E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | November 8, 2022 | |
Your Mission Support Changes Lives | |
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Pictured above is Lashon Turner standing in front of the home that she and her five children have lived in since Hurricane Michael ravaged Florida's panhandle in 2018.
During the storm, the small house in Wewahitchka, Florida lost shingles, had various windows blown out and water had seeped in causing severe damage.
Today, Lashon has many reasons to smile. Due to the generous mission support giving from various ELCA congregations, Turner and her children will be moving into a newly-built, three bedroom home before Thanksgiving. "...I am so excited for the holidays in this new house," Turner said.
Mission support funds are the offerings that each synod congregation sends to the bishop's office. Those dollars are then spent to fund various ministries, projects and programs such as the rebuild of the Turners' home.
"Your mission support giving helps us to live out the Gospel in a real way," said Bishop Pedro Suárez. "These funds help us to share the love of Christ through very tangible actions with those most in need."
The funding provided by ELCA congregations, just like yours, allowed local organizations in Gulf County, Florida to assemble teams of volunteers to provide a safe place for the Turner family to live.
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"Our mission is to provide comfortable, safe and affordable housing," said Doug Higgins, board president of Square Foot Ministry -- the organization which helped build the Turner home.
"It's easy to underestimate the impact that your congregational giving can have," said Pastor Rob Rose, assistant to the bishop for administration. "When you put your offering in the plate each Sunday, you are making real-world, lasting impacts to better peoples' lives."
Click here to learn more about how the Florida-Bahamas Synod uses your missional support funds.
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Vision to Action Phase 3: Please Vote!
We have come to the time in our Synod’s Vision to Action Process where we need as many of our Synod congregation members as possible to vote on the goals that have emerged from our listening. Your votes inform the Synod Council and help them to focus on the ministry initiatives you feel are most important for the future of the Florida Bahamas Synod.
Please click here to take this very important survey and also share it with other active members of your congregation. You can download of list of the proposed initiatives here.
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Subtropical Storm Nicole
The National Hurricane Center has advised that Subtropical Storm Nicole is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane shortly before making landfall on the east coast of Florida, somewhere near West Palm Beach, between Wednesday and Thursday.
Click here for a list of hurricane preparedness resources along with a guide on how to contact the synod in the event of a disaster.
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Ordinations & Installations
Rev. Walt Lichtenberger will be installed as pastor of Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Naples at 4 p.m. on November 20, 2022. Bishop Suárez will be presiding.
Rev. Lori Fuller will be installed as pastor of Palms Deaf Church on December 4 at St. Mark by the Sea. 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.
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Weekly Prayer Focus: Election Day
Lord God, you call your people to honor those in authority. Help us elect trustworthy leaders, participate in wise decisions for our common life, and serve our neighbors in local communities. Bless the leaders of our land, that we may be at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (ELW, p. 77)
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Synod Parish Deacon Table Talk
Our next Synod Parish Deacon Table Talk will be Saturday, November 12 from 3 to 4 p.m. Any parish deacon candidates may attend along with your pastor. This is one of the requirements for all candidates before becoming a parish deacon. If you are interested in attending or have any questions, please send an email to Deaconchair@yahoo.com and we will send you the link.
Thank you,
Darlene Kaiser Parish Deacon Chair
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Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram | The latest Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram is now available for view. Click here to see current news from LMIM including upcoming events and virtual opportunities for study and worship. | |
Southwest Florida Disaster Response Mission Weeks | |
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In an effort to help in the area impacted by Hurricane Ian, Luther Springs has partnered with Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota to offer Southwest Florida Disaster Response mission weeks in June and July this summer.
Along with various debris removal and rebuild projects, the program will include team building, games, music, and fun. There will also be opportunities to work with Faith Lutheran and their food distribution program. After our work is complete each day, we will spend time at the beach for fun, worship at sunset, and devotions in the sand. There will also be a boat outing.
All meals will be provided from Sunday dinner through Friday breakfast. Cost is $450.
This program is for youth who have completed 9-12th grades. Those who have completed 8th grade may also attend at the discretion of their church leaders, but please consider maturity level both in the seriousness of the work as well as the stories they may hear as survivors share their experiences.
Space is limited. To make sure there is availability for the week you are interested in, your first step in the registration process will be to contact Deacon Sue Mendenhall by phone at 727-415-9887.
Please note a $150 non-refundable deposit for each person must be received by January 15, 2023. Failure to pay the deposit by this date will result in the loss of the space held for you as well as the deposit.
We are looking forward to being a part of the efforts to rebuild and restore the areas impacted by Hurricane Ian.
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St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Myers Beach Volunteer Days | |
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Myers Beach Florida was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ian. We are still unsure whether our sanctuary building can be rebuilt.
As we wait, we are ready for volunteers to help us sort and remove contents from our damaged building and perhaps remove carpeting and drywall. This work will be dirty and we will need some who can assist with heavy lifting. (Building exterior is being serviced by professionals)
We would appreciate your assurance in getting the word out to as many potential volunteers as possible. Our year-round congregation is small and aging, and more than fifteen family units have lost their homes and possessions.
St. Peter Lutheran - Fort Myers Beach Hurricane Clean Days
Individuals and teams welcome! Lunch will be provided.
- Monday, November 28, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Masks, gloves, cleaning supplies will be provided. Please wear closed-toed shoes and please bring tools with you.
Please RSVP to stpeterfmb@gmail.com
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First call pastor and congregation in need of chasubles. If you have chasubles hanging in your closet, for which you have no need, please contact Deacon Connie Schmucker, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership, at connies@fbsynod.org. |
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Trinity Lutheran (Jacksonville) Seeks Praise Band Director | Trinity Lutheran Church in Jacksonville is seeking a praise band director to lead their contemporary worship service. Click here for a complete job description and contact information. | |
Photo of the Week: St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, Sarasota | |
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On Saturday, October 29, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church celebrated their second Oktoberfest event with music from the DeLeon Oktoberfest Band and a meal from Geier’s Sausage Kitchen. Pictured above are Art and Mary Borman and Michael Bodnyk who wore their best lederhosen for Oktoberfest. More than 150 people attended. Click here to read the story. (Photos by Lesley Dwyer | YourObserver.com)
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
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2022 Scholarship Applications - ELCA Fund for leaders | |
Each year the Fund for Leaders provides approximately 40 full-tuition scholarships to future ELCA pastors and deacons who attend ELCA seminaries. In spring 2023, the Fund for Leaders will once again offer scholarships to seminary students — and we need your help to spread the word! The application window for full-tuition scholarships will be open from Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 25, 2023. If you know of promising and gifted people discerning a call to rostered ministry in the ELCA, encourage them to visit ELCA.org/FundForLeaders today to learn more. | | |
Young Adults in Global Mission resumes | |
After a two-year pause, the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is sending volunteers out into the world again. The program invites young adults aged 21-29 into a transformative, yearlong journey in international service. Watch an update about some of the ways the YAGM team is bringing the program up to date and making it more welcoming for everyone. YAGM is ready for you! Submit your application beginning Nov. 1. Applications close on Feb. 1, 2023, with priority given to those who apply before Jan. 15, 2023. Learn more and apply soon. | |
Public response period: Social message on climate care | |
We need your help! 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. The draft will be edited in response to your feedback and brought to the ELCA Church Council for a vote this spring. To read the draft and provide your input through our online form, go to elca.org/climatecare. | |
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January 21, 2023 - Hope Lutheran - The Villages - diakonia Graduation Eucharist 4:00 pm
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