September 29th, 2020
For more information, visit www.fbsynod.com
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Bishop Suárez's Synod Update for the End of September
Hello and welcome to this Synod Update for the end of September, 2020!
First, I want to share a brief update on our United As One COVID-19 Relief Grant. Our United As One campaign continues to help those effected by COVID-19, including mercy ministries. In a clip from Spirit of Life in Jacksonville, you can see the impact your gifts make on their food pantry. Through this campaign, we’re able to help our ministries stay strong and continue serving their communities even during these difficult times.
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Greetings, beloved friends! I have some important news to share with you regarding resuming in-person worship, so please, read this letter carefully.
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida will move into Phase 3 of reopening. Specifically, all statewide restrictions on businesses will be removed, and local governments cannot close businesses. Local governments can still limit or regulate operations in some ways relating to COVID-19, and private businesses can still operate with any self-imposed restrictions, like opening at limited capacity. The State of Emergency order will run through November 3rd.
So what does this mean for our congregations? I know this news has created many questions and concerns. Some are excited to resume in-person worship, while others are nervous about the health and safety risks of meeting in person...
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Hurricane Sally Update
Hurricane Sally made landfall at around 5:00am Central time, September 16th, 2020 as a category 2 storm over Gulf Shores, Ala., weakening to a tropical depression after it passed through the Florida Panhandle and back into Alabama.
Sally was defined in large part by its sluggish pace, camping out over Gulf waters made warmer than usual by climate change and chugging tediously toward the coast. The storm maintained its dawdling speed as it crossed over land, leaving residents to hunker down while 105 m.p.h. winds ripped roofs from homes, snapped trees, deluged streets and left hundreds of thousands of people without power. Hurricane Sally drenched Alabama and Florida with more than 2 feet of rain in some areas as it moved through very slowly. Local officials say the storm caused at least $29 million of damage in Florida's Escambia County and Pensacola alone. The Synod Disaster Response has been working with the Escambia County EOC and our partners from the Red Cross and United Way to provide some initial relief.
A special thank you to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Jacksonville for assisting with the assembly of the comfort kits and cleaning kits. Pastor Daniel Locke and his congregation really stepped up on short notice to provide much needed assistance. It was an incredible help to the Synod disaster response effort and was greatly appreciated.
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Send in Your Stories from "God's Work. Our Hands." 2020
Did your congregation celebrate this year's "God's Work. Our Hands." Day of Service? Please send in your stories, photos, and videos to our Communications Specialist Marina Ernst at marinae@fbsynod.org. We will be highlighting these stories in the coming weeks!
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An Update from the Florida-Bahamas Synod Listening Team |
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The Office of the Bishop is pleased to announce a new resource for congregational health, wellness, and vitality.
We aspire to have congregations whose faith shines in their relationships with God, each other and their community. At times, distractions may cloud a congregation’s understanding of God’s larger mission or the understanding of their purpose in this time and place. The Listening Team is provided as a resource for the Florida-Bahamas Synod to enable congregations to take a step back, consider all the aspects that contribute to their congregational issues and opportunities for the purpose of strengthening their relationship with God; nurturing relationship with one another; and carrying God’s love and redeeming grace out into their communities.
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Calling all pastors, teachers, principals, administrators,
and staff of our congregational schools!
The start of the 2020-2021 school year has brought lots of anxiety to our nation. Many are wondering how to safely reopen our schools while protecting the health and safety of our students.
Join Cory Newman, Executive Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA), and Bishop Pedro Suárez for a discussion on best practices for reopening schools during COVID-19.
This event begins at 11:00am EDT (10:00am CDT). You must be registered in advance to attend. There is no meeting passcode, but you must register to receive a confirmation email and meeting link.
This event is open for everyone! Education professionals and Rostered Ministers serving a congregation with a school are especially encouraged to attend.
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With no named storms in the Atlantic, now might be a good time to talk about insurance. After some challenges with other carriers regarding coverage for our churches, the Office of the Bishop spent some time looking for a dependable alternative.
Insurance is both necessary and expensive. Because of this reality, we currently work with Brown and Brown to create a pool of churches who need coverage. This means Brown and Brown bundle the churches who want insurance and work to find the best rates from reputable companies. This does not mean the churches are self-insured.
Please note: The Office of the Bishop receives no renumeration if you choose to select the policy offered by Brown and Brown. We do this because we are on the same team. We want to support you as you navigate this critical necessity allowing you to focus on the more important task of being the church in your local setting.
Here is the contact information:
Jason Ferguson, Insurance Advisor
Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc., Tampa, FL
P: 813.472.7002 C: 941.720.0152 F: 813.226.1313
Questions? Contact Pastor Rob Rose - (813) 876-7660 ext. 222
Disclaimer: Pastor Rob is a pastor, a great dad and basically a good guy, but he is not a lawyer, a tax attorney, CPA, or an insurance agent. The information presented is to alert you of possible concerns so you can seek out informed answers to your specific situation. If you need help finding a fully credentialed professional, give Pr. Rob a call and he will help you find the person you need.
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ELCA Fund for Leaders and the Florida-Bahamas Synod
The ELCA Fund for Leaders has been offering scholarships for students at ELCA seminaries who are pursuing rostered ministry in the ELCA since 2000. In the 2020-2021 academic year alone, the fund will provide over $2.8 million in scholarships to 297 ELCA seminary students, empowering those whom God calls into ministry to go and serve as the church needs and the Holy Spirit leads.
This year, two Florida-Bahamas Synod candidates are among those who have been awarded a full tuition seminary scholarships. Congratulations and God’s blessings to Brandy Schneck and Courtney Noya.
Our Synod offers thanks to Lynn and Steve Blackledge, St. Armands, Sarasota, who recently joined Pr. Mark Bernthal on the ELCA FFL Advisory Board. For more information, or to explore gifting opportunities, contact pastormark@oursaviorelca.com. |
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Courtney Noya
Scholarship made possible by the A. Craig Settlage Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund
Attending: Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Home Congregation: All Saints Lutheran, Lutz
Guiding Bible Verse: "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well." (Psalm 139:14)
From Courtney: "Pastor Rick Malivuk and Pastor Joshua Gyson were/are pastors in my home congregation who save a call to ministry in me before I recognized it myself. They guided my education, encouraged me to ask questions, supported my involvement in Global Mission and now celebrate my ongoing journey and call to rostered leadership within the ELCA."
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Brandy Schneck
Scholarship made possible by the Lois and Gerald Olsen Mission Developer/Redeveloper Scholarship Fund
Attending: Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Home Congregation: Faith Lutheran of Rotonda West
Guiding Bible Verse: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
From Brandy: "Dr. Ginger Carfield, professor of theology at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, has influenced my faith and sense of call by caring and wanting what is best for me. She helps me grow spiritually and become more mature in my faith, while reminding me that grades are not my identity. Dr. Barfield models how to live out my faith in my daily life. She also helps me recognize what God is doing in my life."
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The WELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarship Application for the 2021-2022 academic year is available on the WELCA website, www.flwelca.com. |
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The deadline is midnight, December 15, 2020. Applications should be submitted to Phyllis Wade, SWO President, 412 North Sea Lane, NW, Unit C, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 or wade.phyllis73@gmail.com.
The scholarship will be awarded by the decision of the FL-BA SWO board at their January 2021 board meeting using the following criteria:
- The applicant must be a student in the candidacy process attending one of the eight ELCA seminaries in either the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts program, or a student in an approved extension program of one of the ELCA seminaries and be enrolled in an approved program, such as the Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) program.
- Preference will be given to residents of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
- Preference will be given to female applicants.
- Preference will be given to an active member of a congregational unit of the Women of the ELCA.
- Applicant should exhibit faith qualities that empower others.
- Applicant should demonstrate leadership qualities in church and the community.
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News from Luther Springs
Adding a chapel at Luther Springs that allows for larger group gatherings was a significant goal of the Mission Possible Campaign. Construction started prior to Covid with the hopes of using the building during the summer. The workers have been able to continue their work during Covid and the building continues to rise. As of this week, the porch has been added and the siding is going up. They are preparing it for painting next week and working on the interior.
The staff are also working to add a labyrinth and memorial garden down by the lake. The Garden of Grace will be ready for guest use during the middle of October.
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A Prayer from Our Racial Justice Think Tank
Prayer for Justice and Reign of God
How many must die, Lord?
How many must fall ill?
How many must lose their jobs?
How many more bankruptcies?
Why must your people lack resources for safety?
Why must teachers and store clerks, healthcare workers and farm workers, risk exposure and life?
Why do strong men bully while most suffer
And megacorporations rake in billions?
How much longer must our neighbors face prejudice day after day and their legitimate complaint be dismissed?
We are wrapped up in wrong of human making and witless about how to make things right. In our grief, with lament and our hearts mourning, we turn to you Lord God. You are our righteousness and justice. Hear us. Our alliances and defenses fail to protect any of us. In our discomfort, show us shared grief. Open our eyes to the sorrow in others. Don't let anyone off the hook from sharing this pain. Give us unity in grief that leads to common prayer for the Day you promise. The day when the ones we've left behind lead us into your reign of love and peace. Bring forth that day when Black women and strong men and native children share equally in your abundance. Where the childless and the motherless find each other's embrace. Where no parent fears what may become of their child away from home and every parent feels their calling to nurture children the way you do. Where grace welcomes stranger and immigrant. Where hope lives unhindered by violence.
Lord, bring this moment of sickness, fear and division to an end. Make of us truly the body of Christ, temple of the Holy Spirit, and commonwealth of ethnic peoples. For you delight in us and declare that we are all wonderfully made.
Even so from our lips to your will, we pray, O Gracious Trinity.
Amen
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An Update from Lutheran World Relief
Some good news from Beirut: Three 40-foot shipping containers filled with thousands of mission quilts and school, personal and baby care kits, which reported as destroyed in the August 4th explosions at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, have been found intact.
It took several weeks for Lutheran World Relief’s partner to gain access to the port area where the containers were stored. While some of our partners shipping containers were heavily damaged, it appears that the three containers containing the quilts and kits were stored behind a concrete block building, a spot that protected them from the blast. The quilts and kits have been transferred to a warehouse, from where they will be distributed to refugees living in Lebanon, principally from Syria and the Palestinian territories.
In addition to distributing the quilts and kits, Lutheran World Relief is also working to address immense shelter needs in the wake of the explosion, helping poorer families to repair and return to their homes. For more information or to donate: please click here.
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The Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA continues to share the Gospel, provide support for our congregations, and care for our communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen unprecedented need in the communities we serve.
Together, we can support those in need and share the love of Christ through our ministries. But we need your help.
As a synod of the ELCA, we are blessed to be Church Together. Now is a time to live and act together, as faithful people of God. United as One, we will overcome COVID-19 and keep our congregations and communities strong. Please prayerfully consider the impact your gift will make.
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Click on the calendar icon to see more
events on the Synod calendar
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October 8 - Let's Talk! Best Practices for Our Congregational Schools - 11:00am on Zoom - 11:00am EDT, 10:00am CDT
November 1 - Let's Talk! Youth Check-In - More details coming soon!
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Suárez continues to work from home and take meetings electronically. |
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