This past Sunday was the fourth Sunday in Lent! To help share the message for this day, Bishop Suárez featured Pr. Khader El-Yateem, Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission for the South Region. To watch this weekend's message, please click here.
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The Asian and Pacific Islander Association of the ELCA recently issued a statement, affirmed by the ELCA Conference of Bishops, calling on the church to declare a day of lament during Lent to express solidarity with, help in healing and support Asian American victims of violence.
Sunday, March 21st, has been named as the common date, though worshiping communities may choose a different date as appropriate for their context. Worship resources are available by clicking here.
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Learn about the goals and activities of the Global Mission Table of the Florida-Bahamas Synod! You are encouraged to read the March 2021 Newsletter which spotlights Hellen Rios-Carrillo and Paulina Dasse, two key partners from the ELCA churchwide expression. You will find team news, updates on Global Mission's emphasis on gender justice, and more.
The virtual courses described in the newsletter are offered by the United Theological College of the West Indies in Jamaica. The school just sent final details on the April "short course." Lay leaders and clergy alike are urged to join the class Gender and Leadership in Church Society. This 9 week course is on Thursday evenings from 5:00pm to 8:00pm (Jamaica time) beginning April 15th. Guest professors from Latin America, the Caribbean and the USA will all share leadership in this fascinating investigation into the beliefs and practices that have caused gender-based inequities. Students will be challenged with envisioning an alternative reality of a partnership of equals. The fee for the entire course is $100. For more information, email unitheol@cwjamaica.com or view the UTCWI website at www.utcwi.edu.jm. Check next week’s E-Spirit for a flyer with more information.
Share the newsletter and information about the course in your congregation, and consider how you might get involved. Questions? Email Rev. Katie Carroll, Global Mission Table Chair at revkhc@gmail.com or Rev. Khader El-Yateem, DEM/Assistant to the Bishop
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Updates from Lutheran Men in Mission |
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Lutheran Men in Mission has two exciting resources to share!
Also, LMM has created a program for fathers called Fathering in 15. Fathering in 15 offers the flexibility and convenience that no fatherhood program, workshop, class, or course can offer.
Through Project Twelve, we are providing you with full access to this resource at no cost. Topics include: Being a Man and Dad, Handling Emotions, Fathering Skills, Work-Family Balance, Managing Money, Child Discipline, and more. Click here for more information!
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The following update has been shared by the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) of the Florida Department of Health.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligible Populations Effective March 15, 2021
Per Executive Order 21-62, effective March 15, 2021, individuals eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine will include:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff.
- Persons 60 years of age and older.
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact.
- K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older.
- Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older.
- Firefighters 50 years of age and older.
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Is your congregation eligible for a Paycheck Protection Program loan?
Don’t miss the opportunity for financial relief. Another round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans is now available for small businesses and organizations, including congregations, to help protect staff members’ pay and other operating expenses during the pandemic.
Even if your congregation already received a loan, it may be eligible for a second draw if it can demonstrate a 25% reduction in recurring revenue during any quarter of 2020.
Borrowers will be able to apply for loan forgiveness following the term of the loan.
The Mission Investment Fund is cooperating with our financial partner, the ELCA Federal Credit Union (FCU), to offer these loans to eligible congregations and ministries. The FCU can help your congregation navigate its first or second draw, even if you received your first PPP loan through a different lender.
The deadline for the second round of PPP loans is quickly approaching. Applications submitted by March 22nd will be processed in time to meet the federal deadline on March 31st. Learn more and apply now.
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Update from the Just Love Team
Just Love -- JUST Love -- Just LOVE
As we continue to work towards racial justice and unity, our Synod’s Racial Justice Team has announced a new name and updated mission statement! The team will now be called Just Love.
Just is simple and pure when it precedes Love. Just is a play on words, representing both the abbreviated Justice and the simplicity of the act of Love. Love is the backbone and core of everything we do - we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Love in its purest form sees beauty in skin color and celebrates whom we love. Our mission - plain and simple - is to see love established in public which creates justice for all. Just love.
They will soon be organizing activities for synod involvement, so stay tuned for more updates.
Just Love Prayer of the Week
God of love and mercy, thank you for making us exactly as you created us - imperfect in our human-ness yet able to learn and grow from our mistakes. And we make so many mistakes. We silence others from speaking their truth and telling their story. We fail to listen to communities of color who deserve to be seen, heard, and understood. We focus on our individualism and ignore those who are hurting.
God of love and mercy, you know all this. You see all this. And there you are, in the midst of our failures, loving us anyway no matter what. Your grace is a gift that requires no action on our part. And yet.
And yet we must do better. God of hope, show us how to learn from our inaction and ignorance. Help us live our lives in service with our neighbors, especially the ones we do not understand. The ones we fail to connect with. The ones unlike ourselves. Help us see that our walls of difference can be struck down through love and persistence to create change in our communities. Continue to challenge us in sharing your complete and unending love with our neighbors so we may rise together in your name. Amen.
This prayer was submitted by Leslie Walbolt on behalf of the Just Love Team.
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Organ Available for Church or Group in Need
Concordia Lutheran in Micco, Florida (southern Brevard County) has an Allen 3000 organ for anyone needing to replace or upgrade their music equipment. It is a beautiful instrument needing a new church home or other facility. For more information, please call 772-664-1104.
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Named Endowment Funds: Leave a Legacy of Love |
Ensure that the support you provide to your congregation and ministries can continue into perpetuity with a named endowment fund. Named endowments are a flexible tool allowing individuals, families and groups to provide annual support to the ministries and organizations they care about most.
You can name up to 10 charitable beneficiaries, which can include your congregation, your favorite ELCA ministries, and other nonprofit organizations. These funds continue in your name, provide a great way to grow your legacy and allow others to join you in supporting the cause.
Contact our synod's Regional Gift Planner, Rev. Ana Lugo, at ana.lugo@elca.org or (904) 219-2769.
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Important Reports Reminder
You can submit Annual Ministers Reports to reports@fbsynod.org. You can find all reports, for both active and retired Rostered Ministers, by clicking here. Please download the report which corresponds to your roster status. You will need to download the form, fill it out, save it to their computers, and attach to an e-mail to reports@fbsynod.org.
Every congregation submits an annual Parochial Report. For Parochial reports, please visit the ELCA website here. You will need your congregation ID number and a password. If you have misplaced the password, please call the synod office.
If you need assistance, please contact the Synod office. If you have trouble submitting your email, please contact Ileana at ileanas@fbsynod.org.
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Zoom Opportunity for ELCA Leaders
You are invited to join this weekly online gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church. Participants will hear topical presentations related to how we are called to be Church, as well as have an opportunity to be in small group discussions with other ELCA leaders. This is where the magic happens. All of this is designed to help us process our emotions and thus create a space where we can each name our next most faithful step forward in our unique context. You are welcome to share this invitation with any other ELCA leader, rostered or lay.
We understand a number of folks are unable to make this day and time each week. We record the main session and debrief time. We share each recording with supporting documents here, typically by the following day: https://www.elcacoaching.org/being-church.
ELCA Coaching is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BEING CHURCH - Weekly Gathering for ELCA Leaders
Time: Wednesdays 1:00 PM Central Time
Meeting ID: 180 439 412 Password: 648160
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Looking for a way to serve the larger Church beyond your congregation? |
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The Synod Nominating Committee has 34 ways for you to choose from! Over the next month we will highlight these opportunities and then starting in mid-April you will be able to submit nominations to take on these exciting Synod Roles.
This week we highlight Consultation Committee which is a six-year term for both Lay and Rostered persons. This committee is not frequently called upon to meet but when they are their work is vital to the health of our Congregations and Synod.
As Pastor Rusty May, Consultation Committee member shares: “I serve on the Consultation Committee because often it is only people from the outside who are able to work with/help congregations in conflict/crisis. It is intense but very rewarding work regardless of the outcome.”
The Consultation Committee consists of 12 members, 6 Lay Persons and 6 Ministers of Word & Sacrament. Four new members are elected every two years to maintain continuity on the committee.
When there are indications that a cause for discipline may exist of a rostered minister or layperson, the Bishop will call on some members of the Consultation Committee for assistance before charges are made. These members will advise the Bishop with regards to bringing charges or another recommendation for the resolution of the controversy. If a hearing before the Discipline Committee becomes necessary, the Bishop may request these members assist, as representatives of the accuser, in the hearing.
The work on the Consultation Committee can be challenging but also very rewarding as noted by committee member George Algozzina: “I am so grateful and appreciative for having the opportunity to serve on the synod consultation committee. The experience has given me greater insight into the "bigger church" as well as situations where I learned how to balance actions and/or situations with grace. My work with the committee has also blessed me with chances to work with amazingly talented, knowledgeable, and inspirational people. I am hopeful to be blessed to serve again in the future.”
There are four positions on the Consultation Committee open for nominations - please consider yourself or others who would enjoy the rewarding work of serving in this capacity.
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Layperson Male (in good standing for a six-year term)
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Layperson Female (in good standing for a six-year term)
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Minister of Word & Sacrament Male (in good standing for a six-year term)
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Minister of Word & Sacrament Female (in good standing for a six-year term)
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Save the Date for "God's work. Our hands." Sunday! |
Save the date for this year's "God's work. Our hands." Sunday on September 12th.
We’re not sure what the impact of this crisis will look like in September, but we continue to be church together. Our congregations continue to maintain feeding ministries, serve communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 pandemic, and assist people who are financially burdened by the economic downturn.
“Service in the Time of COVID-19” was developed to offer service project ideas and considerations for safely supporting your community in this time of pandemic.
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Lutheran Disaster Response is standing ready to support the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, the Southwestern Texas Synod, the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, and Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response.
Your gifts will support storm survivors. Gifts to "U.S. Severe Storms" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by severe storms.
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