We have come to the time in our Synod’s Vision to Action Process where we need as many of our Synod congregation members as possible to vote on the goals that have emerged from our listening. Your votes inform the Synod Council and help them to focus on the ministry initiatives you feel are most important for the future of the Florida Bahamas Synod.

Please click here to take this very important survey and also share it with other active members of your congregation. You can download of list of the proposed initiatives here.

Statement from Bishop Suárez: LSF Board Candidates

Lutheran Services Florida, Inc., a Tampa based non-profit social support services organization, is currently seeking Board members to fulfill their mission to bring God’s healing, hope, and help to people in need helping them overcome crises and trauma to create a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant. Ideal candidates have a background that includes strong business expertise and direct experience working with or in large, complex organizations. Board members serve three-year terms with a three-term limit. New candidates can anticipate beginning their term as of January 24, 2023. To submit nominations for consideration, please email Pastor Rob Rose, Assistant to the Bishop for Administration at robr@fbsynod.org.  

Ordinations & Installations

Rev. Walt Lichtenberger will be installed as pastor of Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Naples at 4 p.m. on November 20, 2022. Bishop Suárez will be presiding.

Rev. Lori Fuller will be installed as pastor of Palms Deaf Church on December 4 at St. Mark by the Sea. Rev. Rob Carlson will be presiding.

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.

Save the Date: Come to the Well

Please save the date for "Come to the Well" -- the rostered leaders retreat. It will be held January 17-19, 2023. More details to come. For questions, please contact Rev. Khader El-Yateem at KhaderE@fbsynod.org.

Catching up with a diakonia Student: Meet Peggy

Listen in over the next several weeks as some of the current diakonia students chat about their experience with the guided, self-study program for adult faith formation. This is the fifth in the series.

Michele: Hi Peggy. I know that you live and worship in the Villages and that you are a retired nurse and a new grandmother – and that you and your husband like to travel. What prompted you to enroll in the diakonia program?

Peggy: I have heard the Lord calling me since I was in high school and didn’t know what he was calling me to do. I was told at that time that women were not eligible to become pastors, so I put it in the back of my mind. After graduation, I felt the Lord calling again and decided nursing was the path He was calling me to.  

Read more...

Just Love Advent Devotions

The Just Love team is offering four weekly devotions for use by congregations or individuals in the season of Advent. 

The devotions will link scripture to the voices of marginalized communities in our church and society. They can be used in a mid-week worship service or Bible study or serve as a guide to personal prayer. We recommend that you find partners from a church or culture that is not your own (e.g., a black church in your neighborhood) with whom you can discuss the material.

The devotions will reflect the following weekly themes: Week One: HOPE; Week Two: PEACE; Week Three: JOY; Week Four: LOVE.

The devotions will be shared in E-Spirit and by direct email from the Just Love team. 

Sign up to receive the emails by contacting Paula Edwards, pedwards1013@icloud.com, or Paul Gibson, pastor@trinitylutheranstpete.org.

Left to right: Pastor Lois Sorensen, Pastor Jen Moore (national), Pastor Joanie Holden, and Pastor Trixie Richter. All were Fund for Leaders Scholarship recipients.

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.

Thriving Beyond Covid in 2023: Living and Leading with Resurrection Faith - A Weekend Congregational Renewal Opportunity

Hope, dream and live into what God has in store for us

The past three years have taken a huge toll on the spirit of our members and congregations. As we seek to thrive beyond Covid -- or beyond any congregational challenge -- the faith and spirit of rostered and lay leaders will have a significant impact on the outcome of any congregational renewal efforts. As we head toward a new year, consider scheduling a congregational renewal weekend for your congregation and leaders during the first three months of 2023 so that when Easter is celebrated on April 9, they are primed and ready to live and lead with resurrection faith. Rooted in scripture and shaped by a provocative passage from James 1 and a little used passage in Ephesians 3, the weekend is designed to encourage, inspire, and challenge congregations to avoid the temptation to move back to the way things used to be…and instead to move forward to the Kingdom-impacting church God is calling them to become. The weekend was designed and will be led by Pastor Jeff Linman who served as pastor of Spirit of Joy in Orlando from 1996 to 2016. Click here for a full description.

Southwest Florida Disaster Response Mission Weeks

In an effort to help in the area impacted by Hurricane Ian, Luther Springs has partnered with Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota to offer Southwest Florida Disaster Response mission weeks in June and July this summer.

Along with various debris removal and rebuild projects, the program will include team building, games, music, and fun. There will also be opportunities to work with Faith Lutheran and their food distribution program. After our work is complete each day, we will spend time at the beach for fun, worship at sunset, and devotions in the sand. There will also be a boat outing.

All meals will be provided from Sunday dinner through Friday breakfast. Cost is $450.

This program is for youth who have completed 9-12th grades. Those who have completed 8th grade may also attend at the discretion of their church leaders, but please consider maturity level both in the seriousness of the work as well as the stories they may hear as survivors share their experiences.

Space is limited. To make sure there is availability for the week you are interested in, your first step in the registration process will be to contact Deacon Sue Mendenhall by phone at 727-415-9887.

Please note a $150 non-refundable deposit for each person must be received by January 15, 2023. Failure to pay the deposit by this date will result in the loss of the space held for you as well as the deposit.

We are looking forward to being a part of the efforts to rebuild and restore the areas impacted by Hurricane Ian.

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Myers Beach Volunteer Days

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Myers Beach Florida was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ian. We are still unsure whether our sanctuary building can be rebuilt.

As we wait, we are ready for volunteers to help us sort and remove contents from our damaged building and perhaps remove carpeting and drywall. This work will be dirty and we will need some who can assist with heavy lifting. (Building exterior is being serviced by professionals)

We would appreciate your assurance in getting the word out to as many potential volunteers as possible. Our year-round congregation is small and aging, and more than fifteen family units have lost their homes and possessions. 

St. Peter Lutheran - Fort Myers Beach Hurricane Clean Days

Individuals and teams welcome! Lunch will be provided.

• Monday, November 28, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Masks, gloves, cleaning supplies will be provided. Please wear closed-toed shoes and please bring tools with you.

Please RSVP to stpeterfmb@gmail.com

Trinity Lutheran (Jacksonville) Seeks Praise Band Director

Trinity Lutheran Church in Jacksonville is seeking a praise band director to lead their contemporary worship service. Click here for a complete job description and contact information.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Venice recently held confirmation for the class of 2022. Pictured above are the confirmands (from left to right): Finn Dryden, Zach Schubauer, Vivia Chipley, Gia Chipley, Sophie Cone, Gavin Capps, Luke Cone, and Savanah Borst. God bless them as they continue in their growth in Christ at Emmanuel. (Photo submitted by: Debi Hammett)

To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.

 2022 Scholarship Applications - ELCA Fund for leaders

Each year the Fund for Leaders provides approximately 40 full-tuition scholarships to future ELCA pastors and deacons who attend ELCA seminaries. In spring 2023, the Fund for Leaders will once again offer scholarships to seminary students — and we need your help to spread the word! The application window for full-tuition scholarships will be open from Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 25, 2023. If you know of promising and gifted people discerning a call to rostered ministry in the ELCA, encourage them to visit ELCA.org/FundForLeaders today to learn more.

Young Adults in Global Mission resumes

After a two-year pause, the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is sending volunteers out into the world again. The program invites young adults aged 21-29 into a transformative, yearlong journey in international service. Watch an update about some of the ways the YAGM team is bringing the program up to date and making it more welcoming for everyone. YAGM is ready for you! Submit your application beginning Nov. 1. Applications close on Feb. 1, 2023, with priority given to those who apply before Jan. 15, 2023. Learn more and apply soon.

ELCA Youth Gathering 2024

The theme for the 2024 Youth Gathering is “Created To Be…” This is keeping with the Gathering having a different sub theme each day which this time will include Created To Be Brave, Authentic, Free, Disruptive, and Disciples. This comes from Psalms 139:14 – “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” 

The Gathering also announced that there will be a Young Adult Gathering to take place at exactly the same time in 2024. This is for ages 18-35. Once more information is available, it will be shared in E-Spirit. Go to elca.org/gathering or any of the Gathering's social media sites to stay informed. If you want to keep up with our own synod's preparations, you can join our Facebook group at FBSynod Goes To New Orleans 2024.

Rich Langston

Gathering Synod Coordinator - 2024

• Luther Springs 2022 Programs: Retreats & Programs for 2022

• Nov. 15, 16 | Dec. 6, 7: Holiday Help: Navigating the Holidays After A Loss: BayCare Grief Matters

• November 17: ELCA Vital Congregations Training

• January 21, 2023 - Hope Lutheran - The Villages - diakonia Graduation Eucharist 4:00 pm

• April 10-20, 2023: Joint Synod Holy Land Pilgrimage

• September 18-27: ALOA 10-Day Tour of Greece: Walk in the footsteps of Paul