E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | February 7, 2023 | |
Nominations for Synod Leadership | |
At the 2023 Synod Assembly in Orlando (June 8-10), voting members will elect a bishop. Voting members will also elect people to serve on the Synod Council and the Consultation Committee. Additional information will be provided by the Synod Council relating to the election of the bishop as we move closer to the period leading up to the assembly.
We strongly encourage nominations to be submitted prior to the Synod Assembly so they may be included in the Nomination Packet for Voting Members. This will also facilitate a smoother and more efficient voting process for the open positions.
Click here to view a list of open positions and descriptions. Deadline for nominations is May 1, 2023. You can complete the nominations form here.
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Installations & Ordinations
Deborah Gelerter will be ordained on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 3 p.m. at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Tarpon Springs. Deborah has accepted a call in the Alaska Synod, and Bishop Shelley Wickstrom (Alaska Synod, ELCA) will ordain Deborah at St. Timothy, her home church.
Rev. Grace Gravelle will be installed as pastor of St. Matthew’s in Jacksonville on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 4 p.m. Rev. Rob Carlson will preside.
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Joint Synod Holy Land Pilgrimage
Join Bishop Pedro Suarez and Pr. Khader El-Yateem along with Bishop Yehiel Curry (Metropolitan Chicago Synod) on a journey to the Holy Land in April 2023. This joint pilgrimage includes 10 days of sightseeing and unforgettable experiences.
Space is limited.
Visit our website for the travel itinerary and registration links.
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Weekly Prayer
Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Lutherans You Should Know in Black History | |
To honor Black History Month in the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, the Just Love Team presents “Lutherans You Should Know in Black History.” We present four outstanding African Americans who made a difference in the Lutheran Church. Their stories are not widely known, but they made significant impacts to the church. We will hear how they persevered during the following four eras in U.S. History:
- Pre-Civil War Era (Pastor Jehu Jones)
- Jim Crow Era (Dr. Rosa Young)
- Civil Rights Era (Rev. Dr. Nelson Trout)
- Contemporary (Bishop Yehiel Curry)
We ask each congregation to present the Lutherans You Should Know in Black History summary each week in February. It can be done during announcements, a bulletin insert, or wherever fits best into the service. Each week we offer songs and prayers for use during the service.
Click here to view the weekly summaries.
Join us for the Webinar!
Then, join us on Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m. EST for the Lutherans You Should Know in Black History webinar hosted by the JUST Love Team. Bishop Yehiel Curry from the Metropolitan Chicago Synod will present on history-making African-American Lutherans followed by a time of Q&A. Access the Zoom here.
For more JUST Love resources, visit our website at https://fbsynod.com/just-love/ .
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Wondering What’s Up Ahead? | |
Coaching can help! Coaches don’t bring an agenda for you to take on and they don’t offer a program for you to add on to your already busy work and life. Coaches instead help you get direction and traction on what you want to work on and where you want to go. You decide, you lead and you get going – Rostered Leaders and Lay Leaders alike, individuals or teams.
What is God calling you to do? Let a Coach help you get there! We have experienced and credentialed ELCA Coaches ready to get going with you. Check out fbsynod.com/coaching and elcacoaching.org. Or call our Synod Coaching Coordinator Dr. Johan Bergh, 407-353-2006 for more info.
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Portico Update: Develop a ‘I can do this’ mindset: | |
Deep breaths, time with loved ones, a good night’s sleep … what are your best practices for keeping yourself centered and healthy? If you’re looking to expand your toolbox, and you have ELCA-Primary health benefits, check out Learn to Live’s new course focusing on building resilience. Take the initial assessment and then enroll in the self-guided program at no out-of-pocket cost to you. |
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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. | |
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Just Love Lenten Devotions
The Just Love team invites you to spend the forty days of Lent with The 1619 Project, the ground-breaking book published by the New York Times on the history of American slavery and its repercussions. We recommend that you purchase a copy of the book, in digital or print form, from your favorite online or brick-and-mortar bookseller. For each day in Lent, we are recommending readings from the book. Clergy and laity from the synod are crafting devotions that will highlight one paragraph from the day’s recommended reading and pair it with a passage from scripture. For more information about the daily devotions contact Paul Gibson at pastor@trinitylutheranstpete.org.
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Update from our ReconcilingWorks Chapter
At our January 28 Zoom meeting, representatives from a number of current and potential RIC congregations in the synod discussed how to better organize our work in church and society. The decision was made to change the name of the Central Florida Chapter to “Florida Reconciling Lutherans” and to use our e-newsletter of the same name to coordinate our activities throughout the state. At Synod Assembly, you can expect to see a ministry moment, a resource table, and a hospitality suite that feature our new name and new goals. For more information about Florida Reconciling Lutherans, please contact Carol M. Dunn at cjdunnfl@hotmail.com.
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Lutheran Springs Programs | |
Energize! Question! Understand! Intercede! Proclaim! (EQUIP)
This program is for high school students who are ready for more than the average youth event. They will explore theological issues, discern their gifts for leadership and be challenged! Adult leaders and/or parent chaperones are welcome to join us and stay in Kuehner Center, motel style rooms. Counselors and event staff will lead camp activities and cabin time.
https://luthersprings.org/fall_spring_programs/equip/
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Master Builders – Men’s Retreat
Join us while we do big and small projects to improve Luther Springs, enjoy the lake, tell stories around the campfire, enjoy healthy competition through camp games and sit on the back porch talking about our faith. One of our projects this year will be to work on rebuilding the challenge wall of our Group Interaction Course. This a great opportunity for the men’s group from your church or a group of friends to come and enjoy working with their hands and building community with other men.
Leaders: Rev. Alex Lenz & Rev. Jonathan Gantt
https://luthersprings.org/fall_spring_programs/master-builders/
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Hope Lutheran Church, The Villages, has 180 free chairs available to a good home. If you are a ministry start-up or church in need of chairs, please contact Rick Schaaf at Rick@hope4all.church. | |
Photos of the Week: St. Paul's Lutheran, Melbourne | |
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The congregation of St. Paul’s Lutheran in Melbourne recently celebrated its annual Blessing of the Quilts. This small group of faithful servants donate their time, talents and treasures to prayerfully create quilts to be donated to Lutheran World Relief. This year, the St. Paul’s Quilters completed more than 160 quilts. (Photos courtesy of David Young Romero)
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
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A Study Curriculum on Civic Life & Faith
The ELCA Task Force on Studies for Civic Life and Faith has released a study curriculum for use throughout our church. In providing this study curriculum and soliciting feedback, the task force invites you to join a conversation about religious liberty, the proper role of the church in relation to government, and many other critical topics. A response form after each session lets participants communicate with the task force itself on the material covered.
The curriculum has six sessions. The first is a core introduction, and the following sessions can be done in any order according to the interests of the group. Each session comes ready to use, with a teaching video, prayers, hymn suggestions, Scriptures, group discussion questions, suggested resources, and case studies taken from everyday life. Read more...
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September 23: - diakonia graduation/retreat and conversation with the Bishop, Location TBD
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October 16-18: Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Location TBD.
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November 10-12: Save the date! Florida-Bahamas Women of the ELCA Fall Gathering
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