This past Sunday, we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord! If you missed Bishop Suárez's message for this day, be sure to check it out.
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January 25-29, 2021
Whether a congregation has just received an interim pastor, or has just received a newly called pastor, or is seeking new direction into God's future, transition training is a vital part of a ministry calling.
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.
COST:
Interim Pastors 5 days - $160
First Call and/or New Call Pastors & Others (M-W) - $130
WHEN:
*All times are Eastern Standard Time.
Starts: Monday, January 25, 9:00 am
Ends: Friday, January 29, 12:00 noon
Daily times are 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.
WHERE:
This will be an online webinar. A link will be provided before the event.
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New Date!
Rostered Leaders Zoom Event
Tuesday, January 27th at 1:00pm EST
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Due to a scheduling conflict, the Rostered Leaders event with Deacon Mary Ann Schwabe has been RESCHEDULED! The event will now take place on January 27th at 1:00pm EST.
If you have already registered, there is no need to register again. Please check that your calendar reflects the change.
About This Event: At this time of high anxiety in church and society, this presentation will focus on the blatant and subtle effects of anxiety. Steady, thoughtful, and calm leadership is critical yet difficult to engage in such an atmosphere.
What do our own symptoms tell us? In the effort to address the anxieties swirling around us, how might we not miss the opportunities for self-reflection and self-regulation?
To help us learn to manage these anxieties and recognize opportunities for growth, Deacon Mary Ann Schwabe will lead a special presentation for Rostered Ministers via Zoom. Deacon Mary Ann Schwabe is the Natural Systems Coordinator in the Office of the Presiding Bishop for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. From 2005 to 2014 she served as an assistant to the bishop in the Northeastern Ohio Synod and continues to coordinate that synod’s Congregational Resource Team as it promotes well-being in its leaders and congregations through the means of family systems theory.
All Rostered Leaders are encouraged to attend this event on January 27th at 1:00pm EST.
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The United As One COVID-19 Special Appeal continues to provide support to congregations during this pandemic.
By supporting our United as One Special Appeal, you will provide humanitarian aid for communities in need, support our congregations and strengthen ministries, provide new technology for congregations offering digital worship, and keep the Florida-Bahamas Synod strong, so we can continue serving and supporting our congregations.
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Join the Florida-Bahamas Synod and lift up your neighboring congregations!
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021
Beginning Sunday, January 24th, 2021 - 7:00-8:00 pm EST
Online: streaming details TBA
Join Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute for a virtual liturgy built from the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ecumenical prayer service, as they join with ministers and leaders from several different church traditions around the country to demonstrate and celebrate Christian unity as especially needful in a time of isolation, division, and grief.
For more information and resources for the 2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, visit their website's dedicated WPCU pages. Materials for your own community's WPCU activities can be ordered from Graymoor.
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Important Event for Rostered Ministers
On January 19th, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and the ELCA Church Council invite all Rostered Ministers to join a special presentation on Future Church design.
Join Presiding Bishop Eaton on January 19th at 11:30am Central Time. The other presenters will be:
- The Rev. Philip Hirsch, executive director, Domestic Mission
- Mikka McCracken, executive for innovation, director of the ELCA Leadership Lab
We will use our time together to answer these questions:
- What is Future Church?
- What specifically do we hope for with ministries?
- What are our next steps?
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Constitution Update Reminder
The New Year 2021 has arrived, and many congregations will be meeting in the next few months. If your congregation updates your church constitution at your Annual Congregational Meeting, please remember to submit it to either Pr. Rob Rose at robr@fbsynod.org, or Linda Rosche' at lindalou6451@gmail.com.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact either Pr. Rose or Linda using the above email addresses.
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Learn about Leadership from a Global Perspective!
Advanced Certificate in Leadership Skills for Church and Society
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The United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) in Kingston, Jamaica, in companion relationship with the Florida-Bahamas Synod, is launching virtual "short courses" which can be accessed online. You are encouraged to consider being part of the cohort!
The first offering is entitled Advanced Certificate in Leadership Skills for Church and Society. The certificate program runs from Saturday, January 23rd to March 20th and meets on Saturdays from 9:00am to noon. The attachments below contain additional details, pricing, and contact information. Other courses in the works range from Digital Discipleship, to Talking God in an Age of Physical Distancing, to Gender and Leadership. This opportunity is open for all leaders in churches and communities, assistants to leaders, or aspiring leaders.
Thanks to the Jamaica Team of the Global Mission Table under the leadership of Judith Olsen for introducing this opportunity to our synod.
For more information and to apply to this certificate program, please visit the UTCWI website at http://www.utcwi.edu.jm.
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Prayer Service for Unity in our Country
Pastor Rani Abdulmasih and Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages invite you to join a special prayer service for our nation this week.
We are called to come together as a community at a time like this to pray for one another and for the sake of our nation. Join this Tuesday, January 12th at 6:30pm for a Zoom Prayer Service as we pray for unity in our country. Please share the link below with your colleagues, congregation members, and faith community. All are welcome!
Topic: Prayer Service Time: Jan 12, 2021 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Online Boundaries Training |
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Last Chance to Apply for Young Adults in Global Mission for 2021 |
Through this international service year, you’ll learn what it means to serve in a spirit of accompaniment as you walk alongside global companions.
A note on the COVID-19 pandemic: Currently YAGM plans to send volunteers abroad again in August 2021. YAGM will continue to monitor the situation, and applicants can decide in March if they want to commit.
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RIC Launching New National Volunteer Program
As the Reconciling in Christ community continues to expand with an average of 100 new RIC partners every year, ReconcilingWorks has an ever-increasing need to innovate the ways they support and accompany those who are RIC and those on their journey of discernment. ReconcilingWorks is pleased to announce the launch of their NEW National Volunteers Program.
A ReconcilingWorks Ambassador will work in partnership with the national office staff in supporting faith communities in their RIC journey. An ambassador helps create relationships within the network of the program, supporting faith communities to engage in the RIC journey and the resources available to them.
A ReconcilingWorks Co-Facilitator will work in partnership with the national office staff in facilitating trainings that raising awareness and support of ReconcilingWorks and the RIC program. A co-facilitator will create opportunities for engagement in the holy ministry of welcome, inclusion, and celebration of people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
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As we continue to improve and expand our Florida-Bahamas Synod webpage, we have moved our Forms page!
To find forms or other digital resources, please visit https://fbsynod.com/resources-and-forms/. If you need help navigating the website or have any questions, please contact our Communications Specialist Marina Ernst at marinae@fbsynod.org.
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As we continue to advance our Racial Justice ministry and dream into being the beloved community that Jesus promises, we are asking for your input via this important survey. This survey is intended for both Rostered Ministers and Lay Members.
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ELCA World Hunger is gearing up for the 2021 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering in just a few weeks! We'll gather virtually to network, worship and share ideas of how we can get to a place were all are satisfied. To register or learn more, visit bit.ly/2021WHLG.
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