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.

Installations & Ordinations

The installation of Deacon Tara Lentz-Friederichs as Director of Faith Formation at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Temple Terrace will be held on Sunday, November 5, at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Rob Rose will officiate.

The JUST Love Ministry Presents: An Advent Journey with Mary

The Just Love team is preparing “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 will focus on the experiences of Latin Americans in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, and will include recorded conversations, scripture readings, music suggestions from Lutheran hymnals and other resources, a few paragraphs of instructional material, and discussion questions. Click Here to receive these resources.

Attention Congregation Treasurers and Bookkeepers

In the first of a series of traveling meetings, we invite congregation treasurers and bookkeepers to gather on Sunday, October 15, from 1:00-4:00 PM, at the Warren Willis Conference Center in Fruitland Park.

This will be an opportunity to learn, share, and discuss how the duties of congregation treasurer impacts their roles and the church. Some of the topics to be discussed will be:

• The burden of debt and mortgages
• The high cost of maintenance: electricity, HVAC, irrigation
• Insurance
• First Fruits Giving (What is it and how does it affect the budget/spending plan?)
• Best Practices (Learn to protect yourself from potential financial misconduct.)
• Threats to tax exemption status

Upcoming Events at Luther Springs!

October 13-15: Young Adult Retreat

Come spend your weekend at Luther Springs! Join us for kayaking, campfires, archery, swimming and gaga ball. Through small group conversation, devotions, and worship, we will discuss identity, life transitions, and vocation. Together we can explore who God is calling you to be. Over the weekend we will also complete an on-site service project and go off-site for ziplining, alongside time for relaxing and fun community time. Go ahead, treat yourself, you deserve a break!

$99 per person

October 20-22: Journey of Faith - Confirmation

Topic: Worship

Whether you bring youth to an occasional retreat to enhance what they are already learning or if you send youth to each of our retreats to cover all their confirmation learning time, come join us on the journey! Luther Springs' counselors will guide campers through the weekend including worship, Bible study, campfires, games, canoeing, archery, swimming, hiking, and more! Individual campers are welcome, as well as church groups.

$185 per youth | $105 per adult

November 10-12: Trailblazers - 1st - 5th Grade

Theme: Bible Exploration

How do we read the Bible? How do we look up a Bible verse? Why is there an Old Testament and a New Testament? During this fun, faith-filled weekend we will explore our Bibles, play games, canoe, do archery, swim (weather permitting), make crafts and enjoy campfires!

$180 per youth | $105 per adult

November 10-12: Advent-ure Retreat

Middle and high school youth will enjoy a weekend of camp fun, adventure, activities, and exploring the season of Advent. Each year features a different adventure activity off-site. Our 2023 activity: kayaking off-site on a spring-fed lake.

$254 per youth | $105 per adult



Learn more at luthersprings.org.

Mission Partners 100: Give Today!

Your gift as part of the synod’s Mission Partner 100 will help us preserve Sarasota’s past and architectural heritage as well as Sarasota’s future—the children who attend our pre-school—and help St. Paul Lutheran Church of Sarasota continue as a caring community-centered church. The St. Paul Lutheran Church of Sarasota Education Building is one of three on our campus designed by internationally-renowned architect Victor Lundy. While safe, the roof leaks and its iconic historical beams need to be replaced due to weather and termite damage. Click here to read more.

Exceptional Opportunity for Musicians!

Lutheran Church of the Cross in St. Petersburg is looking for a musician or musicians who have excellent keyboard and vocal abilities or a lead guitarist who would lead the band and sing; the right candidate will also direct a vocal and bell choir and is familiar with contemporary and traditional music and liturgy. Our website mylcc.com has the full job description. Contact Pastor Bruce Burbank via email at pastorbruce@mylcc.com to apply or for additional information. 

Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Naples Seeks Office Assistant

Christus Victor Lutheran Church in North Naples seeks a compassionate individual to assist the Parish Administrator and Pastor in various tasks and through positive interaction with the larger congregation and community. CVLC is an ELCA congregation known for its welcome and outreach ministries. Our campus is on Route 41, about a mile south of Bonita Beach Road. This part-time position was created as part of our planning efforts to grow our ministry and expand our impact in the community. Read more.

Choir Robes Available

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holmes Beach has choir robes available for a church that is interested. Donations would be welcome and appreciated.

• 34 White short sleeve cottas - brand CM ALMY
• 32 Sleeveless red cassocks - brand CM ALMY
• 3 White hooded acolyte robes - brand Abbey Brand
• 8 Random sized long sleeve cottas - assorted 

Contact Tricia Murphy at office@gloriadeilutheran.com for more info.

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Living Lutheran talked with Latiné Lutherans and heard their needs and hopes. Today we pause to reflect on the work being done throughout the ELCA to affirm and honor our siblings of Latiné descent. The following are quotes from the ELCA Ethnic Specific and Multicultural Ministries team. For more information about the ELCA’s Latiné ministries or other ethnic specific ministries, click here or email Jennifer De Leon, director for racial justice, at jennifer.deleon@elca.org.

ELCA Conference of Bishops elects Bishop Yehiel Curry as conference chair

The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met Sept. 26-30 at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. The conference, an advisory body of the ELCA, comprises 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.

The Rev. Yehiel Curry, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, was elected to a four-year term as chair of the conference. The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer, bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, was elected to a four-year term as vice chair. Both positions are effective Dec. 1. The Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew, bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod, has served as conference chair since 2020, and the Rev. Patricia A. Davenport, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, has served as vice chair since 2020. Read more.

• October 11: International Women Leaders Back to School Gathering

• October 13-15: Young Adult Retreat - Luther Springs

• October 16-18: Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Warren Willis Camp & Conference Center, Fruitland Park

• October 25: Kindling Faith: Luther Colloquy 2023: Luther and Doubt - United Theological Seminary

• November 2: Kindling Faith: Redefining Success - Focusing on small churches - United Theological Seminary

• November 6 & 11: The Stuff You’ve Forgotten Since Seminary: From Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Satisfaction - United Theological Seminary

• November 8: Kindling Faith: Depolarization and Church Advocacy: An Introduction Online Webinar - United Theological Seminary

• November 4-6: Signs Along the Way Discernment Weekend - Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

• November 10-12: Save the date! Florida-Bahamas Women of the ELCA Fall Gathering 

• November 29: Kindling Faith: LGBTQIA2S+ Cultural Competency Training - United Lutheran Seminary

• December 9: Kindling Faith: Sanctuary Church - United Theological Seminary