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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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August 29 – The Rev. Nate Bendorf as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Ormond Beach. The Rev. Rob Carlson will officiate.
August 31 - The Rev. Jerry Nordsiek as Pastor of Good Shepherd in Tampa. Bishop Pedro Suarez will preside.
September 11 – The Rev. Harry Schenkel as Pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Longwood. Bishop Pedro Suarez will preside.
September 25 – The Rev. Kari Niedermaier as Pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Port Orange. The Rev. Rob Carlson will officiate.
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Global Mission News:
Sharing Bread with Our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti
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As mentioned in the newsletter published last week, the Global Mission Table sent $10,000 to the Lutheran Church in Haiti for their food distribution project. Food shortages are acute and through our gift, local congregations throughout the country have been able to acquire and distribute rice, beans, fish, oil and more. The following pictures tell the story of what has been happening over the past week. Thanks be to God for our companion relationship with Haiti under the compassionate leadership of Pastor Joseph Livenson.
Click here to read the newsletter.
Involvement in Global Mission expands the horizons of your congregation as you learn firsthand what God is up to in other parts of the world. Email Pastor Katie Carroll (revkhc@gmail.com), Chair of the Global Mission Table, if you would like to learn more, and look for her at the Synod Assembly.
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Events, Webinars, and Workshops | |
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If you have been feeling a need for "more" in your theological study or "more" depth in your overall spiritual journey, diakonia may be exactly what you are looking for.
Beginning in September, there will bee a variety of classes to choose from! For the first time ever, online classes will begin on September 12th. In Person classes are available in Winter Park and Palm Bay, and a hybrid on-line/in-person class will be hosted by Hope, The Villages.
Interested?
CLICK HERE for more information.
Even more information and the application can be found by contacting Michele Hilton at michelehilton@aol.com or (941)373-5596.
There's a seat with your name on it!
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An Introduction to Spiritual Direction | |
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 5:00-8:15 p.m. EST via Zoom
With: Sister Janice Bachman, O.P. and Sister Jeanne Williams, O.S.F.
Spiritual direction is a vibrant way we can grow in a personal relationship with God. Presenters Sr. Janice Bachman, OP and Sr. Jeanne Williams, OSF will explore what happens in spiritual direction and how meeting with a spiritual director can support personal growth, clarify discernment and lead to a deepening awareness of God's presence in our daily lives.
This program will include input from the presenters, group sharing and role play, demonstrating spiritual direction, leading to a clearer understanding of what it is and what it is not. Referrals to area spiritual directors will be supported by the center staff if participants need assistance connecting with one.
Fee: $15.00
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Just Love's Book Discussion | |
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A message from Pam Fairfax & Linda Rosche
"Last Wednesday we joined with 27 other participants in the first book study hosted by our Just Love team. The book, “Black Fatigue” (Dr. Mary-Francis Winters) speaks clearly about the fatigue our siblings of color continue to feel resulting from systemic racism. The study is Wednesdays through September 8 from 7:00-8:30 pm via Zoom. The sessions are equal parts review, break-out sessions, and discussion. It is certainly “heart-opening” to hear the journeys of this diverse group of people.
We invite you to join us for the remaining sessions. But hurry, you must sign up THIS week and can do so by clicking here: https://fbsynod.com/just-loves-book-discussion/, or going to the link in E-Spirit, or by messaging Kennedy in the Synod Office, kennedyh@fbsynod.org.
The first step to breaking racism apart is to listen and learn, and this is a convenient and important way to join in the conversation.
We hope to see you all on Zoom!"
You can find the book on Amazon and through other booksellers.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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Trinity Lutheran Church's Pride Retreat | |
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THE PRIDE RETREAT HAS BEEN MOVED TO ZOOM
When: Saturday, August 14, 2021, 9am to 2pm
VIA ZOOM (with plenty of breaks and breakout rooms)
Trinity Lutheran Church is inviting members of the LGBTQIA+ community to join them for Pride Retreat 2021. Intern Pastor, Anne Harman will lead a day of prayer and reflection for the LGBTQIA+ community. The theme of the day is "Spiritual Gifts." The day will be spent exploring spiritual gifts and how God might be inviting you to bring your unique gifts to the faith communities and the world in ways you've never imagined.
TO REGISTER: Email Anne Harman at intern@trinitylutheranstpete.org. Type RETREAT in the subject line. Provide your name, pronouns, email address, and phone number in the email.
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Planned Gifts and Your Annual Fund by the ELCA
A Zoom webinar presented by the ELCA Foundation.
When: Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 12pm Central Time.
Have you avoided promoting legacy gifts out of a fear that it may reduce current support for your congregation or organization? This webinar will explore donor data and stories that demonstrate how legacy giving has been shown to increase annual giving to an organization. Join us to learn more about why you should promote your annual fund alongside legacy giving and how you can invite your annual donors to consider a legacy gift for your congregation or organization.
The ELCA Foundation is here to help you create your legacy and ensure the continuation of God’s work in the world — for years and years to come. We can partner with you, your congregation, your synod or another ELCA-related organization as you explore the variety of possibilities for giving with generosity and planning. We provide expertise — as well as resources, financial education and investment and endowment management services — to help you joyfully answer the call to love and serve our neighbor.
Click here to register.
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It’s Time to Register for Addiction & Faith Conference
The Center of Addiction & Faith will hold its third Addiction & Faith Conference October 7-9, 2021 in Bloomington, Minn., to give faith communities tools for responding to the addiction crisis. Registration is open for in-person and virtual attendance at www.addictionandfaithconference.com.
The Center grew out of the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy. Founder Ed Treat was an active Lutheran pastor in 2018 when he held the first Addiction & Faith Conference. The success encouraged him to leave parish ministry after 25 years and dedicate himself full-time to the Center of Addiction & Faith, which became a 501©(3) nonprofit organization in 2020.
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, pastored@addictionandfaith.com, (651) 356-1073 or CAF director of communications & advocacy Stephanie Werner, stephwerner@hotmail.com, (804) 986-2953, @virtualdeacon
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