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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... | |
Leaving a Legacy...St. James in Coral Gables
1945 was an incredible year. World War II ended in Europe on May 7th; nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Japan surrendered on August 14; German concentration camps were liberated; and President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin signed the Yalta Agreement. In hindsight, it was a bittersweet year. As the world recovered from World War II, a new Lutheran congregation was planted in the beautiful town of Coral Gables--St. James Lutheran Church.
Founding members, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Segert, are quoted in a newspaper article from the 40’s saying it was their “…dream to help establish a House where the Word of God would be proclaimed (and) where listeners would believe…” With the exuberance of the war ending, the founding members of St. James saw incredible potential in this idyllic town in south Florida. By the late 1940’s, St. James had 350 members and was quickly growing. Land was being bought and buildings were going up to keep up with the growing congregation, but if you were to ask the folks at St. James what they were most proud of, they would have probably answered the Garden of our Lord.
Filled with plants from the Bible, the Garden was used to teach children in a hands-on way. In addition to the plants that filled the Garden, there was a pond filled with tropical fish and an eight-ton custom carved statue of Jesus. It was a quiet place to come and reflect on faith and spend time with God.
St. James continued to grow and thrive in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. As the 80’s came there was a shift in the demographics and the congregation struggled to adapt. Different types of leadership and preaching styles caused internal conflict and the ministry of St. James began to decline.
By the 2000’s, St. James tried to reinvent itself and become a dual lingo congregation. Blessed by ministering to the community, the church saw a brief rejuvenation that, unfortunately, was not sustainable. Soon St. James had to face the reality that its viability as an active congregation was at an end.
As people of the empty tomb, we know that death has lost its sting. As people of the risen Christ, we know the power of the resurrection. As people of Easter, we know that God does not stop even when we think things are over. Last year, the St. James property sold for over $9 million dollars. Next week, discover how this legacy gift will be used to continue the vision of the founding members of St. James “to help establish a House where the Word of God would be proclaimed (and) where listeners would believe…”
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Synod Assembly is Fast Approaching!
Click here for information about the Assembly including a preliminary agenda, list of workshop options, reports, and more.
Register today and reserve your overnight stay at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando. Rooms are going fast.
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Nominations Now Open!
Nominations are now being accepted for Synod Council, Discipline Committee, and Consultation Committee. All elections will be held during the Synod Assembly June 3-5, 2022.
Please consider serving your Synod in any of these roles or nominating others to serve. All nominees must have given their consent prior to being nominated. Deadline for submitting nominations is May 11, 2022. Nominations must be made on-line at: http://www.fbsynod.com under Synod Assembly.
As we continue working to achieve the Constitutional balance and election timing for the Consultation Committee, a Female Minister of Word & Sacrament for a 1-year term will be elected at this Assembly. This person will then be eligible to be re-elected to a 6-year term in 2023, if desired.
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 during the Assembly.
Here are the many ways you may answer the call to serve the Florida Bahamas Synod (read more)
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Donate to Second Harvest at Synod Assembly
Congregations are being asked to bring food items for Second Harvest Food Bank when you come to Synod Assembly this year. If each congregation brings 50 pounds of canned goods and other items, we could donate more than four tons to Second Harvest! That would help a lot of struggling families.
Critically needed items:
- Canned fruit and vegetables
- Grains (rice, cereal, oatmeal)
- Proteins (canned meat, tuna, beans, peanut butter, canned soup)
- Dairy (dry or evaporated milk)
- Baby Food
- Non-Food items (these can’t be purchased with food stamps – e.g., soap, shampoo, toothpaste)
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ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grant Applications Now Open!
ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants accompany congregations and their partners throughout the United States and Caribbean as they draw on the strengths of communities to address local issues such as food security, clean water, housing, job readiness, human rights, policy change, leadership development and more. Together, these ministries are part of a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger — for good.
Click here for additional details on the grant application process.
Further questions? Contact BarbaraMercerM@iCloud.com (Florida-Bahamas Synod Hunger Chair).
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FB Synod Council Creates $20,000 Scholarship Fund for Camp
Due to the National ELCA Youth Gathering being canceled this year, the Florida-Bahamas Synod Council approved a scholarship fund to help children in the synod go to any camp Novus Way offers.
The council approved up to $20,000 in scholarship money be made available this summer. When a child is registered at a Novus Way camp, if they use the code FBSynod22 they will get a $200 credit applied to their fees. If a child has already registered, a refund of $200 will be issued by Novus Way.”
To register for a camp, go to Novus Way and select a camp site and a program. A special shout-out to Luther Springs which is the Novus Way camp here in our synod. For a direct link to their programs, click here.
If you would like to donate to the camp scholarship fund, simply click here and click on the box that says “Novus Way (Luther Springs).”
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Ordinations & Installations
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April 23, 11:00 a.m., Esthel Kane will be ordained into the office of Word & Sacrament at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel; Bishop Kevin Strickland will preside, and Bishop Pedro Suarez will celebrate. Esthel has been called to serve the congregation of St. James Lutheran Church in Brunswick, Georgia.
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Diakonia News
Sitting at my desk, I came across a flyer with a post-it note attached. The note said, “Why not you?” Say what? It was a brochure for a new synod program – a two-year program – and I thought to myself, “Is my pastor serious? I don’t have enough on my plate with a full-time job, active ministry life, family, friends, etc.?”
Nevertheless, I found myself driving the 45 miles to the site where the courses were being held, on a Saturday morning, and met 13 people – none of whom were committed to anything more than this first class.
Two years later, we all graduated and my life was changed forever…in ways I never could have imagined.
You are invited on the journey. Come and see! Self-study is now available. Go to diakoniafl.org to check out the web site, or email me, Michele Hilton, at MicheleAHilton@aol.com.
There’s a seat with your name on it.
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Disaster Response Feedback Needed
The Florida Bahamas Synod strives to help local congregations continue to be the church even during a disaster. This follows Christ’s call to bring hope and healing to our neighbors in need whomever they may be. Hurricane season is approaching, and we all need to be ready in case a storm hits our synod.
There are two parts to dealing with any disaster. First, have a plan before a disaster strikes so you are prepared ahead of time. Second, how do we respond to a disaster once it passes?
To get an idea of how we prepare and serve, please click here to take a short survey and provide feedback on how the Synod Disaster Response team can better serve you and your congregation.
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A Wellness Retreat for Rostered Leaders During a Pandemic
* NEW ADDITIONAL DATES: June 13-15 *
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.
June 13 - 15
(Mon-Wed)
St. Peter Lutheran Church
3751 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
Overnight accommodations at the Residence Inn Fort Myers Sanibel.
For information and registration, click here.
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Don't forget these reports!
Congregation Reports (Parochial) 2021 - Deadline for online filing of parochial report is May 3.
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.
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Luther Springs 2022 Programs
List of retreats & programs for 2022:
Information & Registration
Audaire Spiritual Direction Formation Program
Zoom Information Sessions
April 21
Information & Registration here
LSF 40th Anniversary Celebration
Celebration in Sarasota
April 26
Event details
Service of Holy Closure
Faith Lutheran Church in Tampa
will celebrate their last service,
led by Assistant to the Bishop,
Rev. Khader El-Yateem.
May 1 - 3 p.m.
For additional information email office@stpaultampa.org.
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The Earth Sings Beauty
May 1
National Lutheran Choir
Click here for tickets & event details.
Boundless Wide & Deep
July 24-29
Luther Springs in Hawthorne
A week of fun and ministry for youth.
Schedule & Registration
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The Oberammergau Passion Play
September 20 - 30
Adult Lutherans Organized for Action
Details & Registration Info
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