E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | December 20, 2022 | |
A Christmas Message from Bishop Pedro Suárez |
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Join Us for a Virtual Mini-Session with Dr. Reggie McNeal
Searching for Kingdom Collaborators
January 12, 2023 | 11 a.m.
Kingdom leaders co-conspire with God to bring more of His kingdom to earth. Reggie’s presentation highlights how to spot them, what characteristics they evidence, and how church leaders can partner with them for greater kingdom impact in your community. Who knows? You might just be one of these leaders yourself! Webinar participants can send in questions ahead of time through the registration link as well as participate in live Q&A during the online event. Click here to register.
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Come to the Well Rescheduled
The Come to the Well Rostered leaders retreat will be rescheduled, and the new dates will be announced in the new year.
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Update on Vision to Action Process
During the Synod Council meeting in November, Dr. Nancy Going reported the findings of Vision to Action. The goal is to allow the Florida-Bahamas Synod to recognize how it is being called by God with a new opportunity to steward a significant source of income— funds from the sale of St. James Lutheran Church in Coral Gables. The Vision to Action process allowed the Synod to carefully consider and focus how this income can be used to both challenge and bless the people, the churches, and the communities of Florida where they serve. The primary objectives were to carefully listen to the God-given hopes and dreams of the leaders and people of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, to focus the goals for the use of this fund and develop and name the necessary decisions for the Synod Council that will move the Synod from vision to action.
Read more.
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Weekly Prayer Focus: Advent
Almighty God, grant that the new birth of your only Son in the flesh may set us free from our old slavery under sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Hurricane Damage to Our Congregations | |
This hurricane season was a hard one. Many of our buildings sustained significant damage. Bishop Suárez and the Synod Council would like to know if your congregation is dealing with damage and to what extent. If this is the case in your community, please take this two minute survey so we can start to collect information regarding the total extent of damage and costs: https://forms.office.com/r/tifqaCkNva | |
Florida-Bahamas Director of Disaster Response Opening | |
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The Director of Disaster Response assists the Florida-Bahamas Synod with building a disaster response infrastructure and implementing it throughout the state. The position is responsible for assisting the Synod and congregations to be prepared and readied to respond to disasters, minister to those dealing with tragedy, and build capacity within our congregations to respond in times of need.
If you would like to apply, click here for a complete job description. After reading it, if you are qualified please email your resume to Pastor Rob Rose, Assistant to the Bishop of Administration, robr@fbsynod.org.
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Just Love Advent Devotions - Week Three: Love
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 Four Love: Paul Gibson, Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg
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Thank You! Congregations who have already met or exceeded their mission support commitment for 2022: | |
- Zion Lutheran Church, Deerfield
- Christ Lutheran Church, Ft Lauderdale
- Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Margate
- St Andrew's Lutheran Church, Lake Worth
- Resurrection Lutheran Church, Cocoa Beach
- St Andrew Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
- Reformation Lutheran Church, Lakeland
- Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Orlando
- St Timothy Lutheran Church, Crystal River
- St Paul Lutheran Church, Pensacola
- Community Church Lutheran Church, Babcock Ranch
- The Emmanuel Park Lutheran Church, Community
- Resurrection House, Dade City
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Reformation Lutheran (Orlando) Seeks Organist | |
Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church in Orlando is looking for an organist to play for our Sunday morning service at 9:30 a.m. only. If interested, please contact the church office at 407-425-7771. | |
Resource: Congregation Annual Report Covers Now Available | |
Grace Lutheran Church (Tampa) Seeks Director of Youth and Family Ministries | |
Grace Lutheran Church Tampa, FL is seeking to hire a full time (40 hours) Director of Youth and Family Ministries for planning, implementing, directing, coordinating and managing Christian Education ministry for the entire Grace Lutheran Faith Formation from nursery to adults. The Director is also responsible for selecting and supervising the volunteer teachers, leaders, facilitators and assistants. Click here for additional info. | |
Photo of the Week: Bishop's Office | |
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The staff of the Florida-Bahamas Synod wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
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The Christmas Story Read by Bishop Eaton | |
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reads the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20. Merry Christmas and a blessed Advent! This is a season of preparation. As we prepare for family gatherings, homecooked meals, and Christ’s birth, let us take a moment to relax, breathe, and receive the Christmas story. Merry Christmas, dear church! | |
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is pleased to introduce Journi, a web-based tool designed to help people discern their call to leadership in the ELCA.
“Journi encourages all of us to seek out and inspire gifted people in our congregations and communities to consider a call to ministry of the gospel,” said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop.
Journi.faith is an online tool that connects people with programs and ministries from across the ELCA. By creating a free account with Journi, a person can take the ELCA Spiritual Gifts Personality Quiz, which will identify their top five spiritual gifts, and receive content recommendations based on those gifts.
“Journi is for anyone who wants to explore how they might follow Christ in love and service,” said the Rev. Philip Hirsch, executive for ELCA Christian Community and Leadership. “For those who feel they are called to make the world a better place but don’t know exactly what they want to do, Journi will help them find a next step.”
Users can also check out upcoming leadership events in the ELCA on the calendar and have access to nine different paths that are similar to small courses that showcase programs and ministries from across the ecology of the ELCA, along with dozens of articles, videos, podcasts, and other resources for users to learn from. Those nine paths are: Called to Lead, Chaplaincy, Choosing the Right Seminary, Connecting Faith & Public Life, Finding Faith on Campus, Get a Scholarship: Fund for Leaders, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Young Adults in Global Mission, and Youth Leadership.
“Journi is for everyone, not just those who want to become pastors or deacons in the church,” Hirsch said. “God calls everyone to love and serve.”
Learn more about Journi.
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January 21, 2023 - Hope Lutheran - The Villages - diakonia Graduation Eucharist 4:00 pm
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September 23, 2023 - diakonia graduation/retreat and conversation with the Bishop, Location TBD
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October 16-18, 2023 - Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Location TBD.
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