E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | January 17, 2022 | |
Don't Forget to Submit Your Annual Reports | |
This is a friendly reminder to submit your annual reports, if you haven't already done so. These reports are another point of connection between your congregation and the Bishop's Office. They help us track categories like attendance, baptisms, expenses, mission support, and more. They also help us plan programs and events to best support the ministries of the congregations throughout our synod.
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Annual Congregation Reports (Parochial): To access the forms, visit https://elca.org/Resources/Office-of-the-Secretary. Click on the Forms A & C link on the right-hand-side of the page. Your congregation should have already received this information from Churchwide with a password. If you cannot find your password, please contact the synod office at 813-876-7660 ext. 0. Deadline for online submission is March 1, 2023. (Please note: If Forms A & C are not available when you click the link, they should be available this week or next.)
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Installations & Ordinations
Rev. Rob Cosmas will be installed as the pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Indian Harbour Beach on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Robert Carlson will preside.
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 will ordain Deborah at St. Timothy, her home church.
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Florida-Bahamas Director of Disaster Response Opening
The Director of Disaster Response assists the Florida-Bahamas Synod with building a disaster response infrastructure and implementing it throughout the state. The position is responsible for assisting the Synod and congregations to be prepared and readied to respond to disasters, minister to those dealing with tragedy, and build capacity within our congregations to respond in times of need.
If you would like to apply, click here for a complete job description. After reading it, if you are qualified please email your resume to Pastor Rob Rose, Assistant to the Bishop of Administration,
robr@fbsynod.org.
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Hurricane Damage to Our Congregations
This hurricane season was a hard one. Many of our buildings sustained significant damage. Bishop Suárez and the Synod Council would like to know if your congregation is dealing with damage and to what extent. If this is the case in your community, please take this two minute survey so we can start to collect information regarding the total extent of damage and costs.
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National Fund for Sacred Places Grant Opportunity
The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000+ as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects. To learn more, please visit us at fundforsacredplaces.org.
Join us for an introductory webinar on Wednesday, February 1st at 12:00 PM EST to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place (or the sacred places in your community or judicatory) may qualify.
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Weekly Prayer
Holy God, our strength and our redeemer, by your Spirit hold us forever, that through your grace we may worship you and faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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Learn about Florida’s ReconcilingWorks Chapter via Zoom on January 28 | |
For nearly two decades, the Central Florida Chapter of ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation has been active within the Florida-Bahamas Synod advocating for welcoming and affirming the place in the Lutheran Church of those in the LGBTQ+ community.
The chapter has been active in conducting one-day orientations about what it means to be a Reconciling In Christ (RIC) faith community, publishing the Florida Reconciling Lutherans newsletter, and taking part in Synod Assemblies by hosting displays, workshops, Ministry Moments and informal gatherings and facilitating resolutions for consideration at plenary sessions. Today its focus has broadened to encompass racism, religious intolerance and justice issues.
The synod had three RIC congregations in 2005. Today there are 27 RIC faith communities (including two campus ministries) and the synod itself has been RIC since 2013.
On Saturday, January 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Central Florida Chapter will host a virtual gathering to share ideas about its future. Anyone interested in this discussion is welcome to take part. One item to be discussed is the possibility of the Central Florida Chapter becoming a full Florida chapter.
The virtual gathering will begin with a summary of the history and current situation of the chapter. Then participants will break into small groups to share information about their own communities’ approaches to being welcoming and what they envision going forward. If there is interest in creating a synod-wide ReconcilingWorks chapter, plans will be laid for next steps, including a future virtual meeting to moving forward with its formation.
The Zoom address for the 10 a.m. January 28 meeting is
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/402615714 . If you would like more information in the meantime, please e-mail chapter president Carol M. Dunn at cjdunnfl@hotmail.com.
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Building a Culture of Generosity | |
There will be one more national cohort of BCG (Building a Culture of Generosity) for congregations, offered by GSB Fundraising, that will be eligible for this current grant of $200 per congregation (reducing the congregation cost from $450 to $250). This cohort will begin in January. Congregations that wanted to participate this past year but were unable to, or congregations that would be a good fit for this resource, can register at: https://gsbfundraising.com/bcg-registration-elca-partnership/
The GSB Fundraising Contact for this Winter/Spring 2023 Cohort is Paul Walters, walters@gsbfr.com. The first session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. Central Time. All sessions will be at this time, with the next 5 sessions scheduled for: Feb 7, Feb 21, March 7, March 21, and April 17.
View the flyer for additional details.
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Low Cost Creation Care Ideas for Your Congregation | The issue of Care for God's Creation has been well grounded in the Bible. The biggest challenge that many congregations and ministries find is how to move forward with implemented actions that can make a difference. One of the biggest hurdles is often the cost of implementing a new way of doing our work. It can be very expensive to change. For instance, using solar power can cost tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars. On top of the cost, churches cannot get the tax break that an individual can get. There are, however, some simple low or no cost changes that can be done. The Florida-Bahamas Synod has a co-branded handout with the EPA designed for congregations. Please contact the Synod to get a free copy and learn more about setting up a Green Team. This list should help you get started. |
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ALOA Webinar: How to Start & Enhance an Intentional Older Adult Ministry in your Congregation - January 26 at noon | How do you go about starting or expanding a ministry for seniors? Join Rev. Mark Shultz and Deacon Tom Perry from Trinity Lutheran Church in Mission/Shawnee, Kansas, as they discuss their experiences in creating and enhancing ministry for, as well as with the older adults in their congregation. They will share how God led Trinity to develop an intentional ministry which cares for, supports and utilizes the gifts of people of retirement age and beyond. They will also talk about the philosophy of their Older Adult Ministry and give specific ideas for starting and enhancing ministry in any congregation. Click here to register. |
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Florida-Bahamas Synod Advocacy Days: February 14-15, 2023 | "I Desire Mercy" is our Advocacy Days with Bishop Suárez for synod clergy and laity in Tallahassee on February 14-15. Participants are asked to arrive in the afternoon for training on February 14 followed by a dinner. Visits with legislators will be held the next morning. More information is forthcoming at floridachurches.org/idesiremercy. Please save the date! |
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Interim Pastor/Transition Ministry Training
In-Person, January 31- February 2, at Luther Springs! Register now!
| In the bestseller, Passages, Gail Sheehy argues that life, from birth to death, is really a series of twists and turns, with each being an opportunity for creative change. There are many factors that come into play when a congregation is in transition. Whether that congregation has just received an interim pastor, a newly-called pastor, or is seeking new direction into God's future, it is a time of transition from something that was to something that is yet to be. If you are in your first call, On Leave from Call or retired, this may be an opportunity for you. Click here to register. |
Join us for the diakonia Graduation on Jan. 21 at Hope Lutheran, the Villages | |
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ALL are invited to join the graduates and their friends and families, their instructors and coaches in a day of celebration!
The Florida-Bahamas Synod’s School of Lay Ministry presents the 14th diakonia graduating class on January 21, 2023, at Hope Lutheran Church, the Villages.
Come all day. Come for part of the day. Come for the graduation worship service. COME!
We will gather around 9:30 a.m. for coffee and fellowship. Then a Come’n See class where you can enjoy a taste of the education opportunity provided by the School of Lay Ministry’s curriculum, which now offers over 20 courses for new students, and continuing education for graduates and even congregation Bible Study.
For prospective parish deacons, a Table Talk will be held in the afternoon.
Stay for lunch! We will be joined by Bishop Pedro Suárez, and we will enjoy conversation with the bishop after lunch.
Worship with us at the graduation worship service, Bishop Suárez presiding. This is sure to be a moving and memorable service.
To attend, please send an email to Ed Bornman at bornmel@diakoniafl.org and let us know. There is no charge for the class, conversation with the bishop or worship. If you’d like to join us for lunch, the cost is $15 which can be paid at the event or online at diakoniafl.org/Tuition and fees/graduation lunch.
Click here to read a letter from diakonia Executive Director Rev. William Hamilton.
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Synod Parish Deacons Retreat | |
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“Growing in Faith, Hope and Love” Retreat will be held March 3-4, 2023 at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Oviedo FL. We encourage all Synod Parish Deacons to attend this in-person retreat to hear updates, learn about new opportunities, meet other Synod Parish Deacons, and more! Please visit the Florida-Bahamas Synod website for more information and the registration form.
You can also find this information on our Synod Parish Deacon Facebook Page at FBS Synod Parish Deacons.
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Portico Update: Utilize Text Support | |
It’s brave and smart to seek help if you’re living with stress, depression, anxiety, or mental health struggles – but accessing an in-person counselor isn’t always easy or even possible. That’s one reason the ELCA-Primary health plan EAP benefit has expanded to include Talkspace, digital confidential online counseling with licensed therapists via text, video, or audio. Read more on myPortico. |
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Lutheran Church of the Palms in Palm Harbor has 5 tables and 40 chairs that they are giving away or free to anyone who might need them. If interested, please call the church office at 727-784-4119, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. | |
Photos of the Week: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Naples | |
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Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Naples gathered at Cambier Park along with Emmanuel Community Church and Emmanuel Park Church on January 16 for a day of remembering Martin Luther King and giving thanks for the ongoing work of social justice still happening.
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
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January 21: Hope Lutheran - The Villages - diakonia Graduation Eucharist 4:00 pm
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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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