Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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1 February 2026
Echoes
of the Oratory: A Gregorian Chant-Along #3
Mountainside Baroque offers Echoes of the Oratory: A Gregorian Chant-Along #3, Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Cumberland, MD. This revamped version of "Chant-Along" includes varying levels of participation.
- 2:00-3:30 p.m. — What's Your Neume? Or, from Punctum to Porrectus: Gregorian Chant for Beginners — a slow and paced introduction to the basics of chant, including the reading of square notes, for the person who has never chanted before or is unfamiliar with square notes (or music in general). A short break in the middle.
- 4:00-5:00 p.m. — Let Us Pressus Forward: An Hour of Chant for Those Who Want To Try the Hard Stuff — an opportunity to try some classics, including advanced material.
This is a doubleheader. Come for either session or both.
There is no fee, though donations are accepted. For more
information, click here.
Seven Questions Interview
Craig Alan Satterlee just released a Seven Questions
Interview with Bishop Riegel, that Dr. Satterlee described
as follows:
Bishop Riegel is bishop of the West Virgina-Western Maryland Synod ELCA. As always, +Riegel delved deep into the Latin for an engaging conversation on the definition of church, the distinction between law and gospel, and ultimately his disagreement of my understanding of abundant life in the Gospel of John.You may catch the interview on Craig Alan Satterlee.
New from the Archives: Stories to Inspire
Public Witness
The Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic will
hold a doubleheader event (or should we say two events)
under the theme "News from the Archives: Stories to
Inspire a Public Witness" on Friday and Saturday, 27-28
February 2026.
- On Friday, "An Achives Day Workshop Day" will be held, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Learn about the contents of the Region 8 and Seminary Archives and how to use them. Both researchers and the merely curious are welcome.
- On Saturday, the Society will hold its Annual Program & Meeting with papers on Maude McDaniels, William Passavant, and digital access to archives.
These events are free and open to the public. For details and registration link, click here.
Hunger Grants
Four congregations and one ministry have been awarded hunger grants by the ELCA. For full story, visit our Social Ministry page.Church Cancelled? Engage in Daily Prayer
At the request of a congregational leader, we've uploaded a page with resources for daily prayer that may be used when church is cancelled or as part of one's daily prayer life. Visit our new Daily Prayer in the Home page to explore, and if you look just below the page's table of contents, you'll find a link to a fully constructed order for prayer with psalms an lessons for the day fully integrated.
Synod Assembly 2026
Information for Synod Assembly 2026 (to be held
in Morgantown, 5-6 June 2026) is rolling out.- Do you have to report?
- Do you have to register?
- Do you have a resolution to submit?
- Would you like to Exhibit?
Nominations ― Preliminary Posting
The official posting of the positions to be elected at Synod Assembly 2026 and opening of the public input phase is not until 5 February 2026, but a preliminary (and unofficial) posting is now available on the Nominations page.Synod Council Synopsis
Synod Council held a regular meeting on 17 February 2026, taking actions on matters related to roster, polity, and finance. Review the Synod Council Synopsis for details. Synod Council will reconvene in an adjourned meeting on 21 February 2026.
Ash Wednesday Planning
Ash Wednesday will be observed on February 18th.
The rite and other practices associated with Ash Wednesday
are complicated, and there are many ways in which indecorous
practices can work their way into the day. Worship planners,
altar guilds, and anyone who is simply curious are invited
to review both our Liturgy for
Ash Wednesday and our Appointments
for Lent (Including Ash Wednesday and Holy Week)
pages.IRS Mileage Rate Increase
The IRS has set the Standard Business Mileage Rate at
72.5¢ per mile―this is a 2.5¢ increase from the 2025 rate.
For the IRS bulletin, click here.
Concerned About Wintery Travel?
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (http://wv-wmd.org/travel)
offers quick access to the road conditions websites for
all the DOTs in related to our territory (and those we
might have to transit through). It also offers quick
access to the NWS weather alerts page.
Help! I Have To Plan Worship (without a
Pastor)
With new congregations entering pastoral vacancy, it is a
good time to remind everyone that the synod provides several
resources for worship planning. Visit our Worship
page to get started. |
 |
Occasionally, a congregation, agency, or individual will have something they either want to sell, give away, or acquire. To that end, we've set up The Exchange, a place to post items and requests. There are two items (a total of forty choir robes) now posted on The Exchange. Check them out, and feel free to contact the Synod Office if you have something to request or post.
Congregation Constitution Amendments Posted
The amendments to the Model Constitution for
Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America effected by Churchwide Assembly 2025 have been
posted. Visit our Governing Documents for
Congregations page to review.
Clergy Compensation Guideline for 2026
Guidelines for clergy compensation in 2026 are now available on the Clergy Compensation page.
Mission Support Formula for 2026
The Mission Support Formula for 2026 has been set by Synod Council and is now available on the Mission Support page.
If you haven't checked out the members portal...
Don't forget to take a peek of the members
portal (click the button at right near the top of
this page). It's not password protected. We only call it
the "members portal" because it's mostly stuff that deals
with the internal workings of the synod. Visitors looking
for more general information about the synod, will
probably find the "guest portal" more interesting.
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 picture at right) to find out what has been recently updated.
℅St. Paul Lutheran Church, 309 Baldwin Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-363-4030 + Porter@WV-WMD.org