New Prayer Labyrinth Experience for the Community
Submitted by Pr. Josh Gyson, All Saints, Lutz
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Walking a Prayer Labyrinth is an ancient Church practice that offers us a more intentional time with God. It has been said that it is like a short journey of its own, we wind our way through the path, that it may become a mirror for our own lives and a metaphor for our walk with God. In short, a Prayer Labyrinth is a tool of spiritual growth, a place of transformation of body, mind, and spirit.
As a pastor, I have had the great pleasure of walking many Prayer Labyrinths around this beautiful country. And each time I walk one, I leave with a wonderful memory of how God has spoken directly to me. It is truly amazing just what happens when we set aside intentional time to be with God.
At All Saints Lutheran Church (5315 Van Dyke Rd, Lutz) we want to make this experience available to all. For this reason, we recently built a Prayer Labyrinth for our community to use as they feel called. It is located on the Church property to the right of the large granite cross in our memorial garden. I invite you to come and take a walk on the new Prayer Labyrinth soon. #AllAreWelcome
On February 10, we blessed the Prayer Labyrinth for God’s work in the world. I leave you with the closing prayer used for this blessing: “We ask that you bless everyone and anyone who walks this Prayer Labyrinth searching for you, for deeper meaning in their lives, and for healing of their souls. May your Holy Spirit be with them, sustaining them and may all who leave the labyrinth be strengthened to serve others in your name. We give you thank, O God, for drawing us closer to you. -Amen.”
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Ecumenical Partnership Launches a Public Policy Office in Florida
A new office of public policy is being established between the Florida-Bahamas Synod and the Florida Council of Churches, thanks to a special grant from the synod council and encouragement from the ELCA Office of Advocacy. The grant helps to fulfill a decade-long desire in the bishop’s office. Funding for the public policy office is for 2019 and its work will be evaluated at the end of the year. The office will begin to generate regular communications by Easter. Bishop Suarez has appointed an Advocacy Team to work with the council of churches and provide direction for helping to strengthen congregation ministries that address the common good. Members of the Advocacy Team will provide monthly articles for the E-Spirit, providing examples and recommendations for realizing how we can be a “publicly engaged church” here in the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
The first article is by the Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Executive Director of the Florida Council of Churches and Pastor of the Lutheran Urban Parish of Tampa.
Excerpt from the first article:
Since its foundational social statement, “Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective” (1991), the ELCA has engaged publicly as a “community of moral deliberation”. We want to be a safe space to think through what is good and just. This is a twofold commitment. First, the gospel calls us to be in but not of the world, meaning in part that we bring God’s concern for the poor and powerless to the institutions of society. Yet, second, we recognize there is a variety of perspectives, sometimes in opposition, in how to meet the needs of the poor and powerless. Thus, we are committed to civility and recognizing the dignity of all persons engaged in deliberation.
The summary of “Church in Society” puts it this way: “God’s restless church is called to serve and advocate in response to such diverse social situations as disasters, poverty, discrimination, social policies and economic arrangements. The statement says the church should keep enough critical distance from society to act, when appropriate, like the prophets of Scripture. Prophets challenged the culture, exposed the power of sin and idolatry, and spoke out on behalf of the poor and powerless. Christians are committed to society for the sake of all, and this means they must be ready to speak for change.”
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Heart of Florida Conference Collaborate on a Youth Lock-in
submitted by Pr. Derek Hoven, Salem, Orlando
On February 15th and 16th four Heart of Florida Conference congregations shared a youth lock-in for conference middle and high school students. Kids from St. John (Winter Park), St. Stephen (Longwood), and Salem (Orlando) joined with those from Spirit of Joy at their campus on the east side of Orlando.
Thirty kids and their adult leaders shared a Friday evening of games and worship. Saturday morning the kids shared time with a teacher from Killarney Elementary School in Winter Park. Twenty-five percent of the student body at Killarney is homeless and the entire student body is on free and reduced lunch.
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March 17 is National Quilting Day!
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In addition to St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 is also National Quilting Day! Each year, countless quilters cut, piece, sew and tie Lutheran World Relief Mission Quilts to reach out to some of the world’s poorest people. Keep an eye on
LWR’s Facebook page
the week of March 11 as they celebrate all things quilting!
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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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ALOAFest in Florida
9:45 am to 3:00 pm Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Temple Terrace Living Forward will be a day of inspiration, music workshops and fellowship. Mark Schoepp, Executive Director of ALOA will present Old Dog, New Tricks? How the Brain Learns at ...
Read more
aloaserves.org
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March 2 -
ALOA Fest 2019 (Christ Our Redeemer, Temple Terrace, 9:00-3:00)
March 3 -
Inspirational Gospel Choir Concert (All Saints, Pt. Orange, 6 pm)
March 3 -
Choir festival, Sarasota
March 9 -
Lenten Visit (Grace, Tallahassee)
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)
*rostered ministers invited to vest and process (color is red)
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Synod Assembly 2019: ALIVE!
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died...for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:20,22)
Christ has been raised from the dead. Through grace, we, too, are made alive in Christ. God's vision for the Kingdom is alive in the world. The Holy Spirit is alive in our communities and in our lives. As we come to know Christ, faith comes alive in us. As we live into our mission and vision, Synod Assembly will be an opportunity for us to celebrate various signs of the Spirit's Life in us and be invited to be part of God's dream of life for all.
Registration for Synod Assembly opens March 15. Watch the
synod assembly web page for more information (including a custom-designed logo coming soon).
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POAMN 2019 Regional Conference: Engaging Aging in Today's World
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POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network) 2019 Regional Conference in Collaboration with ALOA (Adult Lutherans Organized for Action) provides inspiration and encouragement for congregational leaders and parishioners involved in ministry to, with, and among older adults. This year's Regional Conference is May 22, 9am to 4:30pm at St Leo Abbey, St Leo, FL. The registration cost of $35 includes lunch.
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Reports are Due!
Every rostered minister of the synod is required to fill out a report. Please use
this link to begin your report to the bishop. To date, we've received
reports from 20% of rostered ministers (active and retired). Please return yours today! Rostered ministers who wish to vote at Synod Assembly need to have filed a report to the bishop.
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- Illinois (Conference of Bishops)
- Lenten Visit (Grace, Tallahassee)
- Messiah, Panama City
- Synod Office
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