Lutheran Social Services NE Florida (Jacksonville) opens a Consumer Choice Food Pantry
The following story was published on Feb. 21, 2019 by Action News Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Shelves at the Nourishment Network Market are stocked full of food, and families can decide what they want to eat.
Mary Strickland with Lutheran Social Services told Action News Jax, “I think people are realizing that the old food pantry model is just not customized enough for the clients we’re seeing.”
On Thursday, Lutheran Social Services opened the first consumer choice food pantry in Jacksonville’s southside.
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This is part of a multi-part series over the next few weeks about ways congregations can more intentionally support care for creation initiatives.
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Looking for a Lenten Discipline?
Every little thing can make a big difference when it comes to care for creation! If you are looking for ways to conserve energy and be a good steward to our earth, Lutherans Restoring Creation can help! They have developed a whole checklist for energy savings in your home and congregation!
Check it out here
. Maybe each day of Lent, we can take some time to better care for God’s creation!
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First Coast Conference Youth to Run 5K in Satellite Beach
The youth and youth leaders of the First Coast Conference (Jacksonville area) are working together to be part of an upcoming 5K race being held in Satellite Beach to benefit TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms). The race will take place on Saturday, April 13 at 8 a.m. Other youth and youth leaders interested in being part of the “Lutheran Youth” team in this race are encouraged to sign up at
https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/SatelliteBeach/RunForIt5K?remMeAttempt=.
Find the team entitled "Lutheran Youth" and sign up there. It's $3 less than an individual sign up. Use the password "elca." Last year the First Coast Conference group had 11 participants, with youth winning 4 medals in their age group for their times.
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2019 Lands of the Bible Tour
Departing September 27, 2019, explore the Lands of the Bible on this 15 day tour including a 12-day cruise aboard the luxurious Celebrity Infinity featuring Guest Speaker Dr. Monte Luker sailing from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy with ports of call in Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Malta. Monte Luker is the Academic Dean of the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies. He has lived, studied, and taught in the Holy Land for the past 30 years. Dr. Luker will be giving academic lectures to unpack what people experience during their land tours with local guides. There is a $50 discount if you sign up in March.
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Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
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RSVP links for Lenten Visits are now on the
Lenten Visit page of the synod web site
. The events are free, but an RSVP is helpful for planning. A $5/person or $20/congregation donation will be accepted to help cover the cost of snacks/supplies. This year's conversation with the Bishop will focus on the importance of healthy leadership culture in congregations (all levels of leadership--volunteer, staff, rostered ministers). Healthy leadership is a whole congregation commitment, so Rostered ministers, synod parish deacons, and all who are involved and invested in the ministry of their congregation are invited to attend.
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Lenten Visits kicked off at Grace, Tallahassee this past weekend. A great opportunity for fellowship, learning and worship together!
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STS Retreat, San Pedro Center, Winter Park
March 25-26 (noon to noon) The Right Reverend Matthew L. Riegel, Bishop, West Virginia-western Maryland Synod, ELCA will present the Contributions of Lutheran Scholastics to Contemporary Theology at the Florida Chapter of The Society of the Holy Trinity. The Reverend Patrick Rooney, STS Senior will preach and preside at Tuesday’s Eucharist. The Reverend Keith L. Forni Dean Northern Illinois Chapter will preach at Vespers. The Reverend John Fleischman STS (LCMS) is Cantor for the retreat and The Right Reverend Pedro M. Suárez, Bishop, Florida-Bahamas Synod ELCA will be in attendance.
Please note that FL STS Retreats are attended by Lutherans of all the alphabet, not just ELCA. Episcopal priests and Episcopal and Lutheran deacons, as well as seminarians and laity also regularly attend. Retreats are held at San Pedro Center, Winter Park and the majority of time is spent in learning and praying the Daily Offices. Please contact Reverend Lawrence Recla Dean, FL STS (larryrecla@comcast.net 352-430-1114) for more information.
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Boundaries Training Workshop - May 16
The next FBSynod Boundaries Training workshop will be held on May 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pembroke Pines, from 9:00-noon. Led by Barbara Keller and Pr. Ken Blyth, the Boundaries Training is an important workshop for rostered ministers, congregational staff, volunteer leaders, and visitation ministers. This workshop will cover a variety of healthy boundaries, including physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual. RSVP link will be available in April. Bishop Suarez would like rostered ministers to attend a boundaries workshop at least once every 3 years. The next workshop this year will be offered in connection with the Fall Conference on Ministry.
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March 16 -
Lenten Visit (St. James/Santiago Apostol, Coral Gables)
March 16 -
Bereavement Ministry Training, Part 1 (St. Agnes Church, Key Biscayne)
March 17 -
Art for Faith's Sake Concert Series, Prince of Peace, Largo: Florida Pro Musica (3:00 pm)
March 23 -
Bereavement Ministry Training, Part 2 (St. Agnes Church, Key Biscayne)
March 24 -
Art for Faith's Sake Concert Series, Prince of Peace, Largo: Bach-a-thon (12:00 pm)
March 24 -
Messiah Concert Series, Messiah, Ft. Myers: John Renfroe in Concert (3:00 pm)
March 25-26 -
STS Retreat, San Pedro Center, Winter Park
March 30 -
Lenten Visit, St. Armands Key, Sarasota
April 5-7 -
God's Spa for Women (Luther Springs)
April 13 -
Lenten Visit, St. Timothy, Tarpon Springs
April 14 -
Messiah Concert Series, The Passion of Christ
April 19 -
SYNOD OFFICE CLOSED (Good Friday)
April 30-May 2 -
Respite in the Wilderness Retreat (Luther Springs)
*rostered ministers invited to vest and process (color is red)
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Synod Assembly Registration Opens This Week
The registration link for Synod Assembly will go 'live' on Friday, March 15. Please use that link to register for Synod Assembly before May 1. Note that hotel reservations need to be made separately. More information about synod assembly will continue to be posted and updated on the
Assembly page of the web site. Watch this page for information about the assembly service project, special events, and learning/fellowship opportunities.
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Synod Council Nominations
This year's Synod Assembly will include elections for positions on Synod Council. Please prayerfully consider the information in
this Nomination Letter, and consider who God may be calling onto Synod Council. More information about nominations, including how to submit a nomination form, is on the
synod assembly page of the web site under the "Plenary: Business, Nominations and Elections" tab.
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Worship FAQs
Lent is a time when congregations often focus intentionally on teaching about and living out active discipleship in different ways: through mid-week services, intentional learning opportunities, or special services and rituals. The ELCA web site has an extremely helpful list of brief articles that answer Frequently Asked Questions about worship. These might be useful to have available, to share with visitors, or to incorporate into your adult education conversations. Some of the questions often asked and addressed in these articles include:
- Why and how do we use Ashes on Ash Wednesday?
- What is a lesser festival? When and how do we celebrate them?
- Do Christians hold Seder meals?
- How is oil used in worship?
- Why don't we use alleluias during Lent?
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- Synod Office
- Village on the Isle
- Emmanuel Academies
- St. James/Santiago Apostol (Lenten Visit)
- Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Tampa
- Region 9 Council meeting, Atlanta
- Emmaus, Orange City (Lenten Visit)
- St. John, Winter Park
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