Everyone Wins in this Church-Scout Relationship
Thanks to Pr. John David Bryant, JOY Lutheran, Palm Bay, for this story
God is opening new, nourishing chapters at JOY Lutheran, Palm Bay, through a partnership with the Cub Scouts.
Despite a previously negative experience hosting a cub scout pack in their facility, JOY Lutheran, Palm Bay, recently agreed to be part of forming a new pack. Pack 484--giving reference to the founding month/year of JOY as a congregation—has quickly become the largest pack in the area: nearly 45 scouts in total. Church families and council members are proactively involved in the leadership of this pack.
Recently, Pack 484 hosted their Pinewood Derby. Some weeks before the race, the cub scouts challenged all of JOY to compete in the derby. Specifically, they extended a challenge to the “Men of JOY,” who took up the challenge and entered the race. One member of JOY who entered the race was an 80+ yr. old man who’d been raised on a farm. As a boy, his family didn’t have the money for him to be a scout, and he had not ever had the chance to be part of the Pinewood Derby races of his peers. Because of this invitation from Pack 484, he got to be a scout for a day and enter a car in the race. And this man, who makes amazing bulldozers and toy farm tractors from broken toys, took 3rd place overall in the Pinewood Derby race. The 1st place overall winner was a young member of Pack 484, and 2nd place was the mother of one of the first girls to participate in Pack 484. Now, every JOY Lutheran cub scout who won in their division will be going on to participate in an upcoming district competition.
Everyone is winning in the JOY Lutheran-Pack 484 relationship.
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left: the race track was set up in the sanctuary
above: the five winning cars
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This is part of a multi-part series over the next few weeks about ways congregations can more intentionally support care for creation initiatives.
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Lutherans Restoring Creation Devotionals
We are facing a critical time in our world when we need to put extra focus on the environment and God’s creation. If you’d like to focus on care for creation during this season of reflection, you can find great devotional materials on Lutherans Restoring Creation’s
website
.
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Ash Wednesday throughout the Synod
Several congregations posted about their Ash Wednesday services and invited their communities into the discipline of Lent last week. Here are some of the stories/messages that were shared:
Ashes to Go! Stop by and see Pastor Katy until noon today for Ashes on the go! Dunedin Causeway by the kayak rental.
-St. Mark, Dunedin
Remember (Ash Wednesday services at 12 Noon and 7 p.m. today; come at 6 p.m. if you want to share an Italian meal prepared by our congregational council).
-Grace Lutheran, Carrollwood
Join us for our Ash Wednesday Services on 3/6/19 as follows:
- 7-9am: drop in Imposition of Ashes.
- Noon: Service of the Word, Imposition of Ashes, No Communion.
- 7:00pm: Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes and Communion.
See you then!
-Grace, Tallahassee
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Pr. Kit Robison, Grace, Miami Springs
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Pr. David Jahn, Advent, Melbourne
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We give thanks for the faithful leadership of pastors and others who share the message of God's love with those in their communities.
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Pr. Katy Fast, St. Mark, Dunedin
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Pr. Moises Carasquillo, Mision Luterana Sagrado Corazon, Miami
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2019 Lands of the Bible Tour
Departing September 27, 2019, explore the Lands of the Bible on this 15 day tour including a 12-day cruise aboard the luxurious Celebrity Infinity featuring Guest Speaker Dr. Monte Luker sailing from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy with ports of call in Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Malta. Monte Luker is the Academic Dean of the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies. He has lived, studied, and taught in the Holy Land for the past 30 years. Dr. Luker will be giving academic lectures to unpack what people experience during their land tours with local guides. There is a $50 discount if you sign up in March.
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The latest Lent challenge for churches: Give up plastic
March 6 Chocolate, alcohol and Twitter are some of the popular indulgences many Christians give up during the period of Lent leading up to Easter. But this year, several churches across the country are encouraging congregants to give up plastics.
Read more
www.washingtonpost.com
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Synod Assembly Registration
Synod Assembly
registration is open. Please register for Synod Assembly before May 1. Note that hotel reservations need to be made separately. This year, there is a 2-night minimum requirement for staying at the Embassy Suites, Kissimmee. There are a variety of hotels in the area for those able to attend for only one night. More information will be added and updated on the
Assembly page of the synod web site.
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Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
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RSVP links for Lenten Visits are now on the
Lenten Visit page of the synod web site
. The events are free, but an RSVP is helpful for planning. A $5/person or $20/congregation donation will be accepted to help cover the cost of snacks/supplies. This year's conversation with the Bishop will focus on the importance of healthy leadership culture in congregations (all levels of leadership--volunteer, staff, rostered ministers). Healthy leadership is a whole congregation commitment, so Rostered ministers, synod parish deacons, and all who are involved and invested in the ministry of their congregation are invited to attend.
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STS Retreat, San Pedro Center, Winter Park
March 25-26 (noon to noon) The Right Reverend Matthew L. Riegel, Bishop, West Virginia-western Maryland Synod, ELCA will present the Contributions of Lutheran Scholastics to Contemporary Theology at the Florida Chapter of The Society of the Holy Trinity. The Reverend Patrick Rooney, STS Senior will preach and preside at Tuesday’s Eucharist. The Reverend Keith L. Forni Dean Northern Illinois Chapter will preach at Vespers. The Reverend John Fleischman STS (LCMS) is Cantor for the retreat.
Please note that FL STS Retreats are attended by Lutherans of all the alphabet, not just ELCA. Episcopal priests and Episcopal and Lutheran deacons, as well as seminarians and laity also regularly attend. Retreats are held at San Pedro Center, Winter Park and the majority of time is spent in learning and praying the Daily Offices. Please contact Reverend Lawrence Recla Dean, FL STS (larryrecla@comcast.net 352-430-1114) for more information.
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Boundaries Training Workshop - May 16
The next FBSynod Boundaries Training workshop will be held on May 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pembroke Pines, from 9:00-noon. Led by Barbara Keller and Pr. Ken Blyth, the Boundaries Training is an important workshop for rostered ministers, congregational staff, volunteer leaders, and visitation ministers. This workshop will cover a variety of healthy boundaries, including physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual. RSVP link will be available in April. Bishop Suarez would like rostered ministers to attend a boundaries workshop at least once every 3 years. The next workshop this year will be offered in connection with the Fall Conference on Ministry.
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March 23 -
Bereavement Ministry Training, Part 2 (St. Agnes Church, Key Biscayne)
March 24 -
Art for Faith's Sake Concert Series, Prince of Peace, Largo: Bach-a-thon (12:00 pm)
March 24 -
Messiah Concert Series, Messiah, Ft. Myers: John Renfroe in Concert (3:00 pm)
March 25-26 -
STS Retreat, San Pedro Center, Winter Park
March 29 -
Gabriel Morgan Ordination, St. Paul, Tampa (7:00 pm)*
March 30 -
Lenten Visit, St. Armands Key, Sarasota
April 5-7 -
God's Spa for Women (Luther Springs)
April 13 -
Lenten Visit, St. Timothy, Tarpon Springs
April 14 -
Messiah Concert Series, The Passion of Christ
April 19 -
SYNOD OFFICE CLOSED (Good Friday)
April 30-May 2 -
Respite in the Wilderness Retreat (Luther Springs)
*rostered ministers invited to vest and process (color is red)
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Thank you for Your Reports!
The synod office has received congregational reports from
75% of the congregations
in the synod. These reports give us vital information about ministry, mission, and leadership opportunities and challenges, which better inform our planning and priorities. Thank you for submitting these forms and strengthening our partnership with congregations in the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
If the link to the parochial report has gotten buried, or misplaced, you can find it on the
forms page
of the synod web site. Our goal is to receive reports from 100% of congregations in the synod.
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Synod Insurance "Pool" Update
From Michele Hilton, A2B for Administration
Brown & Brown Insurance is excited to be the new agent handling the Property & Casualty Insurance for the congregations currently in the Synod insurance ‘pool’. (Workers Comp, Property, GL, Crime, Etc.)
For those current members in the insurance pool we will continue to provide the competitive rates and advantages of being a part of the congregation’s insurance pool. For the members looking to take part in the congregation’s pool, we are more than happy to transition your current insurance into the congregation’s pool in order to provide you with the competitive advantages the pool provides.
Please email Jason Ferguson, JaFerguson@BBTampa.com on how you can participate in the congregation’s pool or if you have any questions.
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Employment Opportunities
The following employment positions have recently been posted on the
synod web site
:
- Organist/choir director (part time), St. Philip, Mt. Dora
- Director of music (part time), St. Michael, Wellington
- Church musician (part time), Faith, Rotunda West
- Organist/Choir director (part time), Concordia, Micco
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- Synod Office
- Region 9 mtg (Atlanta)
- Lenten visit, Emmaus, Orange City
- St. John, Winter Park
- Emmanuel Academies, Naples
- St. Paul, Tampa
- Lenten Visit, St. Armand's Key, Sarasota
- Redeemer, Sun City Center
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