Bishop Suárez's Message for All Saints Sunday 2020 |
To watch Bishop Suárez's All Saints Sunday Message in English, click here.
To read the Bishop's message on our website, click here.
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Today, November 3rd, is Election Day! Many of us have already voted via mail-in ballots or at early voting locations. If you have not yet voted, please vote today!
For congregational leaders: ELCAvotes has provided resources for our leadership to help support our communities before, during, and after the election. To find these resources, visit the ELCAvotes webpage by clicking here.
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This signature event gathers ELCA World Hunger’s leaders for a time of networking, idea sharing, learning and planning for our shared ministry to address hunger and its root causes in our local and global communities. Next year's event, January 20 through 23, we will center on John 6:11-12 and the theme “And All Were Satisfied.” For the first time in the event’s history, we will gather virtually!
We celebrate the new opportunities this gathering brings, including the chance to welcome more participants than ever before. As we look forward, we know that our future church is younger and more diverse; who do you want to invite to be part of the conversation and our ministry together?
The event fee is $20, with sponsorship opportunities available to those for whom the cost would be a barrier to attending. Once you register, you will receive the information needed to join in the event.
If you would like to know more about the Florida-Bahamas Synod World Hunger initiatives, please contact Barbara Miller at barbaramercerm@icloud.com.
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The United As One COVID-19 Special Appeal continues to provide support to congregations during this pandemic.
The United As One grant has recently helped congregations improve livestream worship services, provide necessary resources for mercy ministries, and meet needs created by COVID-19.
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Join the Florida-Bahamas Synod and lift up your neighboring congregations!
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Young Adult Opportunities |
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Scholarship Opportunity from Valparaiso University
Church leaders are invited to nominate high school seniors, graduating in the spring of 2021, for the full-tuition Lutheran Leader Scholarship and Intern Program at Valparaiso University.
Valparaiso University, for the past 24 years, has selected two Lutheran students from among the best high school leaders in the United States to enter a program that is unique in Lutheran higher education. This program includes students from the ELCA, the LCMS and the WELS. Currently, half of these students are graduates of a Lutheran high school.
Church leaders are asked to identify the students you believe merit consideration for this scholarship and program. Please submit all nominations by Tuesday, December 15th, 2020. This will give students time to apply to the university and prepare their application by the Friday, January 15th, 2021 deadline. Send nominations to the Center for Church Relations by clicking here!
Many thanks for taking the time to consider students you know who have been active in the church. The whole church benefits from the leaders trained through this unique scholarship and intern program!
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YAGM applications
Now Open!
Applications for the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program are now being accepted, and you can invite young adults on this journey abroad for the 2021-2022 program year.
If you know young adults ages 21 to 29, this is the time to reach out. Encourage them to apply for YAGM by the deadline of Jan. 15, 2021. Talk to them personally about what this opportunity will mean for their faith, identity, career and understanding of God’s work in the world.
Through YAGM, young adults will learn what it means to serve in a spirit of accompaniment as they walk alongside global church companions. They’ll become immersed in a new community and form deep relationships. Learn more at ELCA.org/YAGM.
Around the world, host families, churches, workplaces and communities are ready to welcome YAGM volunteers.
Don’t wait — spread the word and forward this email now! The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2021.
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Advent Resources from Lutheran World Relief |
You’ve been busy reinventing the way your congregation does ministry. Let Lutheran World Relief help you this Advent.
Lift up the experience of our neighbors in each of the regions your love reaches: Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Lutheran World Relief will provide you with a full suite of resources that can be used digitally or in-person each week, including sermon illustrations, powerful videos, candle lighting litany, and at-home engagement.
Visit lwr.org/congregations to download these free resources and make plans for your congregation to experience a Season of Hope.
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Prayer of the Week from our Racial Justice Think Tank
We pray to you, O God, for you have created all people in your image, may we acknowledge each other as equals. Help us end all conflicts in our personal lives, in our communities, and throughout the world. Give us peace in our hearts and the courage to be peacemakers and bridgebuilders within our communities.
Your blessings towards humanity abound as you have given us the resources to feed and help our hurting world. Allow us to be part of your restoring hope to the nations. Grant us healing in mind, body, and spirit that we may partake in your healing ministry for our broken homes and communities.
We pray for strength, determination, and the power to enact justice.
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
This prayer was submitted on behalf of the Racial Justice Think Tank by
Rev. Dr. Sean L. Forde.
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Florida Women of the ELCA Take Fall Gathering Online! |
Following a difficult decision by the Florida-Bahamas SWO Board to cancel the 2020 Fall Gathering at Lake Yale, the Board and Conference Co-Chairs set about the hard work of creating a virtual place where women across the state could access workshops, hear stories about ministries we are engaged in, and come together for Bible Study and worship.
Now, they have launched the 2020 Virtual Fall Gathering Place at www.flwelca.com. The site will be updated regularly between now and November 14th to provide new opportunities for you. As new features become available, the SWO Board will post announcements on their Facebook page and send announcements via email.
Workshops and featured ministries include - Churchwide: Triennial Convention, Love Offering: CALM, LWR: Quilt Ministry, Racial Justice SWO Board Presentation & Discussion led by Denise Beumer (Aug. 8), Symbols of Christmas with Tracy Moffat (Available on-demand Nov. 1), Laughter Yoga with Trixie Richter (Available on-demand Nov. 5), Bible Study with Pastor Joanie Holden (Livestream Nov. 11 at 11:00 a.m. and available on-demand Nov. 12), Honoring our Veterans, and recognition of the 50th anniversary of women being ordained in the ELCA.
Sign up for emails at www.flwelca.com.
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Election Statement from Presiding Bishop Eaton
On October 28th, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton released a special statement ahead of the 2020 election. Bishop Eaton also attended the Holding On To Hope National Prayer Service on November 1st.
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Updated COVID-19 resources are available on our synod website!
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