Synod Website Updates

The synod website updates frequently (as in often) and irregularly (as in not on a particular schedule). Click here (or on the pic at right) to find out what has been recently updated.

Lessons & Carols

A Festival of Lessons & Carols will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 16 Washington St, Cumberland, MD, at 5:00 p.m., 17 December 2023. The Scholars of St. Cecilia, Mountainside Baroque's resident chamber choir, has offered this seasonal event since 2013, delighting the public with music spanning six centuries, including traditional carols, along with reading by local clergy and officials. This year, the voices will join with instruments for special music: a prelude of "Noëls" and excerpts from Heinrich Schutz’s “Christmas Story." Lessons and Carols is not ticketed, but donations are welcomed. After the event, please join the performers for a reception in the parish hall! You can follow the event on Facebook or learn more from MBQ's website.

Names of the Candles/Sundays

Having received more than one question about the names of the candles on the Advent wreath, the Worship Aids: Appointments for Advent has been updated with some history and advice.

Wondering about the Advent Wreath (and the Christmas Tree)?

It's time to decorate the church for Advent, and one of the items that often finds its way into the sanctuary is the Advent Wreath. The Advent wreath, as we know it, is a much more modern contrivance than many realize. Explore this church appointment's history and various disciplines regarding its use on our Appointments for Advent page.

You might also find the discussion of the Christmas Tree interesting (and its tips for replacing those aging Chrismons). That's on our Appointments for Christmas page.

Worship Page Launched

A page dedicated to worship has been uploaded to the synod's website. It is still in its early development. The first items included are

• guidance on the prayers of intercession (for those who have been complaining about the prayers provided in Sundays and Seasons and Celebrate), including the first installment of Zeidler's Altar Prayers,
• a link to pulpit/altar supply information,
• resources for Sunday worship and worship appointments, and
• the first of two liturgical templates for special liturgies (a requiem mass form and Muhlenberg's 1748 Liturgy).
  

You can check this stuff out by visiting our Worship page.

Lutheran Day at the Coliseum

Saturday, 9 December 2023, is "Lutheran Day at the Coliseum." WVU Men's Basketball is playing Drexel. Tip off is at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online directly at http://tinyurl.com/LCMWVU23BASKETBALL—no need to go through Pr. Reid, the Chaps. Erzkus, or anyone else. A portion of each ticket sale goes to the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. After the game, pop on by the Lutheran Campus Chapel for something to eat.

Future Church: Survey

Clergy Compensation Guidelines for 2024 Posted

With congregational budgeting season approaching, Synod Council has adopted and posted clergy compensation guidelines for 2024. Go to our Clergy Compensation page for details.

Mission Support Request for 2024 Posted

Synod Council has set the request for mission support in 2024 at 10.75%. For details, forms, etc., visit out new Mission Support page.

Parochial Report Portal Reopens

If you did not get your parochial report for 2022 in, you are in luck (or, at least, not off the hook). The portal for parochial report submission has reopened. For more information, visit our Parochial Report page.

Call Openings

Mutual Ministry Committee and the Driesen Manual

If you haven't checked out the members portal...