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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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Keeping up with news and stories from around the synod... | |
Flipping for Community
On New Year's Day, The Community Church rented space and offered a pancake breakfast to the whole ranch. They served nearly 300 people, and their "chefs" flipped about 1000 pancakes!
This was an opportunity to meet many folks who had just moved into the community and who joined The Community congregation for worship on Sunday.
Fully biodegradable food containers, napkins, and flatware were used in support of the mission/vision for sustainability and environmental awareness. Visit The Community Church website for more images under the "events" tab.
This fledgling congregation has many events planned for 2022. We join them in prayer that God will continue to awaken and activate the people in their community to join them in worship and service.
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diakonia News
With the New Year comes New Year’s Resolutions. Why not add diakonia to your list of resolutions? Check it out and try a class.
Are you feeling like God might be moving you towards a deeper understanding in your faith journey? Check out the diakonia program; you can jump in at any time.
It’s very simple to try a diakonia class...and you can do everything from home. Just go to diakoniafl.org, click on the Student Home Page, scroll to the bottom and grab an application. If you have additional questions and to chat about the program, contact micheleahilton@aol.com.
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Continuing Education Opportunity for Rostered Ministers
If you missed the 2021 Racial Justice Boundaries and Inclusion Education offered by the synods of Region 9, here is another opportunity for you:
Dismantling Racism Trainings offered by the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing.
- The trainings are online and free.
- There are three upcoming opportunities: Saturday, January 29; Thursday, February 17; Saturday, February 26.
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To register, go to this link: https://www.centerforracialhealing.org/training.
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Upon completion of the training, the Center for Racial Healing will provide a certificate. Please send a copy of your certificate to the Synod Office by USPS or email, tinaf@fbsynod.org.
- We will put a copy in your file.
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SOCIAL STATEMENT
Church, State, and Civic Participation
Listening Events to Provide Input to The Task Force
How do Lutherans interact with our government? How much or how little should our congregations be involved in the political life our society? These questions were first grappled with at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly and resulted in the document, “Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective.” This document as well as the companion are attached. We will use these as starting points to conduct “Listening Events” to provide input to the task force preparing the final draft of the Social Statement. Please join us at one or more of the Zoom enabled listening events in our Synod.
Florida-Bahamas Synod Listening Events
(Zoom meeting links)
Key Documents
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Installations and Ordinations
Sunday, January 23, 3:00 p.m. Oscar Mauricio Restrepo will be ordained at Grace Alone Lutheran Church in Fort Lauderdale. Bishop Suarez will be presiding. Pastor Restrepo will also be installed as Mission Developer of Mision Luterana Guadalupe during this service.
Sunday, January 30, 2:00 p.m. - The Rev. Jeff Gross will be installed at New Life Lutheran Church in Sarasota.
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Seeking a Music Director
Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Temple Terrace is seeking a Music Director to oversee the various music ministries, Voice and Bell Choirs, and special services like Americana and Jazz. For more information about this position and to apply, click here.
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Are you moving from something that was to something that is yet to be?
Transitions Ministry Webinar
January 24 - 28, 2022
There are many factors that come into play when a congregation is in transition. Whether that congregation has just received an interim pastor, has just received a newly called pastor, or is seeking new direction into God's future. This is a time of transition from something that was, towards something that is yet to be. The Transition Training Event will help attendees to focus on what it is that properly motivates ministry so that the "yet to be" is fully in the hands of God, and God's people are themselves renewed and ready for that ministry.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Interim Pastors, First Call and New Call Pastors, Pastors in congregations needing new direction.
COST:
Interim Pastors 5 days - $160
First Call and/or New Call Pastors & Others (M-W) - $130
The Continuing Education Credit for the Rostered Leaders Annual Report to the Bishop is 9 hours for 3-day attendees, or 15 hours for 5-day attendees.
Registration is now open!
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2022 IGNITE THE CHURCH CONFERENCE: February 8-10, 2022
SEISMIC SHIFTS: Where do we go from here?
Since February 2020, the Church has been enduring unprecedented seismic shifts. In response, a new Hybrid version of the grassroots Ignite the Church Conference will gather next February…In-Person in sunny Orlando AND Online…to reflect on the theme:
SEISMIC SHIFTS: Where Do We Go From Here?
The theme is grounded in the witness of Psalm 46: 1-2 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and the mountains shake."
Four large group sessions will focus on the following shifts: Public Church (Winston Persaud), Hybrid Church (Joe and Jess Liles), Adaptive Church (Tod Bolsinger), Thriving Church (Stephanie Spellers). Ten 90-minute workshops will dig deeper into these shifts to offer encouragement, inspiration, and challenge for church leaders.
To register and learn more about the presenters, workshop options, and other details go to www.IgniteTheChurch.net. Register by January 15th to access the low $109 In-Person rate. The Online option will provide live and recorded access to each large group session and the post-conference Resource Page. The Online option is FREE…with a suggested donation $30 to the ELCA Fund for Leaders invited.
All proceeds continue to benefit the ELCA Fund for Leaders which has received $13,000 from the Conference in just the past two years.
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Saturday, February 26, 2022
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Temple Terrace, Florida
Featured Speakers
Roland Martinson
Emeritus Dean, Luther Seminary
Elders Rising: The Era of Expanding Older Adulthood
Pat Baker
President of POAMN
Care Partners from the Receiving End
Join us for inspiring speakers, valuable breakout sessions & worship!
$35 per person (includes lunch)
$20 - Via Zoom (main presenations only)
For information and registration go to aloaserves.org/events/empowering-elders/
Empowering Elders is a joint conference of ALOA - Florida Region and POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network)
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Looking for a Lead Organizer in Sarasota
Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity (SURE) is looking for a Lead Organizer to help them in their pursuit of positive change in Sarasota. SURE gathers congregations for action in the community. For more information contact Ryan at ryan@12springsschurch.com.
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In case you missed these upcoming events... | |
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Rachel Kurtz
Live Outdoor Concert
January 16, 2022 at 2:00pm
Rachel Kurtz has been touring and singing for almost 20 years. She speaks frankly about love, God, parenting, and heartbreak. Her infectious laugh is peppered throughout her concerts. Her songs are rife with emotion and can make you get up and dance. Whether she is singing in a bar or church, her voice can cut through the noise and gives the listener a place to rest. She has sung at the last six national youth gatherings and her song "Make a Difference" is sung nationwide on any given Sunday. Come on out to hear her sing, you will be surprised and delighted!
St. Peter Lutheran Church
3751 Estero Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33931
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Luther Springs 2022 Programs!
There is something for everyone – retreats for elementary, confirmation, high school, and college students; men’s retreat and work weekend; a women’s renewal retreat; a quilters’ retreat; and respite retreats (both with programming and without) for rostered ministers and church professionals. Please note that students stay in Morgan Village cabins (linens not provided). Adults coming as chaperones or for their own retreats will stay in Kuehner Center motel-style rooms (linens provided).
To register for any of our retreats, please go to https://luthersprings.org/fall-and-spring-programs/ or call the registration office at 828-209-6302.
CLICK HERE to see a full list and descriptions of the programs.
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