June 23, 2020
For more information, visit www.fbsynod.com
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This Evening!
Racial Justice Online Conversation
June 23
rd
at 7:00 PM
Join Bishop Pedro Suárez and Judith Roberts, ELCA Program Director for Racial Justice from the Office of the Presiding Bishop, for a conversation on Racial Justice.
Participants will be invited to engage in honest conversation and helpful exercises designed to strengthen their understanding of Racial Justice in America. This meeting is open to everyone, lay and rostered.
When
: Jun 23, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic:
Racial Justice Online Conversation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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Your gifts make a difference!
Here in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, we are committed to helping our congregations and communities respond to the need created by the COVID-19 pandemic. We know our churches are eager to help those in need, and our ministers are dedicated to offering worship online.
Messages of thanks from congregations and missions:
"The funds are being used to purchase the necessary equipment and food so that we may re-open [our food pantry] in July providing mobile food distributions, hopefully on a weekly basis."
"It is because of [donations like] yours that we will be able to continue helping the needy in Citrus County. There are many families who rely on us and we do our best to meet their needs. First and foremost, we provide weekly food distribution. However, we also try to help in other ways: such as information for doctors, dentists, insurance, and other helpful agencies."
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ATTENTION CHURCH LEADERS:
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Important Announcement about the 2020 Women's Fall Gathering
From Phyllis Wade, Board President:
The Florida-Bahamas SWO Board has announced plans to
CANCEL
this year’s Fall Gathering at Lake Yale. Please know that this has been a tough decision and that it came after many emails, phone calls, online meetings, and recommendations from Churchwide.
Your leadership engaged in prayer and took the necessary time to discern the best path forward, as we felt it was our responsibility to make a decision that prioritized your health and well-being. We did not feel we could guarantee your safety and that the appropriate social distancing guidelines and health guidelines could be implemented.
While we have canceled this year’s in-person Fall Gathering, we are looking at ways to connect virtually; please watch for more information about this on our website, on this feed, and in the Tapestry. Learn more about our decision and plans moving forward at
www.flwelca.com
.
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Chaplain Leads Moment of Silence & Solidarity
In a demonstration of support for those facing prejudice and discrimination, Pastor Bernie Jorn, chaplain at Brooks Rehab in Orlando, led a special moment of reflection with healthcare workers.
This special moment of silence was a statement to the rehab's commitment to improving the health & safety of people of color.
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Calming Stressful Moments
There’s an ancient prayer practice that is a vehicle for entering into God’s Shalom. Through it, a person is enabled to let go of stressors and empowered to step into the “peace that passes all understanding” with God’s abiding presence.
It’s called “Centering/Contemplative Prayer”.
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Emmanuel Academies: The Future Is Now!
The Spirit is continuing to bless the work of Emmanuel Academies in countless ways, as it seeks to build and serve the Kingdom of God through Lutheran Learning and Pastoral Formation!
We wanted to share with you a video we have put together for the Emmanuel community, our donors and our friends, which shares the excitement of the progress we have made and our vision for the future.
Click here to check out the video!
Emmanuel Academy's MDiv program enrollment continues to grow and attract new prospective future pastors. The 5-Year Pastoral Leadership Program (BA + MDiv) has had challenges in identifying called young adults. We continue to ask for your assistance in introductions to FBS and ELCA Youth Leaders, and other opportunities to come into contact directly or indirectly with young people in the age range of 17-27. Emmanuel Academy has close to $350,000 in scholarships that are at risk of going unused from the Kern Family Foundation grant.
It is also important to note that the Kern grant is not limited to ELCA pastors or to the state of Florida. We have a 5-Year student in Iowa and would welcome more students from around the country. Thus, I ask you each to share this opportunity beyond Florida with leaders in other cities and states.
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You need a place to get away. You need a place to gather in God’s good creation with family and friends. You need a place apart. Open the door to opportunities at the beautiful sites of NovusWay. We are ready for you. We are ready for your group of friends. We are ready for your family. We are ready for you to open the door to simple time away.
With comfortable accommodations, on-site meals, and fun gifts from our team to help you create faith forming experiences, your experience at Lutheridge, Lutherock, Luther Springs, and Lutheranch will open the door to a vacation that changes everything.
At Lutheranch and Lutherock you can choose to add adventure packages per guest to your stay. At Lutherock experience the high adventure activities on our towers, ropes, and rock climbing. At Lutheranch get the dude ranch experience and ride the trails on one of our beautiful horses.
Lutheridge & Lutherock
Luther Springs & Lutheranch
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Forms A & C Reminder
Just a reminder: Forms A & C must be turned in soon in order to be included in the annual statistics. Please submit reports by June 30
th
. As churchwide staff are still working from home, please enter electronically rather than mailing paper forms to the office.
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Parade Safely Celebrates Pastor's Retirement
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our congregations have found new and creative ways to honor their pastors' important milestones.
Hope Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg is one such church. The congregation recently held a parade to celebrate Pastor Bob Bresemann’s last Sunday before retirement.
The parade included fire engines and many congregation members and their families. Some held signs from the car windows and beeped, while others handed Pastor Bob cards and balloons from a safe distance.
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Getting Creative with Online Worship
While online worship during the COVID-19 pandemic has produced many challenges for our congregations, it has also created some incredible opportunities for creativity in worship.
Atonement Lutheran Church in Sebring is just one congregation getting creative with online services. They celebrated Pentecost with a unique presentation by Jonathan Thoresen: a worship dance done with fire.
The special production was made possible only because of online worship technology. The fire stunt would never have worked inside a physical sanctuary. But by filming services in their home, Pastor David Thoresen and his wife Mary were able to include the performance, which was filmed in their pool in the evening for added visual effect.
The performer, Jonathan Thoresen, is also Atonement's technical whiz. He added his fire dance to the Pentecost worship video just hours before it was presented. He also inserted the ALCM virtual choir and orchestra version of O Day Full of Grace. Pastor Dave and Mary sang in the choir, and were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful hymn and virtual choir arrangement.
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Resources for Rostered Ministers
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TRANSITION MINISTRY TRAINING
ONLINE WEBINAR
July 20-24, 2020
Transitions -
There are many factors that come into play when a congregation is in transition. Whether that congregation has just received an interim pastor, or has just received a newly called pastor, or is seeking new direction into God's future, it is a time of transition from something that was to something that is yet to be.
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.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Interim Pastors, First Call and New Call Pastors, Pastors in congregations needing new direction.
Interim Pastors 5 days (M-F) - $160
First Call/New Call Pastors & Others (M-W) - $130
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Boundaries Training
Boundaries training is crucial for rostered ministers, since we work closely with people and know the importance of relationships.
Rostered ministers can attend our Synod's boundaries & sexual ethics training
online
during COVID-19:
The expectation of the Bishop is that rostered ministers will attend or take boundaries training once every 3 years.
The cost is $49 to enroll. Questions about this training or about the boundaries workshops offered in the synod can be sent to Connie Schmucker at
connies@fbsynod.org
.
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Search for Global Mission Table Chairperson
Florida-Bahamas Synod
Are you an ELCA member interested in Global Mission work? Do you have a passion for exploring other cultures and discovering the Gospel in other contexts?
The Florida-Bahamas Synod is seeking a person to chair the Global Mission Table! The work of the Global Mission Table (GMT) is to foster growth and deepen relationships with our Companion Churches in other countries. The GMT Chairperson will be responsible for overseeing the GMT, increasing awareness of Global Mission, and deepening our relationships with our companion churches.
The ideal candidate will have strong multi-tasking skills, a love of travel, the ability to delegate tasks, and the ability to learn and respect different cultural customs and traditions. You must be healthy enough to travel overseas and must possess a valid passport. Bilingual skills are a plus!
The Global Mission Table Chairperson will need to commit approximately 10-40 hours per month to the position. This time will vary depending on upcoming events and seasons. Most work will be completed at home, with occasional foreign travel.
Ready to apply? Email your resume to Pr. Khader El-Yateem - Assistant to the Bishop at
khadere@fbsynod.org
.
Be sure to tell us why you’re passionate about promoting Global Mission!
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Click on the calendar icon to see more
events on the Synod calendar
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September 26
- Bishop's Visit, Lord of Life, Miami
October 10
- Bishop's Visit, Advent, Melbourne
*Rostered ministers are invited to vest and process at installation and ordination services. Red is worn for ordination, color of the day is worn for installations.
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