Nov. 6, 2018
A prayer for Election Day
Lord God, you call your people to honor those in authority. help us elect trustworthy leaders, participate in wise decisions for our common life, and serve our neighbors in local communities. Bless the leaders of our land, that we may be at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. Bless the public servants in the government, that they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. help them use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common life. Bless judges and courts, juries and law officers throughout our land. Guard them from retribution and from corruption. Give them the spirit of wisdom, that they may perceive the truth and administer the law impartially as instruments of your divine will. Drive us from cynicism, selfishness, and corruption; grant in your mercy just and honest government; and give us grace to live together in unity and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (source: ELW p. 77)
Immersion Journey to Haiti-
Jan. 18-28, 2019
The most recent Global Mission Newsletter is available HERE .
Details are still being worked out, however, we want to let people know the ELH is eager to host a group from the Florida-Bahamas Synod as part of their “Come and See, Go and Tell” mission priority. 

Anita Unrath, Chair of the Haiti Task Force, will be leading this travel group. Plans include participating in the dedication of the new roof on New Jerusalem Church in Les Cayes, visiting the Lutheran Center in Gressier, cultural activities and sites in Port-au-Prince, and attending the dedication of the new cistern in Savanne-Zombie. The trip will be organized so that travelers can do the entire 10 days, or do the first 5 days and fly home, or arrive for the second 5 days.

Contact Anita Unrath by email – tunrath@cfl.rr.com or call 321-223-9521 for more information and to indicate your desire to go.

Generosity NEXT

Generosity NEXT explores how current culture informs faithful stewardship and generous giving. "Abundance or Sufficiency? A Biblical Vocabulary for Sustainable Stewardship" is the topic for Generosity NEXT 2018, November 28-29, 2018 in Tampa,...

Read more
stewardshipresources.org
World AIDS Day--Dec. 1
 from Megan Neubauer, Program Associate, ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS

In 2009 the ELCA Church Council adopted the ELCA’s Strategy on HIV and AIDS. As we prepare to enter the 10th year of the strategy, this World AIDS Day we remember that the ELCA is Called to Respond. Each congregation and individual throughout the ELCA is invited to participate. 

Worship:  Consider including pieces from the World AIDS Day worship resource for your Sunday liturgy on Dec. 2. Those resources can be located on the  ELCA Worship Resources page. The ELCA is called to work toward ending stigma and discrimination. And in bringing the conversation about HIV into our congregations through worship, we can challenge the silence that remains and work toward being welcoming, affirming spaces for all.

Advocate:  We are a public church that stands up and speaks out for a just world. You can participate in advocating for policies and programs that support prevention, testing, treatment and other important services for people living with HIV. As you prepare for World AIDS Day, make sure you sign up for  advocacy action alerts  to learn about what’s happening currently. 

Give:  You can support the ELCA’s work around HIV and AIDS or partner with other organizations in your community that are responding. You can learn more about the ELCA’s Strategy on HIV and AIDS and how to get involved at  ELCA.org/HIV

Let us know how your congregation is participating in the response to HIV. You can connect through social media or by emailing  Megan.Neubauer@ELCA.org . You can also visit  ELCA.org/HIV  to find resources for World AIDS Day. 

This World AIDS Day, consider how you and your congregation are  Called to Respond  with others throughout the ELCA and as part of the larger domestic and global response to HIV.
Mark your Calendar
Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
Mark Your Calendar for these dates in 2019
Lenten Visits 2019
  • March 9 - Grace, Tallahassee 
  • March 16 - St. James/Santiago Apostol, Coral Gables
  • March 23 - Emmaus, Port Orange
  • March 30 - St. Armand's Key, Sarasota 
  • April 13 - St. Timothy, Tarpon Springs
Nov. 4-7 - Conference on Ministry
Nov. 5-6 - Society of the Holy Trinity Retreat, San Pedro Retreat Center, Winter Park
Nov. 9-11 - SWO Fall Gathering, Lake Yale
Nov. 16-17 - Synod Council (Tampa)
Nov. 18 - Music Concert, Peace, Ft. Myers
Nov. 23-24 - SYNOD OFFICE CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING
Nov. 23 -   Thanksgiving Day Worship and Meal, Grace, Tallahassee (11:00)
Nov. 28-29 - Generation NEXT Stewardship Event, Tampa
Dec. 16 - Florida Pro Musica concert, Trinity, St. Petersburg

For Your Information
Portico Benefit Annual Enrollment
It’s time to enter your organization’s 2019 health benefit option.
Congregations and organizations who sponsor employees through Portico: Choose the ELCA-Primary health benefits option you will offer for 2019 and enter it on EmployerLink before Oct. 26. You must do this even if you want to continue your current option, your plan members waive ELCA-Primary health benefits, or your plan members are eligible for ELCA Medicare-Primary coverage. There’s information to help your organization make its selection on EmployerLink — or call the Customer Care Center, 800.352.2876, for help.
Advent Resources

Below are some great resources for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. They can be used for families or for congregations.
Congregational Advent Devotional Books
We've heard through the grapevine that several congregations are putting together their own devotional books for Advent, using submissions from people within the congregation. We'd love to see those devotionals and share them with permission (or post them to the synod web site with permission). If your congregation is putting together an Advent devotional book, and you would give the synod office permission to share/post that book, please send it to Sr. Michelle at michellec@fbsynod.org.
Christmas Concert to Restore Church Organ
Sunday, December 16, 2018 3:00 pm 
 
Professional vocal ensemble, Florida Pro Musica, presents:
A Renaissance Christmas at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Saint Petersburg. The one-hour concert tells the story of the Nativity through a capella vocal music including Latin motets, Gregorian chant and traditional carols.  
 
“Performing in beautiful, historic sanctuaries like Trinity’s connects the listener with ancient music in a spiritually uplifting way,” said Larry Kent, director of Florida Pro Musica. “The location is as important as the artists’ performance in creating an inspiring concert experience.”  
 
Proceeds from the concert fund the restoration of the KniesJamerson Memorial Pipe Organ. “To restore all 1,096 pipes, we need to raise $40,000,” explained Pastor Paul Gibson. “We hope this concert raises awareness with people who love church music and want to support this historic restoration.” 
 
A reception with the artists follows the concert. Tickets are $20, available through floridapromusica.com or the church by calling (727) 822-3307 or emailing office@trinitylutheranstpete.org. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.  
 
Bishop's Calendar
  • Conference on Ministry
  • SWO Fall Gathering, Lake Yale
  • Synod Council (Tampa)
  • Geneva and Wittenberg (with Bishop Eaton)