E-Spirit

Weekly Newsletter

News, Stories, and More

from the

Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA

March 15, 2022

Keeping up with news and stories from around the synod...

Meet Brittany Jackson

The Florida-Bahamas Synod is pleased to welcome Brittany Jackson who joins our team as the new communications director.

In this role she will be responsible for the weekly E-Spirit newsletter, the synod social media and website, public relations, and providing communications resources and assistance to our local churches.

Brittany shared, "I'm excited to help tell the story of the churches in our synod and use this communication ministry to spread the good news of Jesus Christ."

Brittany's background includes experience in various communication roles with local government, religious entities, and nonprofit organizations. She is a Tampa native and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

You can reach Brittany at comms@fbsynod.org

Over 1 Million Meals!

After a year off due to Covid, Christ Lutheran Church in Cape Coral once again partnered with St. Katharine Drexel Catholic and Trinity Lutheran (LCMS) churches in the Feed My Starving Children Meal Pack and Food Drive.

Serving both globally and locally, this year the community packed 145,000 meals and collected over 600 lbs of food, bringing our 6 year grand total to over 1 million meals packed and over 4,000 lbs of food donated to the local pantry!! That means 2,700 kids globally will have at least 1 meal a day for 1 year. Christ Lutheran Church raised over $5,000 toward this goal and 42 members, family, and friends volunteered.

Feed My Starving Children is a faith-based organization whose mission is to end hunger, one meal at a time. The meals packed here have been sent to Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba. (Contact: Pam Fairfax, CLC)

May Education Fund Makes First Round of Scholarships

Congratulations to the recipients of the first round of scholarships from the May Education Fund.

• Pastor Nate Bendorf

• Pastor John Hilmer

• Pastor Sarah Locke

• Pastor Daniel Locke

• Pastor Lois Ann Sorensen

• Pastor Kari Niedermaier

This fund is set up by the May family to provide funding for continuing education to Word and Sacrament rostered leaders in the FB Synod.

Each recipient will receive a letter letting them know the details of their scholarship. The next opportunity to submit a request will be in February 2023. Thank you to the team, headed up by Ana Lugo, for their diligent work throughout the process.

Synod Assembly Registration is Now Open

We are thrilled to finally be able to gather in assembly after two years of pandemic precautions. We look forward to a joy-filled time of worship, workshops, and fellowship.

We will meet at the Caribe Royale in Orlando from June 3 through 5, 2022.

Information and registration link available here.

Ordinations & Installations.

The Rev. David Guss will be installed as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Miami Springs on Sunday, April 10, at 10:30 AM.

A Wellness Retreat for Rostered Leaders During a Pandemic

Facilitated by the Rev. Sharon Taylor

And all who thirst will thirst no more

And all who search will find what their souls long for

The world will try, but it can never fill

Leave it all behind, and come to the well. Casting Crowns

Let’s be Honest. Being a rostered leader is challenging in good times. During a pandemic, pastoring can be unbearable at times!

Through a generous grant from Lutheran Disaster Relief-USA, the Florida-Bahamas Synod is sponsoring this two-night retreat as a crisis response and an opportunity to decompress and reconnect to our spiritual selves.

“Come to the Well” retreat will provide opportunities for rest, renewal, and play. Using spiritual practices, we will reconnect with God, with ourselves, and with one another.

May 9-11

(Mon-Wed)

2:30 PM - 2:00 PM

St. Peter Lutheran Church

3751 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

Overnight accommodations at the Residence Inn Fort Myers Sanibel. Please click here for information and registration.

Open Position: Director of Student and Family Ministries

Lutheran Church of the Cross in St. Petersburg, FL just started a search for a new Director of Student and Family Ministries. The position is up to 40 hours a week. If you would like more information, click here to see the full job description.

It's not too late to file these annual reports

Congregation Reports (Parochial) 2021

Rostered Minister Reports - Download and save to your computer. Following completion, save, and attach to an e-mail to ileanas@fbsynod.org.

Mission Support Covenants - You can file your covenant online or by returning the card to the Synod Office. This year, the Florida-Bahamas Synod will forward 46% of our mission support dollars to Churchwide.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

The Village

Lutheran Counseling Service

Support Groups for LGBTQ+ and Trans Youth- March 2022

Click here for the LGBTQ+ group.

Click here for the Trans Therapy group.

"Lettuce" Give Thanks

ALL Women of the Caloosa Conference

March 26

Christ Lutheran Church

Cape Coral

Information & Registration

College Readiness Webinar Series

Click here for more information on this series.

Registration

Luther Springs 2022 Programs

List of retreats and programs for 2022:

Information & Registration

Grief Matters

Virtual Educational Series on Grief

Click here for schedule of topics and registration.

Boundless Wide & Deep

July 24-29

Luther Springs in Hawthorne

A week of fun and ministry for youth.

Schedule & Registration

Audaire Spiritual Direction Formation Program

Zoom Information Sessions

March 21 or April 21

Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA | fbsynod.com