Bishop Suárez's Message for Sunday, January 3rd with Deacon Connie Schmucker
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To start the New Year, Bishop Suárez invited Deacon Connie Schmucker, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership, to lead this Sunday's virtual message.
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Rostered Leaders Zoom Event
Tuesday, January 19th at 1:00pm
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To help us learn to manage anxieties during troubled times, 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 ELCA.
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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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Online Boundaries Training |
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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
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The Community Church in Babcock Ranch Launches
New Website & Newsletter
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By the grace of God, tremendous progress continues to be made at Babcock Ranch! On January 1st, The Community Church launched their new website and released their January 2021 newsletter.
You are encouraged to view their site and read more about the ministry work being done in this new area. Visit them at https://tccintheranch.org.
On the website, you'll find quick links to current and past editions of The Community newsletter. Use these links to access the January newsletter: Page One and Page Two.
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Celebrating Our Synod Parish Deacons Oversight Committee Members |
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Thank you Deacon Chalie Colon, Rev. Sally Cook and Rev. Joshua Gyson for faithfully serving on the Synod Parish Deacons Bishop’s Oversight Committee! Your term of service has come to an end, but we are grateful for your ministry throughout this synod. |
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We especially recognize Deacon Chalie, who served as the committee’s secretary which involved taking minutes, sending the deacon crosses and certificates to newly commissioned deacons, and keeping the synod’s list of deacons up to date.
As we bid them farewell, we are honored to welcome the committee’s newly appointed members: Deacon Detlev Aeppel, Rev. Janice Mychenberg and Rev. Tom Mitchell.
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Deacon Detlev is currently serving at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, Pastor Janice is serving at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Oviedo and Pastor Tom is serving at Paradise Lutheran Church on Treasure Island.
On behalf of Bishop Pedro Suárez and the entire Florida-Bahamas Synod, “Thank you!”
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Worship Items Available from Winter Garden Congregation |
Pastor Rick Kristoff and People of Faith Lutheran Church in Winter Garden are generously offering some used items from their congregation for any church in need.
The items available include:
- Christ Candle - Metal shell
- Chalices
- Individual glass cups
- Altar candles
- Some green LBW's
If your congregation has need for any of these items, please contact Pastor Kristoff at pstrrick@hotmail.com.
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Bishop Class of 2019 to Lead Joint Synodical Epiphany Service |
The thirteen bishops of the class of 2019 will be leading a joint synodical Epiphany of Our Lord service.
Join in for confession, lamentation, leaning into the light of God shining brightly in Holy Scripture, proclamation of the Word, and musical offerings from across the church.
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Recognizing 16 Days of Activism with Global Mission |
This year, the coordination of Gender Justice and the Companion Synods Program of the Latin America and Caribbean Program (LAC) of Global Mission invited Lutheran Churches, Theological seminaries in the LAC region, and ELCA synods to join 16 days of activism to act and address the situation of violence that women and girls experience in the world. The Florida-Bahamas Synod was one of the participating synods, with our efforts led by Rev. Katie Carroll, Chair of the Global Mission Table.
This annual campaign begins every November 25th, a day designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and ends on December 10th, International Human Rights Day. During these 16 days, more than 20 activities are led by churches, partner institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and ELCA synods, with shared resources and learnings about how they are responding to these situations from their contexts in their communities.
Many activities moved the Americas and Caribbean region for 16 days. Churches, theological seminaries, and partner organizations said “Present” and said, “NO TO VIOLENCE TOWARDS WOMEN AND GIRLS”. This was a joint effort with a lot of learning and resource sharing. Active participation, with the key involvement of faith leaders, pastors, and lay leaders, made it possible to challenge sexist and patriarchal systems of violence, examine biblical texts, and respond from an inclusive and just view of gender. They allowed us to demand respect, justice and the creation of safe places for women and girls.
Resource Link for Rostered Ministers
A link has been generated to help our Rostered Ministers share the resources from this activism with their congregations throughout the year. Resources include liturgies, postcards, and pastoral letters created during this time. Click here to access the Google Drive.
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Important Updates from the IRS Regarding Nonemployee Compensation for Tax Year 2020
Beginning with Tax Year 2020, you must use Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation, to report payments of nonemployee compensation (NEC) previously reported in box 7 on Form 1099-MISC. Do not order Form 1099-MISC for reporting NEC. The separate instructions for filers/issuers for Form 1099-NEC are available in the 2020 Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC.
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Florida-Bahamas Synod Provides Gift to Partner Congregation Damaged by Hurricane Sally |
The Florida-Bahamas Synod has given a gift of $2,000 to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Pensacola to assist in repairing damage caused by Hurricane Sally.
This gift was in large part inspired by St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church’s history of generosity and interdenominational partnership with the Florida-Bahamas Synod. For over a year, the Episcopal Church has lovingly offered its chapel as a worship space for St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, also in Pensacola. The Episcopal Church has been a full communion partner of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since 1999.
The gift will be used to repair the church steeple, which was damaged by Hurricane Sally earlier this year. The Pensacola area was heavily affected by 2020’s irregularly heavy hurricane season, with Hurricane Sally making landfall in Alabama and bringing severe damage to much of the Florida Panhandle.
The Florida-Bahamas Synod is hopeful that this gift can assist St. Christopher’s in their repairs and asks for continued prayers for their congregations and interdenominational partners in the Pensacola area as they recover from this devastating hurricane season.
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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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Legacy Giving
Presented by the ELCA Foundation
January 7th, 2021, at Noon CST
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There is a group of people out there who love your ministry and who just may be the key to a significant source of funding. They have been telling you for some time that they are ready to make that commitment. You just didn’t hear what they were saying.
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Facing Forward: Hear - Help - Heal
Florida Council of Churches Online Annual Assembly
January 7th, 2021 from 9:30am—2:00pm
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Morning Session:
- Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, The Reign of God Now
- Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Jubilee at the Capitol
- Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Healing the People
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Afternoon Session:
- Panel Discussion: Advocacy During Pandemic
- Panel Discussion: The Spiritual Struggle for Good Policy
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