourner Connect Retreats will be held around the theme of "Rock-Bottom Christian Life in the Mean, Meantime: Creating a Disciplined Discipleship in the Interim between Christ's First and Second Advent." The Rev. Eric W. Gritsch, Emeritus Professor of Church History, Gettysburg Seminary, will lead.   EXTRAS 

  

Lutheran leaders from congregational social ministry programs, social ministry organizations and others are invited to a luncheon Social Ministry Forum on Wed., June 15 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. hosted by Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area. The forum's title is "Together We Serve." Jill Schumann, CEO, Lutheran Services in America, will be guest speaker and forum facilitator. An update on the Lutheran Asset Mapping Project (LAMP), a cooperative venture among congregational social ministries and partners, will be shared. RSVP by sending names and email addresses of attendees to ccministry@lssnca.org.

  

 "How to Get More Members" is a two-day seminar planned for Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 at Epiphany Lutheran in Burtonsville, Md. Griffith Coaching Network, which will bring the training, has a reputation for helping churches become invitational. The seminar is offered in conjunction with our synod's 2011 theme, "To See Ourselves as Others Do." The training is designed for congregation teams. Registration before 9/15 is $199/congregation. Details at www.metrodcelca.org/events/2011-theme/.

  

  

 The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommendations for reshaping the Defense Department's infrastructure and force structure became official in 2005. The Defense Department is in a period of implementing these recommendations. Repositioning of thousands of overseas U.S. troops and stateside base closings or adjustments are pending (info from www.defense.gov/brac/). The synod is planning a BRAC Conference on Saturday, October 29, to help our congregations in this context and equip us to support military personnel and families in our midst. Save the date.

  

 Two of the authors of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals will join young adults in our synod for a Day of Conversation and Prayer on Saturday, November 5 at Luther Place Memorial in NW D.C. Learn more about the authors, Enuma Okoro and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, from the synod Web site. Cost is $15. Online registration has opened at http://metrodcelca.org/events/young-adults/.

  

 Keep the 2012 Together In Mission (TIM) on your congregation's calendar. Keynote Brian McLaren will anchor the annual synod-wide gathering, coming on January 21, 2012. Early details available online (one of the "Annual Events" under the "Events" tab).   EXTRAS 

  

Sat., June 4 will be a "Pastoral Care & Health Promotion Mini-Conference" offered by the American Cancer Society Faith Based Project and Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Lanham, where the event will be hosted. It is designed to enrich understanding of the uniqueness of church health ministry and the urgency to care about health.   EXTRAS 

  

"The Spirituality of Children and Adolescents" will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, between June 7 and July 17, during the summer 2011 semester of the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary's Seminary & University. The Ecumenical Institute is located in Baltimore. The course is a 3-credit master's-level course. Learn more by contacting Dr. Pat Rosarelli, Associate Dean, at pfosarelli@stmarys.edu.

  

The challenge of ecumenical pastoral care and academic theology in healthcare today is the subject of a free forum on Tue., June 14, with the 2011 Smithsonian/Navy Medicine Institute Ethics Conference Series. The title of the event, scheduled from 10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Carmichael Auditorium in the National Museum of American History, is "Real Presence: The Critical Function of Pastoral Care and Academic Theology in Communities of Health." Keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Barry Black, former Chief of Navy Chaplains and present chaplain to the U.S. Senate. Agenda and registration are online.   EXTRAS 

  

"Greening Our Sanctuaries: An Interfaith Workshop and Expo" will be offered Sun., July 17 from 1:30-5:00 p.m. at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda (www.adatshalom.net). Persons from diverse religious traditions and from across Greater Washington will gather together to learn from one another how to operate sacred spaces reflective of their values. A donation of $10 is suggested. Workshops will include energy saving, going solar, greening grounds keeping and more. Register at http://bit.ly/greeningSanctuaries.

  

Our Episcopal neighbors have invited us to the Preaching and Worship Institute, August 17-19, at the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore. Dr. Alexander Shaia and a team will facilitate this opportunity for clergy, musicians, teachers and anyone interested in learning a new perspective on the liturgical year and its application. Seminar presentations, personal reflection, varied methods of prayer and group discussion are included. Mark's spirituality, preaching Mark through the lectionary and application are the focus of Year B preparation. Learn more at www.quadratos.com/events/retreats_and_trainings.php. Address questions to the Rev.  Megan Stewart-Sicking at revmegan@quadratos.com.

  

The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg will offer a Youth Ministry Certification School course series beginning August 18. It is designed to equip adults accompanying youth and families in congregations. Learn more at http://www.ltsg.edu/academic-programs/Certificate-Studies/Youth-Ministry-Certification-School.

  

A workshop on Emotional Intelligence & Human Relations will be offered June 20-24 at DuPont House in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The intensive 5-day session is designed to enable participants to learn about, build and practice emotional intelligence skills in a small group setting. Skilled facilitators provide tools and feedback to enable participants to learn about themselves and to immediately practice emerging skills. An outcome of the workshop is increased skills in pastoral leadership for lay and clergy. The training is being offered by the Center for Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations Skills. Tuition is $595 plus $182 for the cost of an assessment. Onsite food and lodging is $415 (double or triple occupancy), limited to 22 persons; reduction for meals only. Register online at www.eqhrcenter.org or call Barbara Holder at 301-432-8933; or the Rev. Dr. Bill Shiflet at 410-465-3395.

  

Global Mission Gatherings hosted by the ELCA equip us by considering: What is mission? and; Who is the neighbor? The day and half event for congregational leaders includes worship, workshops and sharing around global and local mission. Registration is open for several events, scheduled in Excelsior, Minnesota (June 10-11); Decorah, Iowa (July 22-23); Lacrosse, Wisconsin (July 29-30); Norcross, Georgia (August 4-6); San Antonio, Texas (September 23-24); Wichita, Kansas (September 30-October 1); and Long Beach, California (October 21-22). The events are called "GLOCAL," since they are a combination of global and local. See www.elca.org/gme for details.

  

The Wittenberg Center of the Lutheran World Federation, located in Wittenberg, Germany, will host a 4th International Seminar within the Luther decade on Oct. 30-Nov. 13. The aim of the seminar is to become better acquainted with Luther's theology, particularly in relation to the respective contexts of participants and with an ecumenical openness to other confessions. It will be led by Professor Theodor Dieter and Professor Sarah Hinlicky Wilson from the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg. The theme is "Luther's Understanding of the Sacraments (Baptism and Lord's Supper) and of Confession." Registration requested by June 10. Learn more at http://www.lwb-zentrum-wittenberg.de/.   EXTRAS 

  

 Any adult involved with youth ministry - pastor, paid staff, volunteer - whether or not you are taking a group to the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering - is invited to participate in a face-to-face equipping session held locally. The next date is Saturday, June 11 from 9:00 a.m.-noon at St. Mark's in Springfield, Virginia. The events are free. Please RSVP to Barbara Harner at 301-963-6236 or bharner@comcast.net. 

  

The Bread for the World National Gathering 2011 will consist of a series of plenary sessions, worship services, and workshops focusing on the theme "Changing the Politics of Hunger," held June 11-14 in D.C., stemming from American University. Worship on Sunday, June 12 will feature the Watoto Children's Choir, which travels the world as advocates for ht3e 50 million children in Africa who have been orphaned because of HIV/AIDS, war, poverty and disease. Learn more at http://www.bread.org/event/gathering-2011/.

  

 As publicized by our Youth Ministry network, Confirmation Camp is coming June 26-July 1 at Caroline Furnace. This year's theme is "The Life of Christ." Confirmation Camp benefits youth by giving them time with other Lutheran youth their own age where they can have fun while learning and exploring their faith. Clergy, other leaders and congregations benefit by nurturing relationships outside of the normal setting. Learn more at http://metrodc.youthgroupstuff.com/confirmation/2011-confirmation-camp-information.

  

 Chi Rho is a weeklong servant event trip for senior high youth (completing 9th-12th grade in June 2011) sponsored by the synod. On July 10-16 this year, the group will return to HOMES in Neon, Kentucky. Information available at http://metrodcyouthgroupstuff.com.

  

Power in the Spirit will be held on the Roanoke College Campus on July 14-16, sponsored by the Virginia Synod. The event is themed, "We Love to Tell the Story." Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Walt Wangerin, the Bible study leader will be the Rev. John Largen, and the musician will be Mr. Kevin Barger. Workshops, a professional storyteller, worship, laugher and fellowship will equip participants to be better Ambassadors for Christ. Fee is $156; meals and lodging are extra, and packages are available. Registration is not yet open. For more information, contact Elizabeth Smythe at esmythe24354@yahoo.com or 276-783-5804.   EXTRAS 

  

The triennial Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) Gathering will be held July 22-24 in Denver at the Marriott Tech Center Hotel. This two-day event will provide men of all ages with an opportunity to challenge themselves to focus on what is important in their lives. Speakers will include the Rev. Larry Clark, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran in Chicago; Jay Gamelin, pastor at Jacob's Porch, a campus mission at Ohio State University; Pat Morley, CEO of Man in the Mirror; Lyman Coleman, general editor of the MasterBuilder's Bible for Men and developer of the One Year to Live retreat; and Paul Hill, executive director of Vibrant Faith Ministries. Music will be provided by Peter Mayer, a dear friend of LMM and lead guitar for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefers Band. For more information, go to www.lutheranmeninmission.org. 

In conjunction with the LMM Gathering, the LMM Assembly will be held on July 21-22. Each synod is entitled to six delegates to the Assembly, which is the highest legislative authority of LMM. Currently, the Metro D.C. Synod has two delegates. If you are planning on attending the Gathering and would like to be a delegate to the Assembly, please contact Rich White at 703-327-1144r or rwhite743@aol.com for details.

  

 The Metro D.C. Synod is seeking a Coordinator for an alternative giving program, Gifts of Hope. The position is ¼ time; activity levels fluctuate3 during the year. Applicants must possess positive and effective interpersonal and management skills. Applicants should have experience working with volunteers. Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and good writing skills are required. Experience with fund raising or marketing is beneficial. Paid leave or vacation days are not associated with this position. Office space is not provided, but the position requires access to email and attendance at meetings in the Metro D.C. area. Detailed position description available on synod Web site. Send statement of interest and resume by June 9 to Sue Clark at chezclark@verizon.net.  EXTRAS 

  

Lord of Life Lutheran in Fairfax is accepting applications/resumes for a 20 hr/wk part-time Director, Communications. The position's primary responsibility shall be to lead the development, implementation and management of a communications strategy/program for Lord of Life. He/she shall also direct all aspects of internal and external information sharing, branding and marketing. For additional information, a position description and/or application, contact the Church Administrator at gjames@lordoflifeva.org or 7603-323-9500.

  

Organist (part-time)
Lord of Life Lutheran seeks a part-time Organist for their Fairfax Campus to prepare and play service music for two traditional services each Sunday and for occasional services for other liturgical celebrations. Bachelor's degree in music preferred, along with experience as an organist. For additional information, a position description and/or an application, please contact the Church Administrator at gjames@lordoflifeva.org or 703-323-9500.