Synod Focus

LOCAL WOMEN TO GATHER
The Spring Convention is right around the corner of the Synodical Women of the ELCA Organization (SWO). "Love Thy Neighbor" is the theme for the Sat. Apr. 11 event, taking place 8:30 a.m.-4p.m. at The Villages at Rockville. Worship, Bible study, book discussion, workshops, fair trade shopping, a service project and more are planned. Additional info and info and registration at http://dwyercl2.wix.com/welca-metrodcsynod#!events/c507.


SPRING BRINGS SYNOD ASSEMBLY DEADLINES
APRIL 30 is an important 2015 Synod Assembly deadline. * Submit nominations and Candidate Information Forms for positions of elected synod leadership.  * Submit drafts of Resolutions/Memorials for consideration. A "Resolutions and Memorials Guidelines and Information" document has been updated and posted to the synod website to assist with shaping drafts. * Reports from affiliated synod ministries should be submitted. Contact Katharyn Wheeler, Synod Assembly Coordinator, and/or the Rev. Margrethe Kleiber, Synod Assembly Chair, with questions.

Local Info

AMAZON PURCHASE OPTIONS BENEFITS GIFTS OF HOPE
By making your amazon.com purchases from the smile.amazon.com portal, a portion of the price of most purchases can be donated to the synod's Gifts of Hope program. On your first visit to smile.amazon.com, select "Metropolitan Wash DC Synod" as your preferred charity, and Gifts of Hope will receive 0.5% of the purchase price for all eligible products. Gifts of Hope is an alternative, year-round, gift-giving program helping persons in need through 17 local and international organizations. More from www.giftsofhopedc.org.

SUMMER NURSE NEEDED AT MLR
A Registered Nurse to work at Mar-Lu-Ridge in Jefferson, Md. is still needed during Summer Camp on the weeks of June 21-July 3. A nurse certified in Maryland or a state with reciprocity will staff the camp's health room. Duties include medication administration and attending to injuries and illnesses for campers of all ages. Availability extends 24 hours per day, Sunday afternoon through Friday evening. Housing and meals, along with a small salary, are provided. Inquire through Sarah Lefler, Executive Director, at mlr@mar-lu-ridge.org or 301-874-5544.

CAMP A GREAT SUMMER OPPORTUNITY
It's summer camp registration time! Both in Virginia and Maryland, outstanding outdoor ministries are available near the metro D.C. area.
*    Caroline Furnace in Fort Valley, Virg.
*    Mar-Lu-Ridge in Jefferson, Md.
Campers of all ages experience the great outdoors while participating in new activities, all in a safe, hands-on environment that builds campers' confidence and growth in God's love. (Young people over 18 excited by positively impacting the lives of others may want to look into Summer Staff opportunities as well!) Visit each camp's website for particular Summer Camp choices.

Resource Alert

ELCA HUNGER GRANT INFO
ELCA World Hunger has announced the 2015 cycle of Hunger Education and Networking grants. These grants are designed to support local programs in ELCA congregations, groups and/or synods. Think creatively about educating, mobilizing and expanding your networks to increase awareness of the root causes of and solutions to hunger. Proposals will be reviewed throughout the year. All proposals must be received by December 31, 2015 to be considered for funding. Grant information available on the ELCA World Hunger blog at www.elca.org/News-and-Events/blogs/ELCAWorldHunger/646.

CAMPUS KITCHEN PILOT PROJECT WITH ELCA
Campus Kitchens Projects (CKP) and ELCA World Hunger have launched a new grant opportunity for students at ELCA colleges and universities and Lutheran Campus Ministries. Each Campus Kitchen has a few things in common, including a mission to recycle food, provide meals, educate and engage with the community, and provide leadership opportunities for students.  Students that are eager to start or deepen their anti-hunger work will have access to funding and support to launch a Campus Kitchen at their school. More information on the ELCA World Hunger blog.

IS YOUR SITE DEVICE-FRIENDLY?
How's your congregation's website look on a phone or tablet? Use a "mobile-friendly test" from Google for an useful peek at your site from devices: www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/. An ELCA communications colleague calls it a "cool little tool." Only 11% report mostly going online via a desktop computer according to Mobile Media Consumption report (MarketingLand, 2/19/14), so being mobile-friendly matters.

SOURCE FOR CONGREGATION TOOLS
Did you know Women of the ELCA host a plethora of free resources, including retreat, adult ed and personal devotion tools? I followed a link during Women's History Month in March and found the treasure chest. If curious, start from www.womenoftheelca.org/resources-pages-5.php and look around.

AUGSBURG UPDATE
"Ten Things You Might Not Know about Augsburg Fortress" is a one-page pdf update regarding publications and initiatives from Augsburg Fortress. Curious? It's posted to the synod's "Extras" page.

Announced Churchwide

WORLD MALARIA SUNDAY
In preparation for World Malaria Sunday on April 26th, a new ELCA Malaria Campaign toolkit is available. Celebrate the work that has been done to eradicate this preventable and treatable disease, and continue to raise awareness, with ideas for fun activities, bulletin inserts, worship materials, presentation slides, sermon starters and more. This is the last year World Malaria Sunday observation will be observed in conjunction with the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Contact Dorothy Sorrell, synod ELCA Malaria Campaign coordinator, for additional assistance at djSorrell1@verizon.net or 703-591-2236.

INVITATION TO MIGRANT AND REFUGEE LEADERS
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is excited to announce a great opportunity for resettled refugees, migrants, and Lutheran allies from across the country to participate in our 2015 Migrant & Refugee Leadership Academy in Baltimore, Md. and Washington, D.C. from June 16-18. Migrant and refugee leaders will have the opportunity to come together to share experiences, connect and hone the skills necessary to co-advocate on issues of importance to both communities. Within the limits of the LIRS budget, participants' transportation, room and board will be covered. Applications must be received by April 14 2015. More at http://lirs.org/2015academy/.

LWR EXPERTISE LOOKS FORWARD
The experienced perspective of Lutheran World Relief is applied to "Early Warning Forecast: Where to Watch in 2015," highlighting areas LWR is actively monitoring and in many cases already in-country working to help mitigate the worst effects of a potential crisis. Find the document in Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard's blog post naming the eight places being watched.