Each week, Bishop Gohl will be writing for our synod blog. We'll share a teaser and a link to the blog in the E-Letter. This week on the blog: Point to Jesus.

"How do we point to Jesus? There are a myriad of ways that we do that corporately as the Church, some more effective than others; and others more ineffective than helpful."

You can read the rest here.

Mar-Lu-Ridge (3200 Mar-Lu-Ridge Road, Jefferson, MD 21755) will host a Bishops' Reception on Sunday, February 16 from 3-6 p.m. with Bishop Bill and the Rev. Arwyn Gohl from Delaware-Maryland and Bishop Leila Ortiz from the Metro DC Synod. Pastor Matt Fuhrman will be the keynote speaker. Please RSVP by email or at 800-238-9974 by Thursday, February 13. For more information, you can download the flier.

Health and Wellness Project Grants
The Lutheran Home and Hospital Foundation provides grants to support ministries and projects that address or support health and wellness, involve Lutherans, and are based in the greater Baltimore region. Over the last five years, the Lutheran Home and Hospital Foundation has distributed more than $1.5 million in grants. The spring 2020 deadline for grants is March 1. Because of several major commitments, for this round of grants, there will be a limited number of micro-grants (those under $2,500). For an application, please contact LHHF Executive Director, the Rev. Michael Dubsky, by email or at 410-258-0398.

New Healthy Rostered Pastor and Rostered Deacon Renewal and Sabbatical Grants
The Lutheran Home and Hospital Foundation is launching a new grant program to support Rostered Pastors and Deacons in Maryland and Delaware with their health and wellness by offering grants to support renewal programs and sabbaticals. Grants will be given to congregations to support their Rostered Pastors and Deacons. Grants may be used for sabbatical activities and/or replacement coverage (grant maximum of $7,500). In the past year, five sabbaticals were funded. For those who are unable to take a formal sabbatical, grants may be offered to participate in LHHF approved renewal programs like the Leading Well retreats. If you are interested in the retreats, please contact Pastor Dubsky in September. Last year, LHHF was able to fund five people who attended Leading Well. For information, please contact LHHF Executive Director, the Rev. Michael Dubsky, by email. 

The Naming Project, a faith-based summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth, is expanding to host an adults-only camp program this summer from June 12-15 at Bay Lake Camp in Deerwood, Minnesota in addition to their youth camp in July. For more information and to register, you can visit the website.

We are preparing for RoadTrip, coming up this weekend. We invite your prayers for the youth and adults who will lead and attend the event!

In the next few weeks, more information will be available for Transformers, our middle school leadership retreat, and Retreat 345, our new retreat for students in grades 3-5. Transformers will be held March 20-22, and Retreat 345 will be held March 21-22 - both at Mar-Lu-Ridge! Save the dates for these great events, and begin inviting young people and families to attend. Each congregation may send four youth and one adult advisor to Transformers. Retreat 345 participants do not need to attend with a congregational group, and families are welcome.

The Rev. Dan Hetherington will be installed as the pastor of St. John Lutheran Church (6004 Waterloo Road, Columbia, MD 21045) on Saturday, February 1 at 3 p.m. Rostered ministers and members of the Order of St. Stephen are invited to vest, the color of the day is red. A reception will follow the service. For more information, please contact the church office by email or at 410-799-8888.

As part of our synod's Building Puentes initiative, in collaboration with Metro DC and the Caribbean Synods, we will be sending more than 120 youth and adult volunteers to Puerto Rico this July and August to continue the rebuilding process following Hurricane Maria and the recent earthquake. The first and second weeks are filling up quickly, but there is plenty of room in weeks three and four. Students must be at least 14. Construction experience is a plus but is not required. You can volunteer as individuals, families, or a congregational group. You can find more information and register online. Additional information and resources will be posted on the Building Puentes Work Trips page.

According to Pastor Dick Goodlin, who also serves as a tax preparer, there have been some recent developments of which treasurers should take note:

1. The new business mileage rate for 2020 is 57.5 cents per mile.
2. Beginning January 1, 2020, non-employee compensation is to be reported on 1099NEC, not 1099MISC.
3. The parking lot tax has been repealed.

The last Sunday of January (January 26, 2020) has been observed as Global Mission Sunday by congregations in our synod. Our synod is blessed to have official companion synod relationships with the Mara Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Tampere Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland, and the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Additionally, several congregations have companion relationships with churches throughout the world. Please consider lifting up some of these relationships through prayer on that Sunday, and throughout the year. Also consider finding out more about these long-standing and wonderful relationships by contacting members of the Tanzanian and/or Estonian-Finnish Task Forces.

The Celebration of Lay Ministry is a celebratory dinner event, featuring a keynote speaker, to recognize and award those people who participate in lay ministry across the Delaware-Maryland Synod. The 2020 Celebration of Lay Ministry will be held on Sunday, May 3 from 4-7 p.m. at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, Maryland.

Each conference and social ministry organization is encouraged to nominate one lay person deserving of recognition. You can download the nomination form in PDF and Word formats, as well as the Save the Date. Registration for the dinner will be shared in the coming weeks. You can stay up to date on our website.

The Lutheran Historical Society of the MidAtlantic is offering "Celebrating Your History ... For the Future" on Saturday, March 28 at the Gettysburg campus of United Lutheran Seminary (61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA 17325). This congregational heritage workshop will be a day of educational sessions on keeping archives, planning major anniversaries, writing meaningful history, and much more. This workshop will be especially helpful for those whose congregations are preparing to celebrate a major anniversary, those interested in what to archive and how, and anyone just interested in congregational history. The day will last from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with the recognition of Linwood House (where both Gettysburg College and Gettysburg Seminary were begun) as a historical site. Registration cost is $50 for the first registrant from a congregation and $40 for each further registrant from a congregation; LHS/MA receives a $5 discount. More information registration are available online or in the brochure.

The 2020 Practice Discipleship retreat is an opportunity for young adults in the Delaware-Maryland Synod to gather together and practice our call to discipleship in a supportive, inclusive and sustainable community. One of the goals for this retreat is to wrestle with Peace and Conflict. There will be games, food, free time, small group discussions, and worship throughout the weekend. The retreat will held February 21-23 at the Ridge Inn at Mar-Lu-Ridge (4341 Mountville Rd. Jefferson, MD 21755), and costs $128 per person, which includes lodging, bedding, towels, all meals on Saturday, and Sunday breakfast. You can learn more, register and make payments online. You can also visit the Facebook event and download the flier. If the cost is prohibitive, there are full and partial scholarships available.

If you love God's beautiful gift of Creation and want to find out more about how to be a better steward and preserve it for future generations, our synod's Creation Care Ministry invites you to their 2020 planning retreat on Saturday, February 15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. to discuss topics such as worship, advocacy, and our call to action. The retreat will be located at Aisling Retreat House (4800 Hoffmanville Road, Manchester, MD 21102). There is no cost to attend. If you are interested in attending or would like additional information, please contact Deacon Laura Heller by email or at 443-791-0248.

Registration for summer camp at Mar-Lu-Ridge is now open! You can learn more online or in the summer brochure. Once you've chosen the weeks to attend, you can register online.

Our synod's Connectedness Team will host "Connected in Christ," a day of worship and workshops on topics centering around our work of discipleship, communication, leadership and connectedness on Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church (905 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228). This day will feel much like our past PIF/PIV events and will include three sections of time to attend a variety of workshops, as well as fellowship, display tables, and time to connect with others across our synod. The day will end with worship lead by Bishop Gohl. The $10 cost includes morning refreshments, lunch, childcare, and fellowship. You can register a group of up to six people online. For more information, you can download the flier.

Our synod ministries and programs are invited to share displays and/or materials. Please contact Claudia Harrington if you are interested. Space is limited. 

Workshops will include the following to choose from that day:

• DISCIPLESHIP: From "At-Risk" to "Risking for Mission"
• DISCIPLESHIP: The Power of Listening
• COMMUNICATION: Telling the Story of Faith and Transformation
• COMMUNICATION: Leveling Up: Free Digital Tools for Ministry
• LEADERSHIP: Leading in God's Rapidly Changing World
• LEADERSHIP: Equipping the Saints for Ministry
• CONNECTEDNESS: Integrating Care for Creation in Worship and Faith Practices
• CONNECTEDNESS: Engaging in our ELCA Advocacy
• CONNECTEDNESS: Radical Inclusivity & Building Beloved Community + We Are an RIC Synod. What Next?

Augsburg Lutheran Home & Village has joined National Lutheran Communities & Services' roster of senior living communities. The affiliation with The Village at Augsburg makes both NLCS and Augsburg part of a larger system, which means both parties have access to strong support services, have an increased breadth of expertise, have access to additional benefits and resources, and receive best-in-class education. You can read more about the partnership here.

Each week, we'll share some of the planned congregational visits and travels of members of our synod staff. If you would like to schedule a member of the staff to visit your congregation, please contact them directly.

The Rev. Amsalu Geleta, Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission

• Sunday, January 26 - Christ (Baltimore), Carlien Parlett, Director of Education, retirement
• Sunday, February 2 - Urban-Suburban Congregational Partnership at Ascension (Towson)

• Sunday, January 26 - St. Luke's, Cumberland
• Sunday, February 9 - St. Paul's, Walkersville (morning)
• Sunday, February 9 - Parish of Good Intent (Mt. Zion, Haugh's) for an installation (afternoon)
• Sunday, February 16 - San Diego, California for coach training and vital congregations workshop
• Sunday, February 23 - snow day for St. Paul's, Walkersville

• January 22-24 - partnering on stewardship training with Southeastern Iowa Synod, Iowa City, Iowa
• Sunday, January 26 - lead worship at Trinity, Boonsboro