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Sept. 4, 2018
2017 Hurricanes--One Year Later (Report from LDR)

The Situation: The 2017 hurricane season resulted in 17 named storms that caused widespread destruction across the Atlantic region. Five of these hurricanes impacted the U.S. mainland and/or territories, causing large-scale damage across Texas,...

Read more
www.elca.org
Spiritual Direction Certification Program at Southern Seminary

We are happy to announce that our new Spiritual Direction Certification Program here on the campus of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is going wonderfully! Our first group completed the program in June 2018. We anticipate an enrollment in January 2019 of around 40!
 
Spiritual direction is a centuries-old Christian tradition; however, it has largely stayed rooted in the Roman, Eastern, and Anglican community. 
 
We would like to begin to raise up new generations of Protestant (and Lutheran!) spiritual directors. With this sense of calling, we are offering our Spiritual Direction Certification Program.
 
You can find out more information on the Continuing Ed page of the web site.
Morningstar Renewal Center and Global Grief Support Announce Grief Support Training

Two Day Training--Sat., Sept. 22nd & Sept. 29th--8:30 am to 4:30 pm

MorningStar Renewal Center in collaboration with Global Grief Support, Inc. offer quality training to faith communities and individuals interested in refreshing or developing a grief support group or bereavement ministry at their parish. 

This is a faith-integrated model of peer group support.

Workshop leadership include: Rev. Dale A. Young, D.Min.; Ligia M. Houben, MA, FT, CG-C, CPC; Diana Carmona, MSW; Sue DeFerrari, MA/MSW. 

Participant fee for the 2 day workshop: $120 per person. For more information or to register call or E-mail Sue DeFerrari: 305-238-4367 
info@morningstarrenewal.org
Synod Council "On the Road" in Jacksonville

The Florida-Bahamas Synod Council meets four times a year to discuss and vote on various matters relating to our lives together. In September we take the “Synod Council on the Road” and invite all congregations in the area---including pastors, congregational councils and officers, and interested lay members---to a conversation and worship. This year we are in the First Coast Conference!

On behalf of the entire Synod Council, I invite you and your congregation to join us for conversation and worship on Friday evening, September 14, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church, 1950 Silver Street in Jacksonville, from 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm.

We are interested in hearing:
  • About the highs and lows of your congregation’s mission in your community,
  • Your ideas about how we might be better connected to each other,
  • The challenges and joys of your lay leadership,
  • What you need to be a more effective leader,
  • Questions like “What does the Synod Council do anyway?!”

We will have conversation starters but hope that our time together will evolve as the Spirit moves among us. The evening will end with worship and Holy Communion.
Mark your Calendar
Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
Long-Range planning
2019 Lenten Visits--CONFIRMED
  • March 9 – Grace, Tallahassee
  • March 16 – St. James/Santiago Apostol, Coral Gables
  • March 23 – Emmaus, Port Orange
  • March 30 – St. Armands Key, Sarasota
  • April 13 – St. Timothy, Tarpon Springs
Sept. 3 - Synod Office CLOSED for Labor Day
Sept. 5 - USCA Faith Coalition pre-conference on AIDS
Sept. 7, 8 - Rock the Universe, Universal Studios, Orlando
Sept. 8 - God's Work Our Hands Work Day, Luther Springs
Sept. 8 - Installation of Pr. Tom Holdcraft, St. Stephen, Tallahassee (11:00)
Sept. 9 - God's Work Our Hands Sunday
Sept. 10-12 - Region 9 Rostered Deacon Retreat (South Carolina)
Sept. 14-15 - Synod Council meeting (Jacksonville)
Sept. 27-30 - Practice Discipleship Retreat for Youth Workers (Luther Springs)
Sept. 21-22 - Latino Women's Retreat (Duncan Center, Delray)
Sept. 22 - Installation of Rev. Janice Mynchenberg, Epiphany, Oviedo (2:00 pm)
Sept. 23 - Installation of Pr. Reggie Hansome, All Saints, Tamarac (3:00 pm)
Sept. 28-30 - Come to the Well Retreat for Women (Luther Springs)
Oct. 9 - Boundaries Workshop, Cross+Road, Fleming Island
Oct. 14 - Installation of Pr. Bob Schaefer, St. Stephen, Pompano Beach (3:30 pm)
Oct. 20 - Retreat on Prayer, Mandarin, Jacksonville
Oct. 21 - Installation of Pr. Deborah Geweke, Christ, Ft. Lauderdale (10:00 am)
Oct. 27 - Installation of Pr. Steve Winsor, Nativity, Palm Beach Gardens (11:00 am)
Oct. 28 - Installation of Pr. Richard Leseganich, Messiah, Cape Coral (3:00 pm)
For Your Information
Prayer Workshop-Mandarin, Jacksonville

Prayer Workshop Presented by Rev. Brenda Smith ELCA Program Director, Faith Practices & Book of Faith.
 
Saturday October 20, 2018  10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Mandarin Lutheran Church, 11900 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223.

Registration information contact:  Sue Brown sbrown81@hotmail.com Ph. 904-803-4057.
 
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph. 6:18  
 
Prayer ministry in congregations can be transformative and renewing as the body of Christ seeks God's guidance in all decisions and comes together to support and pray for each other. A praying church is a growing church. Come hear more about strengthening prayer practices in your congregation.  
In Search of Pews for Castle Church Taproom

Pr. Jared Witt from Castle Church is looking for some old pews for the Castle Church taproom. Specifically, he's looking for six 5' to 8' pews (so they might have to be the shorter kind). If you are aware of pews that might be available for Castle Church, please contact Pr. Jared (jared@castlechurchbrewing.com).
Bishop's Calendar
  • Synod Office
  • Our Savior, Freeport, Bahamas
  • Tallahassee (Installation of Pr. Tom Holdcraft)
  • Atonement, Wesley Chapel
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