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E-Spirit
March 21, 2017
Bold - Passionate - Faithful
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Features:
- Lent Reflection: The Gifts of Discipleship
- Prayer Labyrinth Groundbreaking begins series of Lutheran-Catholic joint events in Miami
- "Transformed:" a successful day of scripture and song
Events Coming up:
- Hymn Singing: A Universal Catalyst for Racial healing
- African Descent Lutheran Association Biennial Assembly
- "Respite in the Wilderness" retreat at Luther Springs
For Your Information:
- Next Lenten Visit: April 1 at Zion, Deerfield Beach
- ALOA Ministry Sampler, April 1 at Good Shepherd, Tampa
- Save the Date for the Bishop's Installation Service--January 20, 2018
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March 20-21 - "Listening Beneath the Words, Trinity", Bradenton
March 21 - Reformation500 Hymn Festival, St. Armands Key, Sarasota
March 26 - "Hymn Singing: A Universal Catalyst for Racial Healing" at St. Paul, Tampa
March 27 - "Healing Christian Divisons" lecture at St. Thomas, Miami Gardens
April 1 - Lenten Visit, Deerfield Beach
April 1 - ALOA Ministry Sampler, Good Shepherd, Tampa
April 8 - Lenten Visit, St. Augustine
April 18-20 - Respite in the Wilderness, Luther Springs (rostered ministers and church professionals)
April 21-23 - God's Spa for Women, Luther Springs
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Lent Reflection Week 3: Living Our Baptism...Proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed
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These Lenten reflections are based on the ELCA's "Five Gifts of Discipleship" resource, available
here.
Living our Baptism...Five Gifts of Discipleship during Lent written by John and Robin McCullough-Bade. Copyright 2016 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Read: Philippians 1:2-20
Lent invites us to go inward and become more contemplative. this is an important part of the Lenten journey, but Jesus did not die to keep it a secret. His death and resurrection are meant to be the good news proclaimed from the housetops. apostle Paul found courage to boldly proclaim Christ--despite imprisonment and threats of death. He even discovered how God used the negative experiences of his life to proclaim Christ.
Listen/Watch (in line with our Lent focus on the Global Church, our reflection this week comes from a Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM)):
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Ponder: What does it mean for you to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed?
Pray:
Gracious God, we thank you for the good news of Christ Jesus. use our lives to boldly proclaim your good news made known in Christ. Use our words and our actions to reflect the goodness of your love. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
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Long and Winding Road: Prayer labyrinth groundbreaking
A labyrinth was the first in a series of events planned to observe Reformation500, including a lecture and a dialogue at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, and a joint commemoration of the Reformation at St. Mary Cathedral in Miami.
Read more
www.miamiarch.org
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Transformed! A successful day of scripture and song at St. Philip, Mt. Dora
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On March 4, St. Philip Lutheran, Mt. Dora, hosted a day of scripture and song in observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The hope for this day was to give the community the best of the Reformation tradition for engaging the faith today as an opportunity to learn and deepen in the faith through excellent teaching and music. The day included two teaching sessions with Dr. Mark Allan Powell of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, who spoke on the authority and richness of scripture as an ongoing way in which God speaks to and transforms God's people. His presentation addressed a Lutheran understanding of scripture as the “Word of God,” as “authority,” and as the song Christians have to sing. The evening ended with a concert by the Wartburg College Castle Singers, who impressed the dinner crowd with both their sung grace before eating and their sung prayer of thanksgiving afterwards. Pr. Johan Bergh, pastor at St. Philip, said this of the whole event: “Dr. Mark Allan Powell brought it! The written word of God gives the living Word of God - Jesus! The Wartburg College Castle Singers brought it! The voices and instruments were sublime! Then too, the Hospitality Ministry of St. Philip put on a great reception and dinner! What a day! Transformed!”
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Hymn Singing: A Universal Catalyst for Racial Healing
St. Paul Lutheran, Tampa, is joining with the New Parish Institute of Tampa in hosting a Hymn Sing and Panel discussion on the history of church hymns on Sunday, March 26 at 4 pm in collaboration with the Hymn Lovers Conference.
Read more
fbsynod.com
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African Descent Lutheran Association
2017 Biennial Assembly
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On behalf of the ADLA National Board and the Conference Planning Team, all members and supporters are invited to the African Descent Lutheran Associations 16th Biennial Meeting, July 22 - 25, 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia/Cherry Hill, NJ! Registration is now open. Please visit the website for more information.
For the first time, this gathering will be a joint partnership between the African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) and the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE). Both organizations share a vital commitment to vigilance and action aimed at achieving justice for all people, especially those of African descent.
The 2017 conference theme is: “Like a Rolling Stream, Let Justice Roll…Absalom, Jehu, and Beyond.” Join together in being recommitted and renewed for the work ahead with God’s help!
Please share this information with those in your congregation who may be blessed by attending this gathering.
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>>>Share this event information with others in your congregation, and encourage them to attend
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Respite in the Wilderness: an invitation to rest and reflect
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Pastors, deacons, synod parish deacons, church professionals and others who are actively involved in congregational ministry are invited to a retreat at Luther Springs a few days after Easter. This retreat, April 18-20, 2017 (Tuesday-Thursday), provides space for deep breathing and renewal after the intense season of Lent and Holy Week.
The theme for this year's "Respite in the Wilderness" retreat is:
Praying, Preaching, and Practicing the Faith
Sometimes the Holy Spirit calls us not OUT OF the wilderness but drives us INTO it. Embracing such a time of rest and reflection, this event’s sessions will provide resources for personal spirituality and for gospel proclamation. Presentation topics will include Lutheran insights for daily prayer and spirituality, constructive principles for how to share Christian witness in a time of political divisions, and examination of preaching as both a personal spiritual practice and evangelical opportunity.
The presenter is Dr. Martin Lohrmann, assistant professor of Lutheran confessions & heritage at Wartburg Theological Seminary (Dubuque, IA). Among other publications, he is the author of Book of Harmony: Spirit and Service in the Lutheran Confessions and a contributor to The Annotated Luther, Volume 4: Pastoral Writings. Dr. Martin Lohrmann is also the nephew of Interim Bishop Marcus Lohrmann. Bishop Lohrmann will be present for part of the retreat.
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>>>Share this retreat with ministry leaders in your congregation, and encourage them to attend
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Information Correction:
In last week's E-Spirit, Kevin Jacobson was listed as being a missionary in Suriname. He is no longer in Suriname, but currently works for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS). Please keep Kevin and all who work with refugees and immigrants in your prayers!
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Next Lenten Visit: Zion, Deerfield Beach on April 1
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Rostered Ministers of Word and Service renew their call to public ministry
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A time of learning and laughter renews the faith of all who are attending
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The Word of God is preached and the sacraments are shared
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Chrism oil is consecrated for healing, blessing and prayer
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Adult Ministry Sampler from ALOA on Saturday,
April 1 at Good Shepherd, Tampa
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ALOA Florida Region Ministry Sampler & Annual Meeting will take place Saturday, April 1, 2017, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tampa. Join ALOA Florida Region for an afternoon of inspiration, learning and entertainment, and help us shape adult ministry for the year to come.
Connect Worship & Word in a whole new way
- Get an inspiring look at the Reformation
- Explore a way to Find your Gifts for ministry in life's second half
- Hear how our Virtual Village project can change how we "age in place"
Enjoy a taste of "Mama Mia!" with Synchrony Arts Productions
For more information, contact ALOA Florida at 727-442-4562 or
aloaflorida@gmail.com
ALOA Florida is a region of Adult Lutherans Organized for Action, a nationwide resource to the church that strengthens ministry by and for adults in the second half of life. ALOA offers events for individuals and provides resources to encourage adult ministry in Lutheran congregations. To find out more, visit ALOA’s website.
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Bishop Schaefer continues to provide leadership and guidance this month. He is still checking email and responding to phone calls and requests. Interim Bishop Marcus Lohrmann will be in the office beginning April 4, and will begin responding to emails and phone calls at that time. Bishop Lohrmann will be present at the Lenten Visit on April 8 at Memorial Lutheran, St. Augustine.
Save the Date for a service of installation for the next bishop: January 20, 2018. The location and time are still to be determined.
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Florida-Bahamas Synod 813-876-7660
info@fbsynod.org
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