October 6th, 2020
For more information, visit www.fbsynod.com
|
|
Bishop Suárez's Message for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Grace and peace are yours from God, and from his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
One of the first words infants learn to say is “mine.” Our individualism is very strong. That is why we say in Spanish that “each head is a world”. Based on that saying, we live as if everything that happens in life revolves around ourselves. Although it is true that in our Latin American countries we place great value on the family and the community always putting them first, this has been a learned behavior, which can be good or bad, as there are people who develop negative emotions due to personal sacrifices they had to do for the collective wellbeing.
In the North American society in which we live, for many years it was very similar, but recent generations have learned to place a high value on individual development, which can create more self-confident personalities. On the other hand, they can create very selfish and ungenerous personalities...To continue reading, please click here!
|
|
Tropical Storm Delta Updates
Tropical Storm Delta has formed and is intensifying in the Caribbean Sea. It could pose a danger to the U.S. Gulf Coast by late this week.
This latest tropical storm, the 25th of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, first became a tropical depression late Sunday night, and is quickly gaining steam in the western Caribbean Sea south-southwest of Jamaica, moving to the west-northwest near 10 mph.
T.S. Delta is in an environment of the highest ocean heat content anywhere in the tropical Atlantic basin and low wind shear. Given that, Delta is likely to become a hurricane by Tuesday, and may intensify rapidly before it nears western Cuba.
|
|
Calling all Rostered Ministers, 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.
|
|
ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Matching Grants
Now Available!
|
|
ELCA World Hunger's Daily Bread Matching Grants support congregations and their partners as they work toward a just world where all are fed. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations with feeding ministries are eligible to participate.
As part of the ELCA’s continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this fall more than 300 grants are available to eligible ministries.
Once your application has been approved, you will be able to invite your congregation, networks and friends to donate. To kickstart your campaign, the funds you raise will be matched by ELCA World Hunger with a grant of $500.
|
|
Rich Langston and Anne Corti invite you to discuss Youth Gathering 2022, Extravaganza, and more at a special Zoom meeting!
Join them on Thursday, October 15th at 7:00pm. Rich will speak on where the Gathering plans are at right now and try to answer any questions you all might have. Also, Anne will be talking about plans for the Extravaganza this coming February. They've made a lot of adjustments to create a great experience for this event. We'll also see what each other is up to in our ministries and maybe talk about some events to consider in 2021.
|
|
This time of year, many of our congregations are trying to schedule annual meetings. A very popular question is, “In the age of COVID, can we meet electronically (online)?” Here are some basic steps to decide if your congregation can meet via the internet.
- Pull out your church constitution and read it.
- If your constitution is up-to-date (current with the 2019 ELCA model constitution) there is a provision that allows for electronic council / leadership meetings and congregational / members meetings.
- If your constitution is not up-to-date, you should still read through your current constitution. A): If your current constitution specifically states you cannot have electronic meetings, this complicates matters and you may need to work with a local lawyer to determine how to proceed. B): If your constitution does not mention electronic meetings, then continue to step number 5.
- In all cases, proxy voting and absentee ballot voting are prohibited.
- If you conclude you are able in this time of a public health emergency to meet electronically, several actions still need to happen.
A): The council needs to meet and, after determining that in light of public health concerns, decide it is appropriate to have a congregational meeting electronically and adopt specific procedures. These procedures should be in writing and publicized in advance.
B): You must have a way to determine who is a member and who is not for those attending virtually. This is so you can be sure only members are voting. You must still determine that you have a quorum.
C): Everyone participating must be able to participate, to ask questions, hear all proceedings, and be able to vote. You can explore options like voting by voice, raising a hand, or holding up a red or green card, along with others. Be sure you make it clear on the record that people were given the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no”.
D): If you do a hybrid meeting (some in person and some virtually), all people must be able to clearly hear each other, ask questions and have their votes counted in real time. For example, you cannot require those attending virtually to have to submit questions in writing.
E): Develop a backup plan in the event the technology fails. Will you pivot to another platform? Will you suspend and reconvene at another date/time? (Be sure to provide notice for this in accordance with your constitution).
There are several services that allow for online meetings. Zoom, Skype, Google Meetings, and Microsoft Teams are a few of the most popular, and your members may already be familiar with them. You could also do a meeting using a conference call, but make sure you have clear rules about who can speak and when. Find a service that works for your church, then clearly explain how to access the meeting, fully participate, and vote. If all congregation members are on the same page, you will have a good meeting.
If you have any specific questions, please reach out to Pastor Rob Rose, Assistant to the Bishop for Administration. He will be able to answer your questions or direct you to resources with answers. Contact Pastor Rob Rose directly at (813) 876-7660 x 222 or by email at robr@fbsynod.org.
|
|
Seeking Two First Call Theological Education
Team Members
All newly rostered ministers, both pastors and deacons, are required to participate in a three-year program of continuing education, formation, and collegial support. We are seeking additional team members who have a passion for supporting our rostered leaders, especially those new to the role of pastor or deacon and those who value ongoing continuing education.
In non-COVID times, we meet in person with First Call leaders one day prior to Synod Assembly and Conference on Ministry. Currently, we have been meeting via ZOOM. As a member of the team you might lead a class, conduct a formative review, or serve as a point person for one of the First Call ministers. If you sense that God might be Calling you to serve the wider church in this way, please submit a one-page reflection, directed to Bishop Suarez, as to why you feel Called to serve in this capacity, and tell us a bit about the gifts and experience that you would bring to the team and the First Call rostered ministers.
Please email reflections to Deacon Connie Schmucker at connies@fbsynod.org by October 12th. Bishop Suárez and the current First Call Theological Education Team will review all submitted reflections.
|
|
Faith-Based Unity Group Funds New School Rooms at Community Center |
|
Since the beginning of the COVID crisis, the Winter Park Community Center After School Program has been serving as a learning hub for kids either NOT in school, OR for those who need a place for internet access after school. They have been doing this since March, including the summer months, during which they also did a socially-distanced version of Summer Camp.
Bridging the Color Divide, a faith-based group involving multiple Winter Park churches including St. John Lutheran, recently funded a series of grants to the After School Program. This gift allowed for several new “school” rooms. These rooms are brightly painted, relaxed, open, and include murals done by the kids!
Bridging the Color Divide includes representatives from several of the local mainline churches and African American congregations. The team lovingly offers their support to the Winter Park Community Center, which serves mainly African American young people on the west side of the city.
|
|
Prayer of the Week from our Social Justice Think Tank
Prayer for Forgiveness
Dear Lord, we pray for each other and ask you to forgive us for our sins. Inspire us to use our unity in Christ to motivate us to act against our prejudiced thoughts and actions against our neighbor, and find ways to be Antiracist in all that we do at home and in the communities where we live. You have reminded us that all things are possible in your name. Inspire us as a community of faith to join others in making our neighborhoods, cities and nation safer places to live for all citizens regardless of their race and ethnic status. Help us to live out the words expressed in Micah 6:8, “O Mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
We ask the Lord for these blessings in the name of Jesus!
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
|
|
Click on the calendar icon to see more
events on the Synod calendar
|
|
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!
|
|
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Suárez continues to work from home and take meetings electronically. |
|
|
|
If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to receive it in the future, please click HERE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
