June 30, 2020
For more information, visit www.fbsynod.com
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Bishop's Message for the
4
th Sunday After Pentecost
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Grace and peace are yours from God our Father, and from his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I was a teenager when I went to see the premier of a blockbuster movie at a popular cinema in my hometown. A couple of my friends from church were with me and I asked them, "Would anything make you ashamed of the gospel?" They said, "Of course not!” Then I began to sing a Christian camp song really loud in the middle of the huge line of people waiting to get their tickets.
My friends disappeared immediately! Vanished! I couldn't see them. They had left me alone. A little later when they thought it was safe to return to the line I told them, "You see? You were ashamed of your faith!" Then they said, "No, man. We're not ashamed of the gospel. We're embarrassed by you."
You see, in many instances in life the messenger becomes the message. I acted way out of place, not thinking, just being a crazy teenager, and my friends were ashamed of me.
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Join members and leaders from throughout the Florida-Bahamas Synod for a virtual prayer vigil and time of lament together.
Our Florida-Bahamas Synod community is invited to gather in solidarity, to witness to one another’s pain and to lift up our prayers for peace and justice. We will hear from Bishop Pedro Suárez and other Synod leaders, and will have time to express our grief, hope, and faith.
Why Lament Matters:
As a society, we have been rushing to fix the problems that plague our communities. We have urgently sought a vaccine for COVID-19. We have championed justice and reform in response to police brutality. We have tried to find modern solutions to our problems and viable alternatives to traditional meetings and events.
But through these struggles, we have seldom taken the time to mourn the loss we collectively feel. Our pain is universal, and it is time to gather as a community and lament as God’s people during this trying time.
Let us stop, for a brief moment, and share in each other’s grief and suffering. Let us support and hear one another. Let us take a break from our efforts to fix our society’s issues and spend precious time mourning together and affirming our shared mission.
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Special Message from Bishop Suárez
to be shared this Thursday!
Bishop Pedro Suárez will release a special video update on Thursday, July 2
nd. Be sure to check your email and our Synod Facebook page to see it when it is released!
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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.
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ATTENTION CHURCH LEADERS:
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Celebrating 50 Years of Women's Ordination in the ELCA!
The Holy Spirit was at work 50 years ago within the Lutheran Church in America, one of the ELCA’s predecessor bodies. On June 29, 1970, the LCA convention voted to change “man” to “person” in its bylaws to allow for women’s ordination. Delegates may have not known how much that would change.
Join us in thanking those women who have answered God’s call to be pastors over the past 50 years!
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We Welcome Tina Fritz
to the Office of the Bishop!
The Florida-Bahamas Synod has welcomed Tina Fritz as our new Administrative Assistant for Leadership!
Tina is a Tampa native and is married to her husband Curt. Tina has two children and three grandkids. She has worked in the environmental field for more than 20 years, and has a long history in volunteerism.
As a member of St. Paul Lutheran in Tampa, she has served on council and is currently serving as treasurer. She has always wanted to work in the non-profit field and feels she was called to be part of the synod team. She's also a big Tampa Bay Rays fan!
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Preparing for Hurricane Season
As we journey through Hurricane Season here in Florida, it is essential that congregations create both Pre- and Post-Hurricane Disaster Plans.
If you need help creating a Hurricane Disaster Plan for your congregation, please contact our Florida-Bahamas Synod Director of Disaster Response Jim Habermehl at jimh@fbsynod.org.
Looking for Hurricane Season Resources?
We have update our Florida-Bahamas Synod website to include many helpful resources for Disaster Preparation and Hurricane Season.
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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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Special Opportunity for Grief Care Givers!
Facilitators of Grief Support Groups and pastors, deacons, and coaches who provide grief support are invited to join a special Facebook group called Grief Care-Givers. The mission of this group is to provide a safe-place online for mutual support for those who provide grief support.
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Forms A & C Reminder
Just a reminder: Forms A & C must be turned in to be included in the annual statistics.
Please submit reports by today, 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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Watch our Racial Justice Conversation online!
If you missed our special Racial Justice Zoom Conversation on June 23
rd, you can watch it now on our synod Vimeo page.
Click here to watch!
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Messiah Lutheran Member Wins Donation for
United As One Campaign
One Messiah Lutheran member's hymn knowledge was rewarded with a generous donation to our Florida-Bahamas Synod's United As One COVID-19 Relief Fund!
Judy King, who attends Messiah Lutheran in Cape Coral, won her church's Hymn Writers Contest.
In her honor, two donations of $100 each were donated to our Synod's COVID-19 Relief Fund. We thank Judy and the donors for their contribution!
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Winter Park Dentist Raises Money for Haiti Support
For years, Dr. David Blue of Winter Park has had a piggy bank on the reception counter at his dental office. It’s purpose? To collect funds to benefit mission work in Haiti.
Although he is not an ELCA member, Dr. Blue has long been inspired by the work of his late wife, Nancy, who served as a J-3 Missionary in Japan. This week, Dr. Blue generously donated the $84 raised for Haiti through his piggy bank collection. The loving donations from his clients will directly provide support for our Haiti missions. Additional change was left in the bank to encourage continued donations.
We sincerely thank Dr. Blue and his clients for their stewardship, and for their continued efforts to share news on ministry work in Haiti.
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E-Spirit Correction: In our June 23
rd issue of E-Spirit, we spotlighted Chaplain Bernie Jorn and his ministry at Brooks Rehabilitation Center. However, we incorrectly identified Brooks Rehab as being located in Orlando. Brooks Rehab is located in Jacksonville. We apologize for this error!
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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.
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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