Hybrid Ministry Zoom Event with Ryan Panzer |
As of Sunday, March 8th, 2020, less than one in ten churches live-streamed their worship services. Most didn’t have a website. Many didn’t use social media.
In a matter of days, Christian leaders rapidly reinvented their ministries for a digitally distributed world, comprised of almost exclusively digital interaction.
In this workshop, we will envision how to apply what we have learned since March towards the church’s new normal.
Let’s imagine a future where digital apps and tools deepen faith formation, enrich congregational bonds, and strengthen Christian fellowship, even as our buildings reopen.
|
|
Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month |
As part of the National Arab American Heritage Month, we are inviting you to an educational zoom presentation on Thursday April 22nd from 7:00pm to 8:00pm EDT / 6:00pm to 7:00pm CDT.
Let Us be a Sign to You: The Contributions of Lutheran Members of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage (ALAMEH in Arabic means Sign) to the ELCA.
|
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Agenda:
- Introduction
- Devotion based on Ezekiel 24:27 “You shall speak and no longer be silent. / In this way you shall be a sign to them; / and they shall know that I am the Lord.”
- Identity as a Christian in Arab/Middle East Communities
- Presentation on Hospitality, Welcome and Support of Arab & Middle Eastern Members
- On-the-ground working relationships with Muslim and Jewish communities
- Q&A, Closing Reflection & Prayer
|
|
Happenings & Celebrations
With joy and thanksgiving, we celebrate the following upcoming ordinations and installations throughout our synod. We ask for your prayers for these ministers and congregations:
-
Pastors Lisa and Bruce Burbank will be installed at Lutheran Church of the Cross in St. Petersburg on May 1st with the Rev. Rob Carlson officiating.
-
Jennifer Moore will be ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament and installed as Associate Pastor at Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Myers on June 27th with Bishop Pedro Suárez presiding.
-
The Rev. Kelly Pensinger will be installed as Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Palms in Palm Harbor on August 1st with the Rev. Rob Carlson officiating.
-
Rafael Infante Perez will be ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament and installed as Associate Pastor on May 29th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee with Bishop Pedro Suárez presiding.
-
The Rev. Chris Gentile will be installed as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee on May 29th with Bishop Pedro Suárez presiding.
|
|
Presiding Bishop Eaton's April Column for Living Lutheran Now Available!
Creatureliness—Jesus and ours: In her April column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton writes about Easter and Earth Day, reminding us that we are redeemed, reconciled and reunited in the beauty of the Creator’s loving handiwork.
|
|
 |
Go on a Lutheran World Relief World Tour with a Virtual Adult Forum |
Lutheran World Relief invites your congregation to go on a world tour with a virtual adult forum. Through videos and stories, the team at Lutheran World Relief is ready to take your congregation around the world. Staff are available to visit via live Zoom or prerecorded video. Click here to let LWR know your congregation is interested.
|
|
|
|
Mission Partners 100:
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
|
Our Florida-Bahamas Synod Mission Partners 100 Spring 2021 congregation is St. John's Lutheran in Jacksonville.
|
|
|
|
Just Love Prayer of the Week
Liberating Shepherd, guide us in your way of loving and seeking justice for all of your beautifully diverse sheep (especially…..), no matter the cost. Remind us that love is not just word and speech, but truth and action. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is Great
This prayer for racial justice was submitted on behalf of the Just Love team by Pastor Kari Niedermaier.
|
|
|
New Issues of the Parish Paper Now Available! |
The Parish Paper has released their May and June 2021 issues! Click the titles below to access the articles.
|
|
|
|
Earth Day Statement from Presiding Bishop Eaton |
Earth Day is coming soon, and with it, a time for reflection on how we may better our beautiful world. Read Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's #EarthDay2021 message below.
|
|
|
|
New Grant Opportunity for Congregations from the ELCA |
|
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, you have served your communities with compassion and creativity, even as physical distancing changed the way we worship and meet.
With vaccinations becoming available to more of the population, we look forward to gathering with our congregations in physical spaces again soon. What might the Spirit have in store?
Beginning April 21st, your congregation is invited to apply for an Open Doors grant to support your ministries as we resume in-person worship and gatherings.
How can we meet new people, especially as we crave community following a time of unprecedented isolation? How might we stay connected with people who have not visited our church buildings but joined us online? As we adjust to post-pandemic life, how can we create new ideas to meet the changing needs of our communities? Have an idea? Grant applications will open on April 21st at ELCA.org/OpenDoors.
Any ELCA congregation can apply for grant funding with a specific and actionable idea for how its ministry might enable members to meet new people while regathering in community as COVID-19 considerations allow.
As we resume in-person gatherings we are not simply reclaiming our physical worship space. We are being reclaimed by God and one another in the Spirit as we return to physical community. As people freed by the gift of God’s love and grace, how might we share that gift with others who might need it, too? Open doors invite us in to gather, and open doors send us out to meet our neighbors. Click here for more information.
|
|
Support Vocation and Help Make Education Possible at Newberry College |
|
Newberry College asks for your support of 'Vocation across the Academy' through a donation to the project, mini-grants or travel scholarships.
'Vocation across the Academy' is designed to make meaningful vocation and engaged citizenship real for students. With your help, Newberry can fund scholarships and grants for various departments to enrich the educational experiences of their students.
|
|
Opportunity for Spanish and Mandarin Language Rostered Leaders from Region 2 |
|
Region 2 is holding its First Call Theological Education from April 20 to 22, 2021. They are able to offer five courses from California Lutheran University’s Executive Skills for Pastors and Deacons with Spanish and Mandarin interpretation.
If you have rostered leaders requiring either Spanish or Mandarin interpretation, first call or experienced pastors or deacons needing continuing education, Region 2 would like to offer any or all of these courses for a fee of $100 total.
The courses offered are 90 minutes each. If you have interested rostered leaders, please contact Rev. Brenda Bos at the contact below. Please note all times are in Pacific Standard Time. This offer is for Spanish and Mandarin language rostered leaders only. If you are interested in the complete offering from CLU’s Executive Skills for Rostered Leaders, please reach out to Desta Goehner, Director of Congregational Relations, at desta@callutheran.edu.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
1:45pm PST Session I: Change Theory – Dr. Ray Pickett
4:05pm PST Session II: Non-profit Leadership - Dena Jenson
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
11:20am PST Session III: Marketing – Dr. Veronica Guerrero
1:45pm PST Session IV: Fundraising – Dr. Regina Biddings-Muro
Thursday, April 22, 2021
11:30am PST Session V: Human Resources – Dr. Susan Murphy
|
|
Have you completed Boundaries Training? |
|
Boundaries Training is crucial for rostered ministers, as we work closely with people and strive to foster strong relationships based on love, safety and trust. By renewing our Boundaries Training every three years, we demonstrate our commitment to maintaining healthy boundaries of all types and heighten our awareness of appropriate boundaries. Sometimes appropriate boundaries are a matter of perception which might escape our awareness. Sadly, this unintentional oversight could lead to unnecessary grief and heartache for the rostered minister and those the pastor or deacon love.
Because the church is the Body of Christ, grounded in the gospel, Boundaries Training is framed in the covenant promises of baptism and our vows of ordination. As rostered ministers we are called to lead God’s people by our own example in faithful service and holy living and to give faithful witness in the world through word and deed so that God’s love may be known in all that we do. We take this very seriously and therefore strive to honor these commitments to the best of our ability and with the help of God.
|
|
|
Important Reminder to Submit Yearly Reports
Parochial Reports – Click here to log in. These congregational reports are submitted online with your congregation’s ID number and password. Passwords available by calling the synod office at 813-876-7660.
Mission Support Covenant – If your congregation has not already return the support card, please submit your congregation’s mission support covenant through the Florida-Bahamas Synod website by clicking here.
For further assistance or questions, please call Ileana Sardinas at the synod office, 813-876-7660 ext. 225 or via email at ileanas@fbsynod.org
|
|
|
|
Discipleship Training Opportunity for Lay Leaders
|
Are you a lay person who is interested in growing the church and sharing the Gospel? Is there a member of your congregation who is passionate about church planting and making disciples?
There's an exciting new opportunity for lay leaders through Discipleship Ministries. The ELCA: Lay Planter Training course is a basic course designed to help lay leaders strengthen their skills in discipleship. The goal of this course is to equip lay people to make disciples in the formation of new faith communities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
