This past Sunday was the 4th Sunday after Epiphany. Bishop Suárez was joined by Pastor Rob Carlson, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission in the North Region, to help lead this message.
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If you missed our special Zoom event for Rostered Ministers on January 27th, a recording is now available.
This event was led by Deacon Mary Ann Schwabe, Natural Systems Coordinator in the Office of the Presiding Bishop for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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GAME ON! For the past several years, the bishops who serve the synods of Super Bowl participant teams have challenged each other and their congregations to tackle hunger by being part of the Big Game Challenge for ELCA World Hunger!
Thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we are one of two synods with teams in Super Bowl LV! Now Bishop Susan Candea and Bishop Pedro Suárez are challenging their synods to bring home a victory for hunger relief.
Here's how it works - Our partners at ELCA World Hunger have created a crowdfunding platform where we can show our support for Team Tampa Bay. This is a friendly competition to see which synod can raise the most for this worthy cause! And while we are making these donations and cheering for our team, our main goal is that all may be fed.
Please click on the link below to show your support for ELCA World Hunger (and for Team Tampa Bay)!
Thank you for your generosity! Let's go Team Tampa Bay!
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The United As One COVID-19 Special Appeal continues to provide support to congregations during this pandemic.
Join the Florida-Bahamas Synod and lift up your neighboring congregations!
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The 2021 Conference on Ministry has been scheduled for June 16th & 17th, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm EST on both days.
This event will be held virtually. More information and registration details will be coming soon!
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*Corrected Dates
The 2021 Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly will be held from
September 17th to 19th (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). We plan for this event to be held in person. Please continue to pray that we will be able to safely gather.
More information and registration details will be coming soon!
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Young Adults in Global Mission Cancels 2021-2022 Program
After much consideration and thought, YAGM-ELCA have decided to cancel their 2021-2022 year of service for the Young Adults in Global Mission program. They will not be sending volunteers into service this year, resulting in two years in a row with no active volunteers.
The first priority of all ongoing missions is the health and safety of companions and hosts, and also that of their potential volunteers. With heightened travel restrictions, changing variants, and a growing number of cases in many parts of the world, no one is able to guarantee the safety and stability of another program year.
YAGM appreciates your prayers and support for the program and their global companions, and they look forward to sending volunteers in the near future.
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Lenten Resources from ELCA World Hunger |
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You're invited to study, pray, reflect and give during ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving — for our families, our neighbors and communities around the world.
As the world has reeled from the effects of a deadly pandemic, we have seen the number of hungry people around the world rise, watched as food pantries and soup kitchens expanded to serve an ever-growing number of guests, and longed together for the time when we “will hunger no more, and thirst no more ... and God will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes” (Revelation 7:16-17). This very yearning is at the heart of who we are as church together. Yet our longing has never led to inertia or despair, despite the discouraging forecasts. We are an Easter people, ever journeying toward the cross but trusting in faith that God’s story does not end on that hill.
Click here for Lenten resources from ELCA World Hunger, including a Lenten calendar, study guide, action guide, and to subscribe to weekly emails.
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Library Items Available
As they downsize their ministry library, Pr. Mel Jacob and his wife Mary are looking to share their library items with congregations or pastors in need. Although they have already given library items to nearby congregations and pastoral training programs, they still have a number of valuable resources for ELCA seminarians, rostered Synod members, or dedicated laity.
These library items include a Hebrew Bible & Lexicon, lectionary studies, books by Luther or Lutheran theology, spirituality, faith formation, and many more. Pr. Jacob’s collection has been built over nearly 47 years of ordained ministry.
If you are interested in obtaining some of these resources for your congregation, please contact Pr. Jacob at meljac2012@gmail.com.
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The next monthly newsletter update from our friends at Babcock Ranch is now available!
To view past editions of their newsletter or to learn more about the ongoing ministry work at Babcock Ranch, please visit their website by clicking here.
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Register for ‘Celebrating Black Joy’ - 2021 Black History Month at LSTC |
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February 1st – 26th
Virtual events each week (CST)
Experience free virtual events designed to touch the mind, body and spirit through worship, academic discussions, poetry, artwork, and song. All events are open to the public with registration to receive the Zoom links. Brought to you by the LSTC Antiracism Transformation Team, Metropolitan Chicago Synod, Metro Chicago Chapter of the African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA)
Register for all events using this link Register for all or for individual events using the links below. Zoom details will be emailed the day of the event. All events are Central standard time.
Celebrating Black Joy opening worship, Monday, Feb. 1st, 11:15am: Community worship with libation ritual; Nikkeya Berryhill, MDiv, and candidate for ordination, preacher. Register here.
Celebrating Black Joy worship, Wednesday, Feb. 3rd, 11:15am: Robert E. Biekman, director for evangelical mission and associate to the bishop, Metropolitan Chicago Synod, preacher. Register here.
Celebrating Black Joy Panel Discussion, Thursday, Feb. 4th, 7pm: Panelists Nicole Anderson Cobb, Shaunna Payne Gold, Lamont Anthony Wells, and Rozella Haydée White. LSTC PhD student Denise Rector, moderator. Register here.
Black Joy in Faith worship, Wednesday, Feb, 10th, 11:15am: Charles M. Straight, pastor, Faith United Methodist Church, Dolton, Ill., and president of The People’s Lobby Education Institute, preacher. Register here.
Black Joy in Faith, Wednesday, Feb. 10th, 7pm: “Sitting with a Beloved Ancestor: James Cone and the Complexity of Black Joy” Marvin Wickware Jr., assistant professor of church and society and ethics, LSTC, presenter. Register here.
Black Joy through Art, Monday, Feb. 15th, noon: Lunch and Learn talk. Register here.
Black Voices of Transformation: A Virtual Spoken Word Event, Thursday, Feb. 18th, 6-7:30pm: African-American artists from Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Young Chicago Authors, and other local connections perform poetry, rap, music and jokes for this interfaith, socially conscious and personally inspiring event. View event poster. Register here.
Black Joy in Community Leadership: Interview/Symposium, Tuesday, Feb. 23rd, 7pm: Presenters and guests to be announced. Register here.
Black Joy Revival, Friday, Feb. 26th, 7pm: LSTC celebrates Black Joy in worship and word. Register here.
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New Webinar Opportunity from ALOA |
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Living Life Fully: February 18, 2021 – Noon ET
Once retired, how do you serve? Yourself? Your family? Your church? Your community? In the first in a series of presentations, Deaconess and RN Penny Cedel will share information geared to help you understand your gifts & talents and how they can be utilized best, plan for the complicated or emotionally heavy decisions you need to make as a gift to your family. You’ll learn how to plan while you are healthy, rather than have determinations made without your wishes in mind. Register now by clicking here.
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Online Boundaries Training |
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Important Reports Reminder
2021 is here, and reports are due soon! You can submit Annual Ministers Reports to reports@fbsynod.org. By clicking here, you can download the report which corresponds to your roster status. You will need to download the form, fill it out, save it to their computers, and attach to an e-mail to reports@fbsynod.org.
Click here to access the Mission Support form on our website. This form is submitted right through the website, and can be used if your card hasn’t been returned to the synod office.
Every congregation submits an annual Parochial Report. For Parochial reports, please visit the ELCA website here. You will need your congregation ID number and a password. If you have misplaced the password, please call the synod office.
If you need assistance, please contact the Synod office. If you have trouble submitting your email, please contact Ileana at ileanas@fbsynod.org.
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