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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... | |
Weekend Tornadoes Affect Congregations in Fort Myers Area
This past Sunday morning, January 16, tornadoes hit areas of southwest Florida. In Lee County 60 homes are unlivable with 27 being totally destroyed.
Rev. Sharon Taylor, pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Myers Beach and Rev. Andreas Stein, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, reported that many of their members lost their homes and are in need of help.
To help those who were in the tornado's path and lost everything, click here and donate. 100% of the money given will be used in the tornado relief efforts.
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New May Educational Grant for Ministers of Word and Sacrament
Established by a generous gift from Pastor Rusty and PJ May, the grant is available to rostered ministers of word and sacrament of the Florida-Bahamas Synod for continued education.
The grant amount will depend on dollars available and the number of applicants. To apply click here or visit the synod website. Deadline for the first round of grants is February 15, 2022.
Possible areas of study may include (but not limited to):
· Festival Homiletics
· On-line or in-person continued education courses at a seminary
· Participating in community organizing training on faith-based social
justice ministries
· Participating in trips to the Holy Land/Germany/St Paul sites
· Accompanying a synod Global Mission Table trip
· Attending workshops
Grants will be awarded by the decision of the grant’s committee meeting during the first quarter of 2022. Questions may be addressed to Rev. Ana L. Lugo, Gift Planner for the Synod, at ana.lugo@elca.org.
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This year's Synod Assembly will be held June 3-5 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.
The Conference on Ministry for rostered ministers will be held October 17-19 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg.
More information to follow.
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It's that time of year again--annual reports are due soon...
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Congregation Reports (Parochial) 2021 - Deadline to file with the Office of the Secretary is March 1, 2022. If you file via paper copy, please mail it to the Synod Office by February 15.
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Rostered Minister Reports - To be submitted by all ministers including those under call, on leave from call, retired, or on disability. Download and save to your computer. Following completion, save, and attach to an e-mail to ileanas@fbsynod.org.
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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.
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Stewardship Symposium 2022: The Gift of Stewardship as the Mission of the Church
JANUARY 28, 2022, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Rev. Dr. Dan Bell will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Region 9/LTSS Stewardship Symposium, an annual event providing stewardship education for the seminary community, clergy and lay leaders, and the general public.
In his presentation, “The Gift of Stewardship as the Mission of the Church,” Dr. Bell will explore stewardship as “not about giving to the church but about the church giving itself away,” and will consider why Christians do not give more, the pathos of contemporary stewardship, and challenges in leading the church in giving itself away.
Dr. Bell served as professor of theology and ethics at LTSS for 17 years. Residing now in Salt Lake City, Dr. Bell continues to teach online, undergraduate classes for LRU as an adjunct professor and is a popular guest speaker on the topics of war and peace, the moral life, stewardship, and the mission of the church today.
The event will take place in person and will be streamed online. Registration is required. Admission for the Online option for rostered ministers and laity is $10. Registration deadline is January 27. Click here to read more about this event and to register.
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Webinar - Tuesday, February 8, 7:00 p.m. (EST)
Boldly Serving Our Afghan Neighbors: A Call for Congregational Accompaniment and Co-Sponsorship
Need is growing following the evacuation of thousands of Afghan refugees to the United States, and we hear the call to bear witness to God's love with Afghan newcomers who have lost their homes and must make new beginnings. Lutheran Disaster Response, the ELCA AMMPARO network, and ELCA Witness in Society will help congregations and individuals answer the call to engage in co-sponsorship, financial support, and advocacy meaningfully and effectively as we rise to show welcome in the days and years ahead.
Tuesday, February 8
7:00-8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Registration: https://bit.ly/ELCAwebinarServingAfghanNeighbors
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Alban Institute's Most-Read of 2021
Greeting our return when the old is gone and the new is here
As we resume in-person ways, churches are uniquely equipped to welcome people back.
By Nathan Kirkpatrick
Let’s re-envision “normal”
Along with the hard lessons of the pandemic, churches have learned things that can make them healthier for clergy and congregants.
By Alex Shea Will
Congregations should see their buildings as assets, not albatrosses
Talking about church buildings is fun for the bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis – not just because she is trained in architecture and historic preservation, but also because it leads to questions like, “What is this congregation for?”
Interview with Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows
The next three most faithful steps
After an unprecedented year, looking ahead can feel overwhelming. The right questions and partners can help prioritize what comes next.
By David L. Odom
Living into joy, late in the pandemic
A walk by a stream prompts a writer and spiritual director to wonder: Could a fresh understanding of joy help restore us?
By Samuel Rahberg
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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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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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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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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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Installations and Ordinations
The ordination and installation of Oscar Mauricio Restrepo on January 23 will be rescheduled.
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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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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Kennedy Haugen, our Communications Coordinator, is pursuing other opportunities. In this interim period, please send your communications to info@fbsynod.org. | |
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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