Partners in Faith, Partners in Vision Photos

Every two years, the Delaware-Maryland Synod calls together its congregational leaders for a day of inspiration, education, fellowship and fun. "Partners in Faith, Partners in Vision" was held Sat., Sept. 22, at First Lutheran Church, Ellicott City, Md., was more than 360 participants. Watch for more info and pictures on the synod website soon!

+++++++

Registration started early - fueled by lots of coffee. In addition to the usual continental breakfast offerings, we even had the option of enjoying chocolate-iced cream puffs, but only after we'd gone the nametag route.



+++++++

Steve DeWitt, volunteer tech coordinator from host congregation First Lutheran Church, Ellicott City, Md., had a busy morning! A 12-hour power outage on Friday meant that the technology throughout the church had been put in place but not tested. It took Steve quite a while - and several computers - before finally getting the big-screen technology in the sanctuary ready for the keynote presentations.



+++++++

The sanctuary was dappled with sunlight on a bright September day as folks waited patiently for the first of two keynotes on the theme "Growing Healthy Missional Congregations."



+++++++

Following the morning's keynote and workshops, lots of folks headed outdoors to enjoy their box lunches.

+++++++

The Global Market organized by Joy Reigns Lutheran Church, Edgewater, Md., did a brisk business throughout the day.



+++++++

For the first time at the leadership event, an ingathering of prayer shawls was taken. Here are just a few of the shawls, brightly packaged and with accompanying notes, waiting to be blessed as part of the mid-day devotional time. Synod staff will distribute the shawls when they visit rostered leaders and their families during times of illness or bereavement.



+++++++

A major event like this goes nowhere without a large cadre of volunteers from the host congregation...volunteers like Elizabeth and George Karabanoff, who worked at an assortment of tasks throughout the day.

+++++++

Many thanks to so many people -
+ all the volunteers from First Lutheran
+ all the workshop presenters
+ and, most of all, everyone who attended.

See you in 2009!