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E-Spirit
Weekly Newsletter
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News, Stories, and More
from the
Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA
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Keeping up with news and stories from around the synod... | |
Celebrating 40 Years of Healing, Hope, and Help to People in Need
This year, Lutheran Services Florida marks its 40th Anniversary of bringing God's healing, hope and help to people in need.
LSF started with humble beginnings in 1982 working closely with Lutheran Churches, primarily serving refugees fleeing Haiti and Cuba, and have since expanded to over 60 programs in 40 counties, annually serving nearly 1-in-50 Floridians.
Help them officially kick off this important 40th Anniversary year with their FREE Virtual Good Samaritan Banquet on February 24th.
The online banquet will feature inspiring presentations highlighting the importance of being Good Samaritans and coming together for a greater good.
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Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) Invites You to Browse the Ambassador-Gram!
Ambassador-Grams help Ambassadors and Partners of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) effectively share consistent information with contacts in their network. These periodic communications, typically quarterly, will feature LMM resources and upcoming events to help individuals and congregations with their ministry to men. It is LMM’s hope that this information will help equip men to be bold, daring followers of Christ. For more information about LMM, go to www.lutheranmeninmission.org
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Tornado Relief Still Needed
Several tornadoes hit areas of southwest Florida a couple of weekends ago. Many in the congregations of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Myers Beach and Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers lost their homes.
We continue to accept donations to help those who were in the tornado's path and lost everything. Click here to donate. 100% of the money given will be used in the tornado relief efforts.
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Reversing the Advent Calendar Gives Back in Broward County
For the third year in a row, Zion Lutheran (Deerfield Beach) and its preschool, Evergreen Academy, have donated food and supplies to help homeless individuals and families through the ministry of HOPE South Florida. As part of Zion’s “Reverse Advent Calendar,” the congregation and preschool families collected items to “put in” rather than “take out.”
This year, the larger Zion community donated enough to fill 200 individual bags of non-perishable food and water that were distributed at a shared meal hosted by HOPE South Florida. The community also donated a huge bag of women's socks, towels, and washcloths for their mobile shower ministry, and four boxes of food for a family newly housed and emerging from homelessness.
Zion is grateful to its congregation, preschool families, and larger community for contributing to the success of this project each year. To see a video of gratitude from HOPE South Florida to Zion, visit www.zion-lutheran.org/serve.
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ONE VOICE - A Dinner & Show to Benefit the Children's Network of Southwest Florida
Join the congregation of Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Fort Myers on Saturday, February 26, 5:00 PM for dinner and a show to benefit the Children's Network of Southwest Florida. For more information click here.
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The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Thanks You...
For your generosity in providing funds to disaster victims in their synod. Your contributions helped them raise over $100,000 for affected congregations churches have been able to rebuild. The people of the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod along with Bishop Michael Rinehart want you to know of their heartfelt thanks!
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Your gifts at work in Haiti and Cuba
What a joy it is to partner with our Global Mission companions! The Florida-Bahamas Synod maintains relationships with Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, Suriname, and the United Theological Seminary in Jamaica. Recently we were able to provide funds to Cuba and Haiti, both of which used the grants to provide food relief to their communities.
In Cuba, the provisions were offered as part of the annual Christmas celebrations at the Iglesia Evangelica Unida (IEU) The following pictures were taken at three congregations (1) Cristo Redentor; (2) Cuerpo de Cristo; and (3) Cristo Vive. The Lutheran Church in Haiti (ELH) continues to assist families recovering from the earthquake. Food has been distributed in conjunction with Sunday worship.
Through these gifts, we walk with our brothers and sisters in other countries and offer the love of Christ in tangible form. God's work; our hands. Thanks be to God!
Pastor Katie
Rev. Kathryn Carroll
Chair, Global Missions Team
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New May Educational Grant for Ministers of Word and Sacrament
Established by a generous gift from Pastor Rusty and PJ May, the grant is available to rostered ministers of word and sacrament of the Florida-Bahamas Synod for continued education.
The grant amount will depend on dollars available and the number of applicants. To apply click here or visit the synod website. Deadline for the first round of grants is February 15, 2022.
Possible areas of study may include (but not limited to):
· Festival Homiletics
· On-line or in-person continued education courses at a seminary
· Participating in community organizing training on faith-based social
justice ministries
· Participating in trips to the Holy Land/Germany/St Paul sites
· Accompanying a synod Global Mission Table trip
· Attending workshops
Grants will be awarded by the decision of the grant’s committee meeting during the first quarter of 2022. Questions may be addressed to Rev. Ana L. Lugo, Gift Planner for the Synod, at ana.lugo@elca.org.
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This year's Synod Assembly will be held June 3-5 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.
The Conference on Ministry for rostered ministers will be held October 17-19 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg.
More information to follow.
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Annual reports due soon...
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Congregation Reports (Parochial) 2021 - Deadline to file with the Office of the Secretary is March 1, 2022. If you file via paper copy, please mail it to the Synod Office by February 15.
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Rostered Minister Reports - To be submitted by all ministers including those under call, on leave from call, retired, or on disability. Download and save to your computer. Following completion, save, and attach to an e-mail to ileanas@fbsynod.org.
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Mission Support Covenants - You can file your covenant online or by returning the card to the Synod Office. This year, the Florida-Bahamas Synod will forward 46% of our mission support dollars to Churchwide.
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diakonia News
With the New Year comes New Year’s Resolutions. Why not add diakonia to your list of resolutions? Check it out and try a class.
Are you feeling like God might be moving you towards a deeper understanding in your faith journey? Check out the diakonia program; you can jump in at any time.
It’s very simple to try a diakonia class...and you can do everything from home. Just go to diakoniafl.org, click on the Student Home Page, scroll to the bottom and grab an application. If you have additional questions and to chat about the program, contact micheleahilton@aol.com.
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Looking for a Lead Organizer in Sarasota
Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity (SURE) is looking for a Lead Organizer to help them in their pursuit of positive change in Sarasota. SURE gathers congregations for action in the community. For more information contact Ryan at ryan@12springsschurch.com.
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Part-time Director Position Available
LIV-UP (Lutheran Intentional Village of Upper Pinellas) seeks a director with leadership experience and a passion for helping seniors “age in place”. Our volunteers provide “helping hands” assistance as neighbors do to help others. Services typically include rides to appointments, shopping or errands, household chores, technology assistance, and more. This part-time position is currently budgeted for 8- 15 hours per week and can grow as this non-profit organization (Lutheran Intentional Village of Upper Pinellas) regains momentum following the COVID 19 slow-down. For more information or to submit a letter of interest: Margo Walbolt, Co-chair at 727-378-2186 or livupfl@gmail.com
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