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: We weep, we work, we rise.

"Like many of you, I was horrified by the experience of watching the fire that consumed the roof and spire of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in France. So fast and swift was the news carried across social media, I became overwhelmed by the same devastating images again and again."

You can read the rest here.

Practice Discipleship, our synod's young adult ministry, continues this year's theme of discernment with its spring service project in partnership with the Racial Justice Ministry Team. On May 4, from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., they will host a conversation around how our faith calls us to respond to one of the biggest challenges facing our community today. This event will be held at Christ Lutheran Church (701 S Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230). Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP on the Facebook event or by email.

On Saturday, May 4 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (8212 Philadelphia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237) at 12 p.m., our synod's African Descent Lutheran Association will host a conversation with Bishop Gohl. All are invited to attend to hear Bishop Gohl speak about his vision for our synod as well as share his concerns. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions or express concerns about our synod, its ministries, and our work together.

Are you a member of your church council or a leader of a committee? Are you interested in leadership or becoming more involved in your church? You can register now for the CLAIM Church Leaders Forum on Saturday, May 4 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (8212 Philadelphia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237) from 9 a.m-noon. All current and future church leaders are invited. This is a time for people in our churches to gather together for worship, fellowship and a time to talk about what we are doing, planning for the future, and sharing with each other our challenges and accomplishments. Facilitators will work with groups to include council Presidents, Vice Presidents and Secretaries; Treasurers and Financial Committees; Worship and Music; Property/Facilities; Evangelism and Community Building; and Social Ministry. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

The Delmarva South Cluster of Women of the ELCA will hold their Spring Gathering on Saturday, May 4 at St. Paul Lutheran Church (12095 Blades Road, Cordova, MD 21625). Pastor Bettye Wolinski, Assistant to the Bishop for the Eastern Cluster, will be the presenter. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided. All women are invited to attend. Please contact Pam Estes 410-600-0412 for additional information.

The Association of Liberian Lutherans in the Americas invites you to activities of the official launching of its Lutheran University in Liberia project at their gala and fundraising dinner on Saturday, April 27 at All Saints Lutheran Church hall (4215 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21218) from 7 p.m.-12 a.m. The requested donation is $25. There will also be a worship service on Sunday, April 28 at Peoples' Community Church (6200 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21239) at 11 a.m. For more information, please call one of the following phone numbers:

• 443-850-9544
• 267-259-0538
• 410-344-3210
• 443-619-6198
• 410-532-8001

The application process for the next round of Domestic Hunger Grants is now open. Interested churches and agencies need to first register online with ELCA GrantMaker by May 31. After registering, you may complete the application and submit materials by June 17. You can read a step-by-step explanation of the registration and application process here.

In support of the ELCA's Five Gifts of Discipleship initiative, the Christian Education Network of the ELCA is curating resources on their website, under the "Living Our Baptism" tab. New resources for people of all ages and learning styles are available along with links to other sites. You can also post questions and share resources in their Facebook group. Mentoring opportunities also are available.

If you weren’t able to attend the April 2 workshop at National Lutheran's Village at Rockville on Ethically Handling End of Life Issues With Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia and would like an electronic copy of the presentation, you may request it by email.

Bishop Gohl's annual Easter message available for download. You can download it as a one-page Word document, a one-page PDF, or a bulletin insert. You can also download the header graphic. Bishop Gohl's Easter message will be shared on our synod blog closer to Easter Sunday.

All children in grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to attend our first-ever retreat for elementary school students at the Ridge Inn at Mar-Lu-Ridge (3200 Mar Lu Ridge Road, Jefferson, MD 21755), May 3-4. We will begin on Friday night with fellowship and then spend the day Saturday rotating through different stations to experience God’s Word through Bible study, games, arts and crafts, science, and service, ending with worship and dinner. For the first time, we are inviting families to attend a retreat with their children if they wish. There will be a track available for parents, guardians, and family members on Saturday morning with opportunities for rest and relaxation in the afternoon. You can learn more and register online. Please register by Monday, April 22.

Registration is now open for our first-ever retreat for children in grades 3-5 and their families! You can learn more and register on our website.

This week, applications for the 2019/2020 LYO will be available - start thinking about students currently in grades 8-11 who might be a great fit for this leadership development program!

For more information, visit the Youth + Family Ministry page on our website.

There are several events coming up at Mar-Lu-Ridge (3200 Mar Lu Ridge Road, Jefferson, MD 21755), our synod's outdoor ministry:

• MountainTopics: To Speak in Parables with Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost to attend is $25 and includes lunch. To RSVP, please email Mar-Lu-Ridge. For more information, you can download the flier.
• On Sunday, April 21, all are invited to the Sonrise service at 6 a.m. in Salem on the Mountain Chapel. A light breakfast will be served in Agape Hall following worship.
• Mar-Lu-Ridge's 60th Anniversary Celebration will be held June 8-9. Participants will celebrate the past, present, and future of our outdoor ministry. Information about lodging and schedules are available online.
• Mar-Lu-Ridge is seeking (once again) a 4-wheel drive gas engine pickup truck (no diesel, please). If you have or know of a truck that can be donated, please contact the camp office.

You can now register online for Synod Assembly! In order to be the best stewards of our resources, there are some new steps to the registration process this year, so please read all instructions carefully, especially if you are registering multiple people. On the page linked above, you will find the links to register for the Assembly and book a hotel room, important documents, and links to forms for submitting to the Bulletin of Reports and nominating someone for an open position (as well as the list of available positions). As the Assembly approaches, we will continue to update that page with new information. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy VanVliet, Associate for Community.