E-Spirit
January 16, 2018

Bold - Passionate - Faithful
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Features:
  • Stewardship Snippets
  • Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
  • Why Annual Reports?

  Events Coming up:
  • Rundmans in Vero Beach
  • Lenten Visits
  • Luther Bach Worship/Education Tour

For Your Information:
  • Scholars in Residence at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church
  • ALOAfest 2018
  • "Church Speak"--a column from Bishop Eaton
Click the calendar above for more information about these events
Jan. 18-25 - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Jan. 20 - Installation of Bishop Pedro Suarez
Jan. 22 - Ecumenical Vespers, Jacksonville
Jan. 27 - Building an Inclusive Church Training, Spirit of Joy, Orlando
Jan. 29 - 5th Ecumenical Vespers for Northeast Florida, Jacksonville
Jan. 29-31 - Transition Ministry Training, Luther Springs
Jan. 30-Feb. 1 - Stetson University Pastor's School
Feb. 3-5 - Family Camp, Luther Springs
Feb. 5-7 - Ignite the Church Conference, Orlando
Feb. 6 - Pr. Phyllis Kersten, scholar in residence at St. Armand's Key Lutheran Church
Feb. 11 - Messiah Music Series, Messiah, Ft. Myers
Please RSVP if you intend to attend the Jan. 20 Installation Service for Bishop Suarez! This helps the synod office in planning and preparing.
Features
Stewardship Snippets
Rev. Rob Blezard, Assistant to the Bishop for the Lower Susquehanna Synod, puts together a helpful set of resources for congregations to use to strengthen their understanding of and conversations around stewardship. Check out the LSS web site for more from Pr. Blezard, but this month we'll be sharing the 'stewardship snippets' he developed. Put a “Stewardship Snippet” every week in your Sunday bulletin! It’s a quote from the week’s Revised Common Lectionary lessons, followed by a brief reflection. Just cut and paste! The monthly 'Stewardship Toolkit' also includes articles that can be copied and pasted into monthly newsletters and links to additional stewardship resources.
Jan. 21 (3rd Sunday after the Epiphany)
Mark 1:17-18 – And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed him.”

What are you here for, and how are you doing? Those ARE the questions for steward disciples. When Jesus invites Simon and Andrew to follow him, pursue a life of purpose and strength and “fish for people,” they drop their nets and go. What nets do you need to drop to follow Jesus’ invitation?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - World Council of...

Traditionally celebrated between 18-25 January (in the northern hemisphere) or at Pentecost (in the southern hemisphere), the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity enters into congregations and parishes all over the world. Pulpits are exchanged, and ...

Read more
www.oikoumene.org
Why Annual Reports?
How does the Office of the Bishop know how to set priorities and strategies for ministry? How can the Office of the Bishop continue to support congregations before times of crisis or conflict? How do staff know where to put their focus and how they can best support pastors and congregations? How can congregations feel better connected to the work of the gospel throughout the synod? These are all questions we ask or are asked.

This Bishop’s staff has been working diligently to be on the ground around the synod…working to exemplify being Church Together – for the sake of the world. One very important way leaders can strengthen and support this partnership with the Office of the Bishop is through annual reports. These reports should be filed each year by rostered ministers. It is through these reports that the Office of the Bishop learns where we need to be and how we can better support your ministry.

We hope all rostered ministers will commit to helping us be Church Together by submitting reports in a timely manner.
Rostered Ministers Annual Reports are available from the ELCA web site HERE . All active, retired, and on-leave-from-call rostered ministers are expected to submit an annual report. You can also find the link for this report on the synod web site (resources>for leaders).

Parochial Reports to be submitted by congregations will be available soon. You can find the link for this report on the synod web site HERE (resources>for congregations).

Mission Support Covenants to the synod office are available HERE (on the synod web site: resources>forms).
Upcoming Events
Rundmans in Vero Beach
Jonathan and Dawn Rundman will be visiting Our Savior Lutheran Church, Vero Beach, Jan. 20-21, 2018.

Jonathan Rundman will be a guest musician in the worship services, and there will be a free concert in the afternoon. All are welcome.

Find out more about Dawn and Jonathan Rundman or listen to the podcast they host together.
Lenten Visits
More information on this year's Lenten Visits, along with an opportunity to RSVP, is now available. These events are free and open to all. Rostered ministers are especially encouraged to attend, but anyone is welcome.
Luther Bach Worship and Education Tour
For more specific information on this tour, please contact Pr. Walter Still (pastorwalter@peaceftmyers.com)

General information also available on the Continuing Ed Events page of the synod web site.
Join us on an exciting trip to Germany from August 7-17, 2018 . As you walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther and J.S. Bach, your appreciation for these great teachers of the faith will be re-formed. Pastor Walter, along with local guides, will lead you on a pilgrimage of historical sites, worship and singing in churches. Ric Jaeggi will direct those who love to sing. Your trip will benefit from significant work that was done by the church and state for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. All members and friends of Peace, singers and non-singers alike, are welcome!

Your excursion to Luther and Bach country has been carefully planned to maximize cultural, spiritual and educational opportunities. The itinerary is structured with activities, group interests, free time and flow of tour in mind. An experienced tour escort will travel with the group to insure that all participants have an enjoyable and rewarding tour.

Tour arrangements by American Music Abroad
For Your Information
Scholars in Residence, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church is excited to welcome "Scholars in Residence" (SiR) this spring. Each month, the SiR will offer a lecture or presentation. For more information about these presentations, click here . All are welcome.

The Scholars in Residence will be:
January: The Rev. Gabi Aelebouni (ELCA Fund for Leaders), Theme: "Encouraging New Leaders"
February: Rev. Phyllis Kersten (retired clergy), Dr. E. Louise Williams (Lutheran Deaconess Association), Theme: "Spirituality"
March: Paul Oman (artist and pastor), Theme: "Fine Art, Opening Eyes to Vision and Hope"
ALOAfest 2018
ALOA (Active Lutherans Organized for Action) has changed the date of this year's ALOAfest to March 2 (Emmanuel, Venice) and March 3 (Good Shepherd, Tampa). Find out more and register HERE . This year's presenter is Rev. Tom Hafer, who will be presenting on Faith and Fitness.
Church Speak
a column from Bishop Eaton
In her January column for Living Lutheran , ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that people who have no experience with the church don’t speak our language or know our stories. She says we need to find a new language to commend the faith clearly and genuinely.

>>>read this column in English <<<
>>>read this column in Spanish <<<
Bishop's Schedule 
Jan. 16-Jan. 30, 2018
  • Tampa Office
  • Jacksonville (Ecumenical Vespers)
  • Luther Springs (Deans Retreat, Transition Ministry Training)
Florida-Bahamas Synod 813-876-7660 
info@fbsynod.org