E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | December 6, 2022 | |
Join Us for a Virtual Mini-Session with Dr. Reggie McNeal | |
Dr. Reggie Mc Neal is back with a free virtual mini-session as a follow-up to the Conference on Ministry! This won't simply be a recap of the conference, but instead it's an opportunity to build on our discussions and further equip you to build Kingdom-centric ministries.
Upcoming Session: Searching for Kingdom Collaborators
January 12, 2023 | 11 a.m.
Kingdom leaders co-conspire with God to bring more of His kingdom to earth. Reggie’s presentation highlights how to spot them, what characteristics they evidence, and how church leaders can partner with them for greater kingdom impact in your community. Who knows? You might just be one of these leaders yourself! Webinar participants can send in questions ahead of time through the registration link as well as participate in live Q&A during the online event.
Click here to register.
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Ordinations & Installations
The ordination and installation of Ismael José Calderón will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Coral Gables on Sunday, December 11, at 2 p.m.; Bishop Suarez will preside. Ismael is a graduate of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He has accepted the call to serve as Pastor of St. Mark’s.
The installation of the Rev. Dale Raatz as pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Gainesville will be held on Sunday, December 18, at 3 p.m.; Bishop Suarez will preside.
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Region 9 Gender Justice Boundaries and Inclusion Education
If you missed the free Region 9 Gender Justice Boundaries and Inclusion Education, you now have another chance to participate! Click here to register. This opportunity will be held via ZOOM on Tuesday, January 9, 2023, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
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Weekly Prayer Focus: Advent
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of your only Son, so that by his coming we may worship you with pure minds; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
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Just Love Advent Devotions - Week Two: Peace
The JUST LOVE Team of the Florida-Bahamas Synod is pleased to offer four Advent devotions for use by individuals and congregations wishing to explore the themes of Advent as they are experienced by marginalized communities. We encourage you to find partners from these communities with which to discuss these devotions—you could partner with an African-American, Latino, or LGBTQIA+ congregation, for example.
The devotions can be turned into a mid-week worship service or Bible study. They can also be sent out to your members for use in their daily devotions. We look forward to hearing how you have been able to use them in your faith community.
Click here to view all the devotions.
Click here to access Week Two: Peace (Giuseppe Mattei, Nativity Lutheran Church, Weeki Wachee).
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Global Mission Newsletter | It has been an eventful fall for Global Mission--and it's all described in the Fall 2022 newsletter! Read the reflections offered about the trips to Jamaica and Cuba, and celebrate a milestone anniversary with the Lutheran Church in Suriname. The Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence described in the newsletter ends in a few days--but most of the resources are available on a continuous basis. Learn how to access all that's been shared on this important topic. | | |
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SWO Fund for Leaders Scholarship for Seminary Students
The Florida-Bahamas Synodical Women’s Organization (SWO) will be awarding a scholarship(s) to seminary students that provides financial assistance to those in the candidacy status pursing ordained ministry. Scholarship(s) will be applied to tuition costs only at an ELCA seminary. Seminary students who are in the candidacy process, attending one of the eight ELCA seminaries, and are either in the Master of Divinity (M.DIV), Master of Arts (MA), or Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) programs are eligible for this scholarship. Preferences will be given to residents of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, female applicants, and active members of congregational units. The chosen applicant(s) should exhibit faith qualities that empower others and demonstrate leadership qualities in the church and in the community. The scholarship application is available on the SWO website, www.flwelca.com. The deadline to send a completed application to Donna Person, SWO Board member, at dperson7@aol.com is December 15, 2022. The SWO Board will choose a scholarship recipient(s) in January, and all applicants will be notified of the Board’s decision.
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Joint Worship Service: Palms Deaf Church & St. Paul's Lutheran | |
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Rev. Lori Fuller, pastor of Palms Deaf Church, a mission start congregation in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, joined St. Paul’s Lutheran in Melbourne, Florida for worship on Christ the King Sunday. This special worship service was dual language being celebrated in both spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL). This was the third service these congregations have celebrated together.
Pastor Lori Fuller was accompanied by members of Palms Deaf Church and Misty Arrington, an ASL interpreter who has worked closely with St. Paul’s and Palms Deaf Church during the past year.
This dual language service created a space where the Kingdom of God can be accessed and experienced by both the hearing and the deaf. The entire service is celebrated with Pastor Lori Fuller and Pastor David Young c0-presiding. Pastor Lori presides in ASL while Pastor David presides in spoken English. Misty bridges the gap between hearing and deaf as she uses both voice and sign, allowing all in attendance to fully participate in worship.
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Photos of the Week: Metropolitan Chicago Synod | |
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Last week, our synod hosted a delegation from the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, led by Bishop Yehiel Curry. Members from both synods engaged in fellowship, devotional time, and exploration of the Tampa Bay area. Next April, both synods will join together for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Click here to learn more.
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
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Living Lutheran: God is with Us by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Sometimes the world just seems so solid. Reality is uncompromising and immutable. Literally, what you see is what you get, and our sight, our perception, is limited. So we forge on with all the obligations of daily life—family and work and taxes and deadlines. Our scope of existence becomes closed in, and our world gets smaller. Can this really be all there is? Click here to read more.
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January 21, 2023 - Hope Lutheran - The Villages - diakonia Graduation Eucharist 4:00 pm
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September 23, 2023 - diakonia graduation/retreat and conversation with the Bishop, Location TBD
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October 16-18, 2023 - Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Location TBD.
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