Support Camp & Make a Difference on #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is day where focus is shifted towards generosity and giving following the consumer driven Black Friday and Cyber Monday events in which so many of us participate. Each gift to NovusWay Ministries directly supports ministry work at each of our sites. Make plans to give and follow along on social media this #GivingTuesday on November 29!

It is through the generous support of donors like you, that we are able to provide faith forming weeks of camp to nearly 3,000 youth during the summer; and are able to provide camp scholarships to over 300 of those children who otherwise might not be able to attend. Our arms are open to receive and welcome them, but we need your help. Will you consider sharing the joy of camp by making a gift to NovusWay Ministries this #GivingTuesday? 

Your gift of:

• $90 could provide a day of camp for one child
• $180 could provide 2 days of camp for one child
• $270 could provide 3 days of camp for one child
• $360 could provide 4 days of camp for one child
• $450 could provide 5 days of camp for one child
• $550 could provide a full week of camp for one child

Help us continue the important work of providing Outdoor Ministry at each of our sites - Lutheridge in Arden NC, Lutherock in Newland NC, Luther Springs in Hawthorne FL and Lutheranch in Tallapoosa GA.

Join Us for Virtual Mini-Sessions with Dr. Reggie McNeal

Dr. Reggie Mc Neal is back with two free virtual mini-sessions as a follow-up to the Conference on Ministry! This won't simply be a recap of the conference, but instead it's an opportunity to build on our discussions and further equip you to build Kingdom-centric ministries. Click here for details and registration.

Ordinations & Installations

Rev. Lori Fuller will be installed as pastor of Palms Deaf Church on December 4, 10 a.m. at St Mark’s by the Sea in Palm Coast. Rev. Rob Carlson will be presiding.

The ordination and installation of Ismael José Calderón will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Coral Gables on Sunday, December 11, at 2 p.m.; Bishop Suarez will preside. Ismael is a graduate of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He has accepted the call to serve as Pastor of St. Mark’s.

The installation of the Rev. Dale Raatz as pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Gainesville will be held on Sunday, December 18, at 3 p.m.; Bishop Suarez will preside.

Just Love Advent Devotions - Week One: Hope

The JUST LOVE Team of the Florida-Bahamas Synod is pleased to offer four Advent devotions for use by individuals and congregations wishing to explore the themes of Advent as they are experienced by marginalized communities. We encourage you to find partners from these communities with which to discuss these devotions—you could partner with an African-American, Latino, or LGBTQIA+ congregation, for example.

The devotions can be turned into a mid-week worship service or Bible study. They can also be sent out to your members for use in their daily devotions. We look forward to hearing how you have been able to use them in your faith community.

Click here to view all the devotions.

Click here to access Week One: Hope (contributed by Leslie Walbolt, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Seminole).

ELCA Foundation Provides End of The Year Strategies for Charitable Giving

The ELCA Foundation often works with individuals who, during this time of reflection, have begun to think about strategies they can employ to maximize their charitable giving. While we may be facing challenges of inflation and market volatility, the ministry of the church continues, as does the generosity of those who support this work. This issue of “Insights” includes information and resources to guide you through the end of 2022 and beyond. Click here to view the newsletter.

For questions, please contact Rev. Ana L. Lugo at ana.lugo@elca.org or (904) 219-2769.

SWO Fund for Leaders Scholarship for Seminary Students

The Florida-Bahamas Synodical Women’s Organization (SWO) will be awarding a scholarship(s) to seminary students that provides financial assistance to those in the candidacy status pursing ordained ministry. Scholarship(s) will be applied to tuition costs only at an ELCA seminary. Seminary students who are in the candidacy process, attending one of the eight ELCA seminaries, and are either in the Master of Divinity (M.DIV), Master of Arts (MA), or Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) programs are eligible for this scholarship. Preferences will be given to residents of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, female applicants, and active members of congregational units. The chosen applicant(s) should exhibit faith qualities that empower others and demonstrate leadership qualities in the church and in the community. The scholarship application is available on the SWO website, www.flwelca.com. The deadline to send a completed application to Donna Person, SWO Board member, at dperson7@aol.com is December 15, 2022. The SWO Board will choose a scholarship recipient(s) in January, and all applicants will be notified of the Board’s decision.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hernando recently hosted their First Annual Pumpkin Patch event. Over 1,000 large pumpkins and six cases of small pumpkins were delivered in early October. On delivery day, Good Shepherd members along with S.O.S. Food Pantry volunteers came out in force to help unload and set up the pallets. The pumpkins were grown on a reservation in New Mexico, which employs over 700 Native Americans during the fall harvest season. This has a positive and lasting impact on a region with 42% unemployment. With the help of 46 church members, working 2-hour shifts totaling more than 170 volunteer hours, $3,200 was raised to benefit the S.O.S. Food Pantry which offers food to more than 150 families in need each week.

If you want to learn more about S.O.S. Food Pantry e-mail SOS4FOOD@gmail.com. Donations can also be mailed to: PO Box 640774 Beverly Hills, FL 34464.

(Submitted by Wendy Wolber, Photos by Linda Koch)

To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.

Resources for multi-religious ministry

The ELCA offers several resources to guide our ministry with our neighbors of other faiths. "ELCA Guidelines for Ministry in a Multi-Religious World" is a helpful starting place for our inter-religious relationships. These guidelines were called for as part of "A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment," adopted at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly, and are consistent with the church's policy as expressed in the declaration.

As we consider our relationships with Jewish neighbors, the new resource “Preaching and Teaching ‘With Love and Respect for the Jewish People’” explores challenging topics, lectionary selections, and Bible passages to inform Christian preaching and teaching so that they respect the integrity of Jewish tradition and avoid anti-Jewish interpretation of New Testament texts.

Public response period: Social message on climate care

A draft of the ELCA's forthcoming social message on climate change and how we are called to respond has been posted, and the public comment period is open through Friday, Dec. 2. This project was authorized in light of the grim contemporary situation affecting our global home and the need for fresh action on the part of this church. The draft will be edited in response to your feedback and brought to the ELCA Church Council for a vote this spring. Read the draft and provide your input at ELCA.org/ClimateCare. 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023

The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 is “Do Good; Seek Justice” (Isaiah 1:17). The theme was chosen, and the materials prepared, by the Minnesota Council of Churches. Resources including posters, bulletin covers and daily Scripture and prayer guides can be ordered from the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute. You can also access a detailed resource to aid preparations published jointly by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches. 

• Dec. 6, 7: Holiday Help: Navigating the Holidays After A Loss: BayCare Grief Matters

• January 21, 2023 - Hope Lutheran - The Villages - diakonia Graduation Eucharist 4:00 pm

• April 10-20, 2023: Joint Synod Holy Land Pilgrimage

• September 18-27: ALOA 10-Day Tour of Greece: Walk in the footsteps of Paul 

• September 23, 2023 - diakonia Retreat and conversation with the Bishop, Location TBD

• October 16-18, 2023 - Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Location TBD.