Oct. 15 2019
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lake City, Celebrates 160 Years of Ministry

Bethlehem Lutheran Church will celebrate its 160th anniversary on Oct. 20, 2019. Bethlehem is the oldest congregation in the Florida-Bahamas Synod.  This history was included in the congregation's bulletin as part of their anniversary celebration. Bishop Suarez will be present to participate in the anniversary celebration.
Also in 1859, when Bethlehem Lutheran Church was organized (source: www.onthisday.com ):

  • the first steamboat sailed the Red River (Jan. 5)
  • Brahms' 1st piano concerto (in D minor) premieres in Hanover (Jan. 22)
  • Oregon admitted as 33rd state of the Union (Feb. 14)
  • Arkansas legislature requires free blacks to choose exile or slavery (Feb. 28)
  • Philadelphia A's organize to play "town ball" became baseball 20 years later (May 31)
  • 1st air mail (in a balloon) took off from Lafayette, Indiana (Aug. 17)
  • Last weekly installment of Charles Dickens' "A Tale Of Two Cities" is published in literary periodical "All the Year Round" (Nov. 26)
Successful Florida-Bahamas Synod visit to our Lutheran
church companions in Guyana and Suriname
submitted by PJ May


Pictured above are the representatives from the ELCA Global Mission desk – Pr. Jaime Dubon and Paulina Dasse, along with FB Synod delegation – Pr. Khader El-Yateem, Marcee Strickland, and PJ May at the end of a 4- day visit to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Guyana (ELCG). Also participating in the consultation visit were Pr. Riitta Hepomaki, Asst. to the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada- Eastern Synod, and Laurie Knott, Vice-Chair of the ELCIC-ES – which is also a companion synod of Guyana. The group met with ELCG Board members for visioning and planning for the future and deepening the relationships.

The FB Synod and ELCA representatives then traveled on to Suriname and met with members of the ELKS – Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname. The 3- day meeting culminated with worship at the historic Marten Luther Kerk in Paramaribo with Pr. Urwin Holband. ELKS Board members requested an invitation to come and spend time in Florida meeting with clergy and Synod staff for education on worship & music and church management. Plans are underway for a ELKS companion visit next fall!!
Comedy Show Open to the Public

This year's Conference on Ministry will include a free comedy show with comedian Al Ernst that is open to the public. The comedy show will be on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7:00 pm, at the Life Enrichment Center Auditorium in Leesburg.

Al Ernst was formed by the Lutheran church, worked as a youth staffer in the South Carolina Synod, explored the idea of going to seminary, and then changed directions and has been doing comedy for 30 years. He has been featured on a variety of comedy channels, and most recently has been a comedian on cruise ships. He combines his love for the church and for God with his love for making people laugh in this show "Jesus Take the Wheel...'Cause I'm Trying to Text." The show is "cringe free funny"--family friendly and open to all ages.
Share the Invitation
Use this image to help share the invitation to this comedy show with others through announcements, social media, etc. Great way to invite friends or others without church experience.
Mark your Calendar
Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
Treasurers/Financial Assistants Gathering

Treasurers from all over the Synod will gather on Saturdays in September and October at 6 locations around the Synod.
  • October 19th – Spirit of Joy – Orlando
  • October 26th – Messiah – Panama City
This gathering will take place from 8:30-12:30 to network, review current Best Practices, learn, share and connect. Please contact Michele Hilton at micheleh@fbsynod.org if you plan to attend.
Upcoming Vitality Training Retreats

In the South Region , each retreat will be from 10:00-4:00 (unless otherwise specified) and include worship, brief conference business, and lunch. Details from conference deans coming soon. RSVP to conference deans to assist with planning.

10/26 - Caloosa Conference (Emmanuel, Naples)
11/2 - Tampa Conference (Good Shepherd, Tampa)
11/16 - Miami-Dade and Broward-Bahamas Conferences (St. John, Hollywood)
1/4/2020 - Lake Conference (Lamb of God, Haines City)
1/18/2020 - Tradewinds Conference (location TBD)
 
In the North Region , retreats will run from 9:00-2:00 (unless otherwise specified).
10/19 – Panhandle Conference (St. Paul's, Niceville)
11/2 – Gulf Coast Conference (Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Palm Harbor)
11/9 – First Coast Conference (St. Mark's, Jacksonville)
Reformation Day BBQ at Castle Church

Oct. 27, Castle Church is having a "Reformation Day BBQ at the Castle" with games for kids and adults and a special menu (Note that the purchase of an adult meal comes with a beer and there is a discount for kids meals).

Hope you'll join us in celebrating the re-discovery of grace!

NOVEMBER 8-10, 2019
at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center

LAST DAY FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR GENERAL ATTENDEES

Click  here  to register online today  or download the appropriate PDF registration forms on the Fall Gathering page (e.g., youth, commuter) 
and submit via mail or email to our registrar,  Diane Cummings .

Want to check out this year's workshop selection  before  registering? Click  here .

DID YOU KNOW?
When you register, we ask you to select six (6) workshops instead of three (3). This provides flexibility in scheduling your Fall Gathering workshops if some of your workshop selections are full or in conflict with each other.

The registration deadline is October 15, 2019 
This invitation comes from GreenFaith ministries. The event is intended to be an interfaith event. For more information, contact Pr. Neddy Astudillo (neddy@greenfaith.org)
Oct. 14-16 - Conference on Ministry, Life Enrichment Center, Leesburg

Oct. 15 - Jesus Take the Wheel, 'Cause I'm Texting (a comedy show from Al Ernst), Life Enrichment Center Auditorium, Leesburg (7:00 pm)

Oct. 19 -  Gathering of Treasurers/financial assistants, Spirit of Joy, Orlando (8:30-12:30)

Oct. 19 - Oktoberfest, Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Tampa

Oct. 19 - Vitality Training Event, Panhandle Conference (St. Paul's, Niceville)

Oct. 19 - ALOA Fest, Grace Lutheran, St. Pete (9:45-3:00)

Oct. 19 - Installation of Pr. Nicole Eastwood, Our Savior, Vero Beach (6:00 pm service)*

Oct. 20 - Installation of Pr. Nicole Eastwood, Our Savior, Vero Beach (8:30 and 11:00 services)*

Oct. 24 - Scary movie with organ music, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, Sarasota (7:30 pm)

Oct. 26 -  Gathering of Treasurers/financial assistants,Messiah, Panama City (8:30 - 12:30)

Oct. 26 - Vitality Training Retreat, Caloosa Conference (Emmanuel, Naples)

Oct. 27 -  Art for Faith's Sake (AFFS) Concert Series, Prince of Peace, Largo (3:00 pm)

Oct. 27 -  MassAnthem concert, Messiah, Cape Coral (3:00 pm)

Oct. 27 - Music for Hope, a Hurricane Dorian Relief Concert; Good Shepherd, Tampa (4 pm)

Oct. 27 - Reformation Day BBQ, Castle Church, Orlando (12:30-4:30)

Oct. 27 - Conservation Forum, Tampa (4:30 pm)

Nov. 2 - Installation of Rev. Karen Biggerstaff, Spirit of Life, Jacksonville (11:00 a.m.)

Nov. 2 - Vitality Training Retreat, Tampa Conference (Good Shepherd, Tampa)

Nov. 2 - Vitality Training Event, Gulf Coast Conference (Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Palm Harbor)

Nov. 2 - BIC training, St. Michael, Wellington

Nov. 8-10 -  Synodical Women's Fall Gathering, Lake Yale Conference Center

Nov. 9 - Vitality Training Event, First Coast Conference (St. Mark's, Jacksonville)

Nov. 16 - Vitality Training Retreat, Miami-Dade/Broward-Bahamas Conference (St. John, Hollywood)


*Rostered ministers are invited to vest and process at installation and ordination services. Red is worn for ordination, color of the day is worn for installations.
For Your Information
Important curriculum from the ELCA.
One Body Many Members

"One Body, Many Members" is a faith-based journey of discovery to learn, share and proclaim God's intention of oneness among people of every racial, ethnic and class background. How do we find that unity in a world as diverse as ours? How can we...

Read more
www.elca.org
Stewardship for All Seasons Testimony
This is the third in a series of 3 brief videos about Stewardship for All Seasons. Pr. Mike Ward gives more explanation, background, and invitation to Stewardship for All Seasons. If you want to learn more about this program or other stewardship resources, contact Tom O'Reilly.
Employment Opportunities
find out more about these positions from the Employment page on the synod web site.

Apostles Lutheran Church, Brandon:
Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry
Apostles Lutheran Church has a clear mission “To be and make disciples for Christ”. An integral part of that mission is our ministry with children, youth and families.
We are seeking a person to join Apostles’ staff as Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries. This ministry’s mission prospers when staff/volunteers provide children (birth through high school) and their parents opportunities which introduce and grow faith in God. The Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries will be the lead staff person to encourage growth in discipleship in children, youth and families through engagement in Sunday school, Confirmation, and a variety of other events throughout the school year and summer. All aspects of ministry with children youth, and families seek to offer a myriad of education, social, and serving activities that serve the central mission of this congregation.  

Director of Contemporary Music Ministry
Apostles Lutheran Church seeks to engage all people in meaningful and grace-oriented worship. The Contemporary Director of Worship and Music Ministry will be the lead staff person in ensuring quality worship and music.
Bishop's Calendar
  • Synod Office
  • Conference on Ministry, Leesburg
  • Bethlehem, Lake City (160th anniversary)
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