Keeping up with news and stories from around the synod...

Help Feed Hungry Families in Central Florida!

At this year's Synod Assembly, our churches have an amazing opportunity to help feed hungry families across Central Florida! We are requesting that you bring donations for Second Harvest Food Bank when you come to Synod Assembly. If each congregation brings 50 pounds of canned goods and other items, we could donate more than four tons to Second Harvest! That would help a lot of struggling families. Click the video above to learn more about Second Harvest and meet some of the individuals who you could be a blessing to.

Critically needed items:

Canned fruit and vegetables
Grains (rice, cereal, oatmeal)
Proteins (canned meat, tuna, beans, peanut butter, canned soup)
Dairy (dry or evaporated milk)
Baby Food
Non-Food items (these can’t be purchased with food stamps – e.g., soap, shampoo, toothpaste)

Global Mission: Update on Our Companion in Haiti

The Florida-Bahamas Synod continues to walk alongside our brothers and sisters in the Eglise Lutherienne d'Haiti (ELH). Recovery from the earthquake last summer continues; the pictures below, however, reveal that reparations are not complete. Life in Haiti is characterized by the unrest and violence in the streets, and an economy with high inflation. All these factors bring extreme hardship and challenge.

Through Global Mission, the Florida-Bahamas Synod is bringing healing and hope with its goat project. In Les Cayes, a shelter for male goats is nearing completion. When done, male goats will be purchased and maintained in the shelter. The pastor in Les Cayes is also an agronomist and is overseeing all aspects of the initiative. Participating families will be given a female goat which can be bred with the male goats, thereby growing herds and providing livelihoods.

Through your gifts, we can help families build a sustainable future. God's work; our hands!

ALAMEH Statement on the Death and Funeral of Shireen Abu Akleh

The Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was assassinated while reporting on Israeli attacks in the West Bank on Thursday, May 12, 2022. She was wearing protective head gear and a bullet proof vest which was clearly marked PRESS when she was gunned down.

Her peaceful funeral procession was attacked by Israeli police hitting pallbearers with batons, attacking mourners with smoke grenades and shooting rubber bullets.

The Association of Lutheran of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage are calling on our church to be informed of the reality regarding war crimes against Palestinians. We cannot tolerate or stay silent regarding the crimes of the Israeli occupation.

We are requesting that our church and U.S. government hold the Israeli government accountable for this and other unjust violence committed against the Palestinian people.

We are also asking that an independent international (not Israeli) investigation be implemented right away.

ALAMEH President

Khader El-Yateem

diakonia News: Engaging Head, Heart and Soul

Self-paced....what does that mean? That's a question we get all the time from folks considering the diakonia program.

It means that you can take a self-study diakonia course when you want to and take as much time as you need to complete it. It means that you can take a self-study course in any order that you want. It means you can take some or all of the courses.

What if you want a more structured pace? Then, you can join the group of students currently taking the 'full' program. The full program consists of 12 courses, scheduled in six week intervals, all year long. Students can jump in -or out- as it works into their life situations.

What if you want 'people' in face-to-face classes? Let us know. We will do our best to open up in-person sites if we have two or more students in close geographic proximity.

So....what's holding you back?

Got more questions? Contact Michele Hilton at micheleahilton@aol.com or 941-373-5596.

Open Position: Music Director - St. Timothy Lutheran Evangelical Church (Crystal River)

Are you looking for a church community that is welcoming, loving, and faithfully serves the community? Then you will love being a part of our St. Timothy family! Be part of our music program that empowers our congregation to worship with song. We need an individual who will contribute to a church environment that is positive and passionate about church music.

St. Timothy Lutheran Evangelical Church is in Crystal River, the Heart of the beautiful Nature Coast. Salary Commensurate with experience. Part Time – Salaried Position.

For more information or to submit your music resume:

crsttimothy@tampabay.rr.com

352-795-5325

www.sttimlutherancrystalriver.com

Note:The search committee works remotely. Dropping by the Church is not recommended.

Don't forget these reports!

Rostered Minister Reports - Download and save to your computer. Following completion, save, and attach to an e-mail to ileanas@fbsynod.org.

Mission Support Covenants - You can file your covenant online or by returning the card to the Synod Office. This year, the Florida-Bahamas Synod will forward 46% of our mission support dollars to Churchwide.