E-Spirit
July 10, 2018
Bold - Passionate - Faithful
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Features:
- Pray for Haiti
- Stories of Faith: "Be Not Afraid"
- Youth Gathering Re-Cap and Reflection
- FBSynod World Hunger Committee
Events Coming up:
- Transition Ministry Training
- Synod Parish Deacon Retreat
- Generosity NEXT Conference
For Your Information:
- We Know the Truth: Bishop Eaton column
- Employment Opportunities
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Click the calendar above for more information about these events
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July 21 -
Ordination of Moises Carasquillo (Mision Luterana Sagrado Corazon/Sacred Heart Lutheran Mission, Miami)
July 30-Aug 1 -
Transition Ministry Training (Luther Springs)
Aug. 11 -
New Facilities Dedication, Luther Springs
Aug. 25 -
Hearts, Hands and Voices workshop, Our Savior, Vero Beach
Sept. 8 -
God's Work Our Hands Work Day, Luther Springs
Sept. 9 -
God's Work Our Hands Sunday
Sept. 10-12 -
Region 9 Rostered Deacon Gathering (South Carolina)
Sept. 24-29 -
Rest, Renew, Recommit retreat for Rostered Ministers (LutherRanch, GA)
Sept. 27-30 -
Practice Discipleship Retreat for Youth Workers (Luther Springs)
Oct. 9 -
Boundaries Workshop, Cross+Road, Fleming Island
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we watch the news unfold over the weekend our prayers and thoughts go out to our brothers and sisters in Haiti amidst the unrest there. The chaos started Friday, when the Haitian government announced its plan to raise prices on gasoline, diesel and kerosene. In response, many Haitians rioted, causing unrest.
Our synod has a partnership relation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Haiti, so these reports of unrest are unsettling. Pr. Livenson Lauvanus, President of the ELH, has asked for our prayers as we continue to accompany the church there. He reported to the Global Mission Committee that his family is safe.
It is important to show our love and support to them during this time of crisis. Please include them in your prayer petitions during worship so our communities are aware of our partnership and prayers during this situation.
O God, we pray for the nation of Haiti, and for our siblings in Christ and all people in that country. Where hearts are fearful and constricted, grant courage and hope. Where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance. Where impossibilities close every door and window, grant imagination and discerning wisdom. Where distrust twists thinking, grant healing and illumination. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen (adapted from ELW p. 76)
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Be Not Afraid: a testimony
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This is part of the 'stories of faith' blog series that is being posted to the web site. Debora Koepke attends St. Mark's, Jacksonville.
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My name is Debora and I was at the Synod Assembly in June. I attended the workshop “Walking the Prayer Labyrinth” and I had an experience that deeply impacted me. As I walked the labyrinth, I was pondering the question, “What will happen next?” in my head. As I walked and meditated, a message came in my head, and I wrote this down on the paper provided:
God will provide for you. Be not afraid for I am with you, in all that you do and everywhere you go.
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Youth Gathering re-cap and reflections
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A reflection on the Youth Gathering from Kelly Hoekstra, Adult Leader from Nativity, Palm Beach Gardens:
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Now that we are home and I've slept for 12 hours, I want to give my final thoughts on our experiences this week. First, almost every person we met in Houston had a smile on their face, kind words, and a big heart. All the hotel staff, Gathering staff, bus drivers, Lyft drivers, servers, hostesses, pilots, flight attendants, and the chef that cooked our meal at Benihana were AWESOME! We had a few mishaps, things we couldn't have prepared for, but overall our experience was a great one! Plus, my kids remembered the name of almost every Lyft driver we had for the entire week! At least 10 of them! We were sad that we had to leave our little Gathering bubble because we really were having a blast. It was so good to get home and hug our families, though.
My youth met kids from all over the US and made some memories they'll never forget.
We found it funny that we traveled all the way to Houston to meet youth groups in our hotel that live less than 30 minutes from us!
We talked about planning a collaborative service trip and might go Christmas caroling with them this year! I loved seeing my kids enjoying themselves and doing things out of their comfort zone. They all said they want to come back in 2021!
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen, it really did make an impact on our kids! I learned some things about myself as an adult, youth leader, and mom. I could have been more calm at times, and more strict at times. But, I wouldn't change a thing. And I couldn't have asked for a better group of kids to take with me on this wonderful journey! I will never forget all the great (And not-as-great) times we had! See you in Minneapolis in 2021! Thank you for everything! We had a blast!
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The Impact of the Gathering
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Other quotes from students regarding their time at the Gathering:
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"[Hearing the Bible story told through spoken word] gave me a different perspective." --Aaron, Christ Lutheran, Cape Coral
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"I really like the mass gathering. We can have a lot of fun while listening to people preaching, and enjoy God's presence."
--Kaycie, Gateway Trinity, Ft. Myers
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"This has been amazing. It's my first time, and I can't wait to come back with my brother next time." -Milla, St. Mark, Dunedin
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"[My favorite part was] becoming closer with our current youth group, but also with the other groups we traveled with." -Virginia, Gateway Trinity, Ft. Myers
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"I have more than enough...why not share."
--Nicole, Faith Lutheran, Lehigh Acres (on donating her hair)
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Each night [of the Gathering], the house band sang a praise song in Spanish and [Sunday] morning, the blessing of the Holy Communion elements was spoken in Spanish. [I] felt the presence of God during these times the most!"
--Camila, Holy Spirit, Juno Beach
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The Gathering happens with the help of an incredible corps of volunteers. Here are some of the ways Florida-Bahamas Synod adults were 'behind the scenes' of the Gathering this year, helping create a powerful experience for all:
Pr. Chad Fair (Immanuel, Palm City)--Community Life
Hannah and Carl (Lutheran Church of the Palms)--Community Life
Cotta Ungerer (Atonement, Wesley Chapel)--Community Life
Richard and Caitlyn Miller (Atonement, Wesley Chapel)--Community Life
Nathan Gross (University, Gainesville)--Mass Gathering
Jordan Palzar (Calvary, Apollo Beach)--Mass Gathering
Pr. Reggie Hansome (All Saints, Tamarac)--Gathering Chaplain
Pr. Daniel Locke (St. Mark, Jacksonville)--Interactive Learning Center
Michelle Collins (Trinity, St. Pete)--Communications
Sue Mendenhall (Prince of Peace, Largo)--Prayer stations in Interactive Learning Center
Debbie Carter and Anne Corti (Prince of Peace, Largo)--Prayer stations in Interactive Learning Center
All those in your congregations who donated towards the scholarship fund--THANK YOU!
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Creatively and courageously working toward a just world where all are fed!
an invitation from the FBSynod World Hunger Committee
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Our Lord invites us to be part of the solution to hunger!
The Florida-Bahamas Synod World Hunger Committee is inviting dedicated people who are interested in serving a two-year term with us to stir up individuals, congregations, and conferences to alleviate hunger, domestically and internationally.
For more information contact Barbara Miller, Chair, at milbar2016@gmail.com or 586-321-1118, by August 3.
Also see Hunger at
ELCA.org
for general information.
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Transition Ministry Retreat: July 30-Aug 1
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Who should attend:
Interim Pastors, pastors in a new call, and pastors in congregations seeking new direction.
When:
July 30-Aug. 1
Where:
Luther Springs
Why:
The Transition Training Event will help attendees to focus on what it is that properly motivates ministry so that the "yet to be" is fully in the hands of God, and God's people are themselves renewed and ready for that ministry.
For more information about this retreat, click
HERE
.
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Synod Parish Deacon Retreat: Aug 24-25
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Location of Retreat:
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Orlando
Registration cost:
$65
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Generosity NEXT conference: Nov. 28-29
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Generosity NEXT
takes place November 28-29, in Tampa, Florida, with exact location to be determined soon. Online registration for Generosity NEXT will be available beginning in August.
Cameron Howard, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, will give three keynote presentations on “Abundance or Sufficiency? A Biblical Vocabulary for Sustainable Stewardship”. Generosity NEXT includes ample opportunities for peer group discussion and engagement with the plenary speaker. New this year: dedicated time for strategizing to apply what you have learned in your vocational setting.
Student debt, underemployment, and social media are shaping the worldview of younger generations in North America, including how they express and experience faithful generosity. At this year’s Generosity NEXT, you can learn, discuss, and strategize ways to connect and communicate with Millennials and Generation Z about faithful generosity, framed in a biblical context.
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In her June column for
Living Lutheran,
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton compares her father’s experience following the war to that of African American soldiers. And knowing the truth of such realities, she writes, means “we have to do something about it.”
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New employment opportunities have been added to the Employment Opportunities page of the web site. These include positions in music, youth ministry, community engagement, and more. Check out these postings and others
HERE
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July 10-24, 2018
- Bishops' Academy (Chicago)
- Region 9 Bishops' Gathering
- Tampa Office
- Coral Gables (Ordination/installation of Moises Carasquillo)
- vacation
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Florida-Bahamas Synod 813-876-7660
info@fbsynod.org
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