Global Mission: Fall 2021 Newsletter

The Fall 2021 Global Mission Newsletter is now available to read and share within your congregation. This edition of the newsletter is filled with information and updates from our brothers and sisters in Jamaica, Haiti, Suriname, and other countries we work with. 

Everything that Global Mission is able to do happens through the dedication and generosity of countless volunteers.

Learn what’s happening with our Florida-Bahamas Synod companions, and how you can be involved! Click here to read the fall newsletter. For more information, email Rev. Katie Carroll, Chair, at revkhc@gmail.com.

Employment Opportunity:

Music Director - Part Time

Christ Our Redeemer

Temple Terrace, FL

Requirements and Qualifications for the Position:

• Bachelor’s degree in music
• Experience in vocal and handbell conducting and choir leadership
• Familiarity and understanding of the liturgy and liturgical forms used within the Lutheran tradition.
• Knowledge of appropriate church music (classical, contemporary, folk and gospel)
• Good interpersonal skills, the ability to work with and service the needs of individual and/or groups of church members, visiting musicians, and families preparing for weddings, funerals and memorial services.

Click here for the full description of requirements, salary,and benefits. For more information, and to send in your resume, please contact Vickie Sufka at vsufka@corlutheran.org.

Palms Deaf Church is coming to the Florida-Bahamas Synod in 2022. 

It’s exciting to see a new congregation about to be birthed. And, you and your congregation can become Partners in Mission to help make this happen for the whole synod. Your prayers and support will help make this bold adventure happen.

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Rob Carlson at robc@fbsynod.org. 

Click Here to read more about Palms Deaf Church. To watch an informative video on Palms Deaf Church, click here.

Please share this information and video with your congregation.

Anger Workshop for Rostered Ministers

Many bishops and rostered ministers have reported an increase in anger in our faith communities. Certainly, COVID-related issues over the past two years have made ministry more complicated. New ministry plans delayed, organizing virtual worship and meetings, complications with pastoral care, financial support declining, and many other things. These problems can create anxiety and anger. Barbara Keller has developed a 1-hour zoom workshop for rostered ministers. It focuses on understanding the origins of anger and ways to help rostered ministers and congregations deal more effectively with anger. 

The workshop will be held at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. Central time) on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 over Zoom. Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtdu2pqTMiG9YOU004MnfENeFCLVAymaMG

Save the Date!

Sunday Assembly for Word and Sacrament: Recovering it and practicing it in late pandemic time.

A conversation led by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Lathrop.

Pastors and assembly leaders have had a very hard time living out their call for nearly two years. Are there resources in the Bible and in the Lutheran liturgical tradition that can refresh us in assembly practice?  What from our tradition do we maintain and strengthen?  What do we drop?  What new practices should we adopt?  And how should we teach the importance of the assembly in this time?  On December 9, Pastor Gordon Lathrop will present ideas in response to these and related questions and will engage with us in conversation.

When: Thursday, December 9 at 2pm over Zoom. CLICK HERE to register. 

Transitions Ministry Webinar

January 24 - 28, 2022

There are many factors that come into play when a congregation is in transition. Whether that congregation has just received an interim pastor, has just received a newly called pastor, or is seeking new direction into God's future. This is a time of transition from something that was, towards something that is yet to be. The Transition Training Event will help attendees tofocus 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.

COST:

Interim Pastors 5 days - $160

First Call and/or New Call Pastors & Others (M-W) - $130

The Continuing Education Credit for the Rostered Leaders Annual Report to the Bishop is 9 hours for 3-day attendees, or 15 hours for 5-day attendees.

Registration will go live November 29, 2021.

Announcing the 2022 Ignite the Church Conference

February 8-10, 2022, Seismic Shifts: Where do we go from here?

A new Hybrid version of the grassroots Ignite the Church Conference will gather next February…In-Person in sunny Orlando AND Online…to reflect on the theme: SEISMIC SHIFTS: Where Do We Go From Here? The theme is grounded in the witness of Psalm 46: 1-2 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and the mountains shake." 

Four large group sessions will focus on the following shifts: Public Church (Robin Steinke and Winston Persaud), Hybrid Church  (Joe and Jess Liles), Adaptive Church (Tod Bolsinger), Thriving Church  (Stephanie Spellers). Ten 90-minute workshops will dig deeper into these shifts to offer encouragement, inspiration, and challenge for church leaders.

To register and learn more about the presenters, workshop options, and other details go to www.IgniteTheChurch.net.  Register by November 30 to access the lowest $99 In-Person rate. The Online option will provide live and recorded access to each large group session and the post-conference Resource Page. The Online option is FREE…with a suggested donation $30 to the ELCA Fund for Leaders invited. All proceeds continue to benefit the ELCA Fund for Leaders which has received $13,000 from the Conference in just the past two years.

Helping the Homeless with the most Needed Items

From Meredith Mills, South Miami Lutheran Church

Our church and our preschool discovered that underwear and socks are some of the most needed items in homeless shelters. So we held a sock and underwear drive. We donated more than 175 pairs of underwear and over 200 pairs of socks to the Miami Rescue Mission. We have so much to be thankful for and wanted to with others that need our help.

Lord of Life in Ponte Vedra welcomes several New Members

From Sheila Kolesaire, Lord of Life Lutheran Church

Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ponte Vedra Beach welcomed four new members to its congregation on November 7. We feel very thankful that our small congregation added four new members at one time. It's been many years since we had that many people join on a given Sunday.

Pastor Kerry Hinkley led the reception of new members with a profession of faith and affirmation by the assembly. Lord of Life's congregation has focused on providing intentional outreach activities to the broader community, and results have been plentiful.

Stories of Faith in Action

The publication Stories of Faith in Action and the resources that go along with it are designed to share how important your weekly offering in your congregation is in sustaining and growing God’s mission. The portion of your offerings that support the ELCA’s synodical and churchwide ministries is called Mission Support. The publication and resources found here help explain and answer questions about Mission Support and tell the story of those gifts in action.

CLICK HERE to access this resource on the ELCA website.

For more Stories of Faith in Action, you can CLICK HERE.