E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | August 2, 2022
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Churchwide Assembly Begins Next Week | |
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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
On August 6, the 13 voting members of the Churchwide Assembly, elected at our own Synod Assembly, will begin traveling to Columbus, Ohio for the 2022 Churchwide Assembly. The Assembly will meet all week with closing worship on Friday, August 12. We covet your prayers for good health, safe travels, meaningful experiences, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We will gather under the theme Embody the Word.
You can log onto www.elca.org and watch the sessions as they are livestreamed.
Among the work and time of this Assembly will be:
- Daily worship
- The election of a Vice President of the Churchwide Council (the highest position a lay person can attain in our church)
- The election of Lay Female - person of color or language other than English to the Churchwide Council from Florida
- Approximately 90 other elections to the Churchwide Council, Committees and agency boards
- Review of changes to the ELCA constitution, Synod Constitutions and Congregation Constitutions recommended by the Churchwide Council
- Consideration of 28 Memorials, most of which are expected to be voted en bloc but three of which are expected to be considered separately. They are entitled: Land Back, Restructure the Governance of the ELCA and "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” Revision
- A time for remembrance to honor the life and work of Bill Horne
- An apology to Iglesia Santa Maria Peregrina and a commitment to anti-racism
We all know there is no power without prayer and that with prayer, the Holy Spirit can and does work more than we can possibly hope or ask for.
We are church together, for the sake of the world.
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Installations & Ordinations
Rev. Trixie Richter: August 7, 2:00 p.m., as Pastor of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Mount Dora
Rev. Teresa Stewart: August 27, 10:00 a.m., as Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Spring Hill.
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Vision to Action Phase 2: Focusing Visions - Your Input is Needed!
The goal of this phase is to start focusing our visions (developed from the survey conducted in June) and become more specific. If we looked ahead in time, what would we see happening with the money from the sale of St. James Lutheran Church? What would need to be developed for us, as a synod, to fulfill our call as the Lutheran witness in our community? How would we live out our faith and make the grace of Christ known? Click on this link and share what our future looks like as we move forward.
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Weekly Prayer Focus
By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence. Direct the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by your Word, as this church prepares to gather in assembly. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
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News from Global Mission
Congregations in the Flagler/Volusia Conference look forward to a visit from Rafaël Van Ommeren of our companion church in Suriname. Rafaël and his wife will come to Florida August 20-22, after Rafaël completes summer coursework in the Chicago area. He will visit with St. Marks in Palm Coast, Grace in Ormond Beach, and All Saints in Port Orange. Want to learn more or join in one of the visits? Email Global Mission Table Chair Pastor Katie Carroll at revkhc@gmail.com.
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Learn more about Rafael:
Rafaël van Ommeren, member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname (ELKS). He is currently engaged in theological education at the United Theological College of the West Indies/University of the West Indies as he is prepared for ordained ministry in the ELKS. Rafaël is visiting the United States for a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Advocate Sherman Hospital, Elgin, IL. The minister in training has served in different capacities in his home church. He served as organist, choir director, and band director in the church's music ministry.
Furthermore, he also served as the church's Vacation Bible School coordinator for several years. He was involved in youth ministry and was the youth director in his home congregation. He was one of the writers for the youth section in the church magazine. Rafael also served as director of the elderly home or the church, Huize HoekstraDeVries. Before entering seminary, Rafael did the church's lay preacher training and functioned in that capacity.
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Bishop’s Synod Parish Deacon Oversight Committee Welcomes New Members
Please join us in welcoming our new Synod Parish Deacon (SPD) committee members: Darlene Kaiser (SPD Chair), Kimberly Duke (SPD Member at Large), and Lisa Montalchi (SPD Committee Member). We give thanks for continuing members: Detlev Appel (SPD Secretary), Pastor Janice Mynchenberg (Clergy Co-Chair), Pastor Tom Mitchell (Clergy Co-secretary), Pastor Pam Smith (Clergy Co-treasurer), and Deacon Connie Schmucker (Bishop Suarez’s representative).
Meet our new committee members:
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"I am a lifelong Lutheran, and currently serve at Reformation Lutheran in Orlando as a Synod Parish Deacon. I have been serving a year and a half. My area of service is mostly with the Children's Ministry. I have been in volunteer management for 20 years and am currently working at Cornerstone Hospice. I am married to my husband Mark and we have two adult children. I love cycling, scrapbooking and hiking in the mountains."
Darlene Kaiser
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"I am Kimberly Duke from Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Venice. I was commissioned as a Synod Parish Deacon on May 22 this year. I am blessed with a loving partner Nick, daughter JoAnn, our Jack Russell Daisy Duke, and our old loving cat Marley. We have called Venice, Florida home for the last nine years. I work full-time for a software firm and volunteer for many different projects. I am excited to be a part of this committee as I know the good Lord will guide us to do His work."
Kimberly Duke
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"I was in the last graduating class of the Miami Diakonia program before the pandemic and waited almost two years for the graduation ceremony. I feel blessed to serve as a Synod Parish Deacon at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pembroke Pines. I’m excited to be on this committee because I understand that lay leaders are a vital and important part of the life of the church."
Lisa Montalchi
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Campus Ministry Consultation and Strategic Planning Event
Join us for our Campus Ministry Consultation and Strategic Planning event on September 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Longwood, Florida (2140 W State Road 434). We will meet with the Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells, program director for the LuMin Higher Education Network, to plan campus ministries for the Florida-Bahamas Synod. To register, contact Rev. Khader El-Yateem by phone at 813-440-1590 or email at KhaderE@fbsynod.org.
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Photo of the Week: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holmes Beach
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On Sunday, July 24, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holmes Beach, held its annual blessing of shoes collected for Project Heart, a School District of Manatee County program that provides new shoes before the start of the academic year to students, preschool through high school, who lack a fixed, adequate and stable nighttime residence. This year, they collected 44 pairs of shoes. (Photo credit: Jean Etsinger) | |
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2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly meets under the theme “Embody the Word”
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will gather for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Aug. 8-12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Meeting under the theme “Embody the Word,” the assembly will participate in plenary discussions to make decisions about the work of this church. They will also spend time in worship and Bible study. Read more...
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