July 31, 2018
VBS Highlight: Nativity, Weeki Wachee
Thank you to Donna Olsen from Nativity for this write-up
VBS 2018 at Nativity Lutheran in Weeki Wachee was a wonderful week filled with learning about how much God loves us. Our theme was National Park VBS, and we had many fun-filled adventures as we made new friends and shared the love of Jesus. We had over 100 children and youth from our community join us, along with 30 awesome adult volunteers. It was a week of blessings for all as we experienced God’s Holy Spirit working in us and through us. 
"We are Church Together"
Moises Carasquillo was recently ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the ELCA. He will be serving as pastor at Mision Luterana Sagrado Corazon/Sacred Heart Mission in Miami. The Miami-Dade Conference has supported and come around Moises as he begins this ministry--donating vestments, paraments and worship supplies for the congregation, offering their skills and strengths as part of his ordination and installation services, and working with Moises and Pr. El-Yateem (DEM) to articulate a vision for this new ministry in Miami. Thanks be to God for all those who are coming together to support ministry initiatives.

If you have a story of your congregation/conference working with others to support new ministry initiatives, send a brief write-up and up to 2 pictures to Michelle Collins (michellec@fbsynod.org)
Assembly Videos Online
A variety of segments from the 2018 Synod Assembly are now on the synod web site. Check out this page for keynote presentations from Pr. David Lose, reports from Bishop Suarez and Cheryl Stuart, and more. http://fbsynod.com/synod-assembly-re-cap/
Videos are also available on the FBSynod Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/fbsynod
Mark Your Calendar
Watch for these events!
Moravian Choir Concert,
St. Paul, Tampa
God's Work Our Hands Work Day @ Luther Springs
Boundaries Workshop
(for Staff and volunteer leaders)
Cross+Road Lutheran,
Fleming Island
More events coming up
Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
Aug. 4 - New Herrnhut Moravian Choir Concert, St. Paul, Tampa
Aug. 11 - New Facilities Dedication, Luther Springs
Aug. 17-18 - Synod Council Retreat
Aug. 19 - Organ Series kick-off ("Melodies and Masterpieces") Advent, Melbourne
Aug. 25 - Hearts, Hands and Voices workshop, Our Savior, Vero Beach
Aug. 26 - Installation of Pr. Jeremy Freye, Advent, Melbourne
Sept. 7, 8 - Rock the Universe, Universal Studios, Orlando
Sept. 8 - God's Work Our Hands Work Day, Luther Springs
Sept. 8 - Installation of Pr. Tom Holdcraft, St. Stephen, Tallahassee
Sept. 9 - God's Work Our Hands Sunday
Sept. 10-12 - Region 9 Rostered Deacon Retreat (South Carolina)
Sept. 14-15 - Synod Council meeting (Jacksonville)
Sept. 27-30 - Practice Discipleship Retreat for Youth Workers (Luther Springs)
Oct. 9 - Boundaries Workshop, Cross+Road, Fleming Island
For Your Information
Blogs, Livestreams, and Sermons
Did you know that on the Synod web site, you can hear sermons and read blog posts from pastors and others throughout the synod? If your congregation posts sermons or has a livestream of your weekly service, please send the link to Michelle Collins (michellec@fbsynod.org) so the link can be added to our list. And when you are looking for an extra support to your faith formation, check out the PODCAST page of the web site to hear sermons or read blog posts.
Rostered Minister Appreciation Resources
 
The ELCA office in Chicago is inviting all congregations to intentionally create space to lift up the role of Rostered Ministers in their context, while at the same time investing in leadership development and recruitment. For more information about Rostered Ministers Appreciation--as part of the leadership initiative of the ELCA's Always Being Made New Campaign--check out these resources from the ELCA.
Bishop's Calendar
  • Transition Ministry Training (Luther Springs)
  • Tampa Office
  • NovusWay Board mtg (Lutherock, NC)
  • New Facilities Dedication, Luther Springs
  • St. Mark by the Sea, Palm Coast
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