E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | February 6, 2024 | | |
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Black History Month Resource
To honor Black History Month in the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, the JUST Love Team presents “Harmonies of Heritage: Music’s Journey Through Black Church History.” We present four genres of music that impacted the heart and soul of America. We ask each congregation to present the Harmonies of Heritage: Music’s Journey Through Black Church History summary each week in February. It can be done during announcements, a bulletin insert, or wherever fits best into the service. Each week we offer songs and prayers for use during the service.
Click here to download Week 2: Negro Spirituals
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DEM Positions Now Open
The Florida-Bahamas Synod is actively seeking two dynamic individuals to fill the role of Director for Evangelical Mission. This is a unique opportunity to lead and inspire congregations in their mission outreach efforts, fostering growth and connection within our diverse communities. Click the links below to apply:
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Ordinations and Installations
Rev. Lucas McSurley will be installed as Pastor of Lamb of God Lutheran Episcopal Adventure in Fort Myers on Wednesday, March 13, at 6 p.m., with Bishop Pedro Suárez and Bishop Doug Scharf officiating.
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Hurricane season is already less than four months away and that is not the only emergency we need to be concerned about in Florida. We also need to have a Church Emergency Preparedness Plan for tornadoes, fires, shootings, or possible health emergencies. A church emergency preparedness plan is a WRITTEN document that answers the questions of who, what, where, when, and how to get your ministry back up and running as quickly as possible following an emergency or disaster.
Step 1 to creating an emergency preparedness plan is to have a planning team who will take ownership and move the care of the church and congregation forward.
Check back next week for step 2 in emergency preparedness.
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Weekly Prayer Focus | | Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint. Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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| MINISTRY & PARTNER UPDATES |
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Steadfast/Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel
Lent is a season of reflection, repentance and purification, as we journey deeper in our relationship with God. Christ’s love invites us to speak out against the violence of the world and our complicity towards it. This Lent, join the Just Love team as we confront the trauma and terror in Palestine and Israel and accompany our siblings calling for a lasting peace rooted in the justice and love of God. Stay tuned to E-spirit to receive these resources.
https://youtu.be/YssbcGD1cU4?si=GRqpGFksPckS4dje
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Global Mission Focus: HAITI
The Florida-Bahamas Synod has a deep and abiding commitment to the country of Haiti. For many years, the Global Mission Table has walked alongside our companion the Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti (ELH) as it has faced devastating earthquakes, storms, and political and social unrest. As has been well documented through media outlets, Haiti’s government has been in increasing disarray since the assassination of President Jovenal Moise in July 2021. The UN News recently reported more than 8,400 were victims of gang violence in Haiti last year, including killings, injuries and kidnappings—a 122% increase over 2022.[i]
In order to have even greater impact on the devastating situation in Haiti, the Global Mission Table expanded its engagement during 2023. Along with continuing our relationship with ELH, we also gave $50,000 to the ELCA partner ACT Alliance which serves on behalf of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The ELCA is active throughout the globe with LWF, bringing gospel hope and healing. The funds our synod provided supported emergency assistance and sustainable development projects implemented by LWF in Haiti. Despite the challenges of unrest, dangerous travel and lack of fuel, ACT Alliance was able to continue LWF’s work.
Our funds impacted various communities, providing:
- immediate humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction strategies, and gender-based violence intervention in Les Palmes and Croix des Bouquets; and
- climate-smart economic empowerment, climate-resilient WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services, and food security projects in the settlements of Jeremie, Foret de Pins, Les Palmes and Camp Perrin.
The crisis in Haiti calls for the most robust response we can muster. Through your congregational and individual gifts, the Global Mission Table is making a difference in even more expansive ways. We look forward to continuing our engagement with ELH, the ELCA and LWF. Thank you for your generosity!
[i] Haiti crises have reached ‘a critical point’: UN envoy | UN News
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Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram
The latest Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram is now available for view. Click here to see current news from LMIM including upcoming events and virtual opportunities for study and worship.
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Luther Springs' New Environmental Education Program Needs Your Support!
Luther Springs now has an environmental education program! We are looking to connect with your school districts to offer teacher trainings for continuing education and want to connect with your school groups to host field trips. We will also need informal educators to help with lessons on school field trips. If you are connected to teacher networks, school districts, or interested in becoming an educator, Luther Springs would love to connect with you! Please contact Deacon Macy Kennedy at mkennedy@novusway.org or 239-789-0408.
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Refresh and Renew Retreat
Calling all Synod Parish Deacons! Time to register for our next retreat April 19 - 20 in Lakeland, FL. Come "Refresh and Renew" as we remember our baptismal promise!
For more information go to http://www.diakoniafl.org and click on the SPD registration page. For more information please reach out to Darlene Kaiser, SPD Chair at Deaconchair@yahoo.com.
Click here to download the flyer.
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It's Time to Submit Your Annual Reports
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.
Annual Parochial Reports (January-December 2023)
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Deadline to file online with the ELCA’s Office of the Secretary by March 1, 2024.
- If you cannot file online, a paper copy can be completed and mailed to the Synod House by February 15, 2023.
Annual Rostered Leader’s Report to the Bishop
- To be submitted by March 1, 2024. All ordained ministers rostered in the Florida-Bahamas Synod under call, on leave from call, on disability, or retired, must file a report.
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Go to https://fbsynod.com/forms-2/ and click on the “Annual Rostered Leader Report” link. Select and download the report that corresponds to your roster status and save it to your computer. Upon completion of report, save again, and attach to an email message to ileanas@fbsynod.org.
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Photo of the Week: Trinity Pembroke Pines | |
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Trinity Lutheran, Pembroke Pines had a full house for its monthly Waffle Church service!
To share a photo of your church in E-Spirit, email comms@fbsynod.org.
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Watch: “Talks at the Desk”
Celebrate Black History Month with season three of “Talks at the Desk,” a four-part video series by African Descent Ministries of the ELCA. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 7:30 p.m. Central time beginning Feb. 7. Watch live at youtube.com/elca.
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February 2024 ELCA Mission Support Memo
This month highlights the beauty and difficulty of attending a closing service of a local church in the Southeast Michigan Synod and how it was "Brutiful". Also find links to our ELCA resources to SOFIA, these Mission Support Memos, but also Annual Report Covers, Intent templates and more. There is also a heartfelt thank you to all treasurers and bookkeepers across our wider church. Read the memo here!
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April 19-20: Synod Parish Deacon Retreat, Lakeland, FL
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May 31 - June 2: Synod Assembly, Embassy Suites, Orlando Lake Buena Vista South
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September 16-18: Conference on Ministry, Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.
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September 21: School of Lay Ministry Annual Retreat and Graduation Worship, Mandarin Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
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