E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | December 5, 2023

SYNOD NEWS

Mark Your Calendars!

The 2024 Synod Assembly will be held on Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2. We are excited to return to the Embassy Suites, Orlando Lake Buena Vista South. Please take note that this year we are meeting Friday to Sunday.

The 2024 Conference on Ministry will be from Monday, September 16 to Wednesday, September 18. We will meet at the Mission Inn in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

More information to follow on both gatherings.

Boundaries and Inclusion Education: Basic Boundaries

Thursday, January 4, 2024 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET

Region 9 Boundaries and Inclusion Education help us, as Rostered Ministers, live into and maintain healthy boundaries. Like dual relationships, these are areas of ministry that cannot be avoided. They are ministry “facts of life.” Awareness of our roles, the power that those roles carry, and our own potential for the blurring of boundaries is protection for us and for those for whom we care. This educational event is required by the Region 9 Bishops' Agreement.

Rostered Ministers serving in the Florida-Bahamas Synod are required to take a Boundaries & Inclusion Education class annually.

Installations and Ordinations

Rev. Donna Batchelor will be installed as pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Nokomis on February 4 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Khader El-Yateem officiating.

Weekly Prayer Focus

Almighty God, you gave your apostle Andrew the grace to obey the call of your Son and to bring his brother to Jesus. Give us also, who are called by your holy word, grace to follow Jesus without delay and to bring into his presence those who are near to us, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy

Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

MINISTRY & PARTNER UPDATES

What Are Your Next Steps?

Many times in our life and work as leaders in the church we get stuck and can’t make any headway. In fact, many times we don’t know which way we are going and that makes us get stuck. Who is skilled and trained to come along side you to help you move ahead? Get a Coach. Get moving!

For more info on coaching go to fbsynod.com/coaching or elcacoaching.org or contact our Synod Coaching Coordinator Dr. Johan Bergh at johan@beinganddoingmatters.com.

Synod Parish Deacon News

Retreat

Our next Synod Parish Deacon Retreat will be April 19-20 in Lakeland. Mark your calendars! Would you like to help serve on the planning committee? We need your help!

Synod Parish Deacon Committee

Would you consider serving on the SPD Committee? We are looking for a few active SPD. We meet quarterly by phone conference. Please email the committee chair.

For any other questions, or if you would like to submit your name please email to Deaconchair@yahoo.com.

LSM Musical Advent Calendar

Since the nineteenth century, households and congregations have marked the days before Christmastide with many kinds of Advent calendars. The season of waiting and longing for the “already-but-not-yet” incarnation of Jesus unfolds amidst waning daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, a time of yearning for hope, joy, and peace.

Join Lutheran Summer Music, December 3-24, for our third-annual Musical Advent Calendar–a daily moment of music and reflection on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages as well as archived on our website: LSMacademy.org/acal

3.0: A Software Upgrade for the Sunday Preacher hosted by the South Carolina Synod

Join Pastor Dr. Mary W. Anderson for a four-week online learning event each Wednesday beginning February 21 and ending March 13.

Whether you are a new preacher or have been serving congregations for decades, you know both the gift and the burden of preaching Sunday in and Sunday out. It’s always there waiting for you. And the congregation is also waiting to hear a fresh word from you to challenge, comfort, inspire and teach them. It’s both energizing and exhausting!

In these four sessions, we’ll work together to find more energy and less exhaustion in the weekly preaching task. We’ll use a few of the upcoming Lenten and Easter texts to inspire our sermon preparation in these changing and challenging times for our church and our world.

Pastor Dr. Mary W. Anderson will be our instructor. While Mary has a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and has taught some preaching classes at Lenior-Rhyne University/Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; it’s her experience as a weekly preacher for over 40 years that has sharpened her skills and her reputation as a faithful and effective preacher of God’s Word for our world.

Mary currently serves the South Carolina Synod as an interim pastor. She is also a blogger and podcaster. You can find her weekly Bible study on the coming Sunday’s gospel, her blog, podcast and study series on her website: MyPocketPreacher.com.

Click here for registration details.

Embrace Renewal: Luther Springs' Diverse Retreats Await You in the New Year

Luther Springs invites everyone to join their upcoming array of retreats starting in the new year, catering to diverse interests and ages. Whether it's the hands-on Master Builders retreat, the reflective Respite in the Wilderness designed for rostered leaders gearing up for Lent, or the creative Quilting Retreat, there's something for everyone. Click here for a comprehensive list of available retreats. To register, visit www.LutherSprings.org and create an online account or call 828-209-6301.

The Just Love team has prepared “An Advent Journey with Mary,” four resources that congregations can use for worship or Bible study during the season of Advent. Each week’s resources focus on the experiences of Latin Americans in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, and include recorded conversations, scripture readings, music suggestions from Lutheran hymnals and other resources, a few paragraphs of instructional material, and discussion questions.

Congregations and individuals can decide for themselves how to use the resources for each week—whether in a worship service, a Bible study, or some combination of the two. Some people may wish to join together online to engage with the resources.

Click here to receive these devotional resources.

Let's Help Pave the Way to the ELCA Youth Gathering!

Our vibrant youth and young adults are already gearing up for an electrifying summer of events, and we're expecting an impressive turnout of 500-600 enthusiastic individuals from the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Brace yourselves, because "Created To Be" is set to deliver an absolutely thrilling experience!

But here's the thing -- we want to ensure that everyone who desires to attend can make it a reality. That's where you, your congregation, and your conference come in. Together, we can provide financial support to those who might otherwise miss out, just as countless generous hearts have done in previous years. Even if your own congregation doesn't have young attendees, you can still be a sponsor for someone from another congregation.

The cost for each person to partake in this life-changing adventure is estimated at $1,000-$1,200. Your contribution can make all the difference, and it's as simple as visiting the synod's website. In past years, your incredible generosity has surpassed $10,000 for this noble cause, and for that, we are grateful.

Don't wait, be a part of this incredible journey by following this direct link for your contribution.

And if you happen to know someone in need of financial assistance, here's a link to the application that can be their ticket to an unforgettable summer. Let's come together and make "Created To Be" an unforgettable experience for all!

12 Day Pilgrimage to Greece & Greek Islands

Join Bishop Pedro Suárez and Bishop Yehiel Curry in a 12-day joint synod pilgrimage to Greece and the Greek Islands, June 18-29, 2024. Explore New Testament lands and walk in the footsteps of Paul.

Pilgrimage highlights include:

Athens city tour (the world-famous Acropolis, Pan-Athenian Stadium & more!)
3-night cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey
The ruins of Ephesus where Paul spent three years during his ministry
the island of Patmos
Santorini, Thessalonica, Philippi, Corinth
And much more!

Click here for more details and to register.

LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Sound Board for Sale

Mackie DL32R Mixer with Dante Card Plus Mackie DC16 Control Surface

Approximately 4-year-old mixing system recently used in Venice church. DL32R and Dante card work fine. DC16 has two faulty faders (marked in photos). Power cables plus original Wi-Fi control card included. Sold as-is, no warranty. $1000 cash OBO. Pick up at Venice only – No delivery.

Contact:

Attn: Peter or Aiden

Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Venice

790 S. Tamiami Trail

Venice, FL 34285

(941) 488-4942

POP Largo Seeks Adult Day Care Administrator

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Largo, Florida has a licensed Adult Day Care ministry called Ruth’s Promise. We currently have an opening for the Director/Administrator of the Ruth’s Promise Adult Day Ministry. Supervisory and senior care experience required. Position is full-time with benefits, Monday through Friday. If interested or for more information, please call the church office at 727-585-9969 or email Terri Ziegler at ruthspromiseadp@gmail.com.

Job Opportunity at Peace, Ft. Myers

Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers is looking for a new Parish Administrator. This is a full-time position with competitive pay and full benefits. Please direct inquiries to Rev. Andreas Stein at andreasstein@rocketmail.com.

ELCA NEWS

North American Church Leaders Call for Peace in Holy Land in Advent Prayer Resource

The leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and The Episcopal Church (TEC) have released the Churches Beyond Borders 2023 Advent Cycle of Prayer.

The prayer resource calls for justice and peace, especially for churches impacted by the war in the Holy Land, and for lifting up Palestinian Christian communities and ministries and the congregations and institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

In a letter to accompany the Advent resource the leaders write, “We call for a ceasefire, an end to violence in the West Bank and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Gaza.”

The church leaders contributed prayers for the four Sundays of Advent, focusing on the themes truth, justice, peace and hope.

View / Download the Churches Beyond Borders 2023 Advent Cycle of Prayer.