September 22nd, 2020
For more information, visit www.fbsynod.com
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Bishop Suárez's Message for the 16th Sunday After Pentecost
Grace and peace are yours from God our Father, and from his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
This week I was left without words as I learned of allegations that in a detention center for immigrants, several Latina women have received medical treatment that, without their full consent, had left them with no possibility to bear children.
The story of each immigrant is unique. Some have had the privilege to choose among other options to come to the United States and have been very fortunate to meet the requirements of this difficult and deficient immigration laws from the get-go. But for many, it has been a nightmare as they are trying to escape violence, starvation or death. These last ones come with very little hope, only asking for refuge or asylum. Many are treated like slaves, with very poor working conditions and pitiful pay.
We may see some of them in the cities, near home improvement stores, or other places where people come and hire them for the day. Here is where I see a connection with the gospel today...To continue reading Bishop Suárez's message, click here for English and click here for Spanish.
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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.
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An Update from the Global Mission Table |
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Global Mission Includes YOU!
Through the Florida-Bahamas Synod's Global Mission Table, congregations and individuals have the opportunity to serve as a companion to these Global Mission partners: the Lutheran Church in Cuba, Guyana, Haiti and Suriname and the seminary in Jamaica. Just as we are "united as one" as a synod, Gl0bal Mission helps us to unite with ministries throughout the Caribbean Basin. Who in your congregation might like to partner in this exciting work? To learn more, start by emailing Rev. Katie Carroll, Chair at revkhc@gmail.com.
Even in times of pandemic, we stay connected with our companions:
SEMINARY IN JAMAICA - Thanks to the generosity of many in the synod, a classroom at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) was refurbished and its technology was improved. The project is particularly timely, now that so much learning has moved online.
CUBA and HAITI - Both countries were hit hard by Tropical Storm Laura and needs are great. Global Mission is working with the church in Haiti to enhance its office management/bookkeeping, and also to install solar panels for reliable electricity. Congregations in the synod have also partnered with Global Mission in goat and seed projects for Haiti. Opportunities to accompany the Lutheran church in Cuba are great, yet current restrictions imposed by the US Government make it extremely difficult for churches to share resources. We remain in close contact with church leaders in Cuba as we seek ways to accompany them, and urge your prayers for a change in policy.
GUYANA and SURINAME - Once churches re-open more fully, Global Mission has projects in mind in the areas of education and training for these neighboring countries located along the northern border of South America.
Yes - Global Mission can include YOU, whether it means visiting when travel can resume, or partnering in meaningful ways from home. Meetings are online, and work can be done from where you are. Email Pastor Katie at revkhc@gmail.com and she will help you get started.
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Join Bishop Suárez and your friends from around the Florida-Bahamas Synod for our next Youth Check-In on September 27th at 4:00pm.
We’ll have special guest speakers, music, and prayers together. PLUS, when you register, you’ll be automatically entered into our drawing to win a surprise gift!
This event is open for all middle and high school-aged youth!
Adult Youth Leaders: Do you have another youth event scheduled for this time? Why not make this event YOUR event? Join our Synod Youth Check-In with your youth group.
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Calling all pastors, 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 is open for everyone! Education professionals and Rostered Ministers serving a congregation with a school are especially encouraged to attend.
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Let's Talk! Rostered Ministers Gathering on Holy Communion Practices During COVID-19 |
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An Open Letter: Responses from Dr. Timothy Wengert, special guest presenter at our Rostered Ministers event
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Let me express again how honored I was that your bishop (and my booking agent, Khader) invited me to share some of my thoughts with you on celebrating the Lord’s Supper in such times. I was heartened by your honest questions and your own struggles to remain faithful to Christ and his promises at this juncture in our church’s history.
Khader sent me a complete list of your questions, so I went through and culled out the ones I had not answered (or had not fully answered). I would like to take the time now to address them. You may also communicate directly with me via e-mail at tjwengert@comcast.net. Let me reiterate that the purpose of my remarks was and is not to condemn anyone but rather to cause more reflection by all of us on this extremely difficult issue. May God’s Holy Spirit continue to grant us wisdom...
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Hurricane Sally Update
Our Director of Disaster Response, Jim Habermehl, has been visiting our congregations in the Panhandle to assess the damage of Hurricane Sally. Our congregations have reported some damage to buildings, but thankfully, no injuries of members so far!
We say thank you to our pastors in the Panhandle for their responsiveness and assistance to the Synod Disaster Response effort.
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The Fund for Leaders Scholarship Application for the 2021-2022 academic year is available on our website, www.flwelca.com. The deadline is midnight, December 15, 2020. Applications should be submitted to Phyllis Wade, SWO President, 412 North Sea Lane, NW, Unit C, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 or wade.phyllis73@gmail.com.
The scholarship will be awarded by the decision of the FL-BA SWO board at their January 2021 board meeting using the following criteria:
- The applicant must be a student in the candidacy process attending one of the eight ELCA seminaries in either the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts program, or a student in an approved extension program of one of the ELCA seminaries and be enrolled in an approved program, such as the Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) program.
- Preference will be given to residents of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
- Preference will be given to female applicants.
- Preference will be given to an active member of a congregational unit of the Women of the ELCA.
- Applicant should exhibit faith qualities that empower others.
- Applicant should demonstrate leadership qualities in church and the community.
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Interim Ministry Network
2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
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Interim Ministry Network Annual Conference will be virtual this year. When you register you will be sent an email which will include a passcode to the Conference Participant Webpage (CPW). You will need that passcode to sign into the conference.
Each conference day will begin with an opening gathering of worship. Each day from 9:30am, we will be together LIVE by way of zoom. The workshop contents will be pre-recorded and posted by November 2nd. There will be discussion time set aside with the plenary and workshop presenters. All of these times and links will be posted on the CPW.
Pre-recorded sessions and live recordings will be available through the IMN website for 6 months after the conference. Watch the Conference Website, Weekly IMN Communications and Social Media Accounts for more details.
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A Prayer from Our Racial Justice Think Tank
Prayer for Purveyors of Justice
“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.”
- A Franciscan Prayer
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Continuing Education Opportunities |
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During COVID-19, Rostered Ministers can access our Synod's comprehensive boundaries and sexual ethics training completely online!
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This training helps you design and implement a plan to welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
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Beginning a Culture of Generosity
The goal of this program is to help congregations stabilize current year giving to pre-COVID levels, with the potential for growth in 2021.
Email Tom O'Reilly at tom.f.oreilly@gmail.com
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Together we will explore helpful ways we can set boundaries that create opportunities to care for people we love, those around us, and in our faith communities.
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We can find ourselves asking, "What does LGBTQIA+ mean?" Together we will co-create a safe space to learn helpful skills and tools to support you and your ministry.
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Bias is a part of our lives and ministries. This training will invite attendees into exploring how bias impacts welcome, creativity, and innovation for our lives and ministries.
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Click on the calendar icon to see more
events on the Synod calendar
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September 27 - Let's Talk! Youth Check-In: God's in the Change - 4:00pm on Zoom
October 8 - Let's Talk! Best Practices for Our Congregational Schools - 11:00am on Zoom
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Suárez continues to work from home and take meetings electronically. |
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