E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | April 30, 2024

SYNOD NEWS

Early bird deadline is May 8th

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, engage, and contribute to the collective mission of our synod. See you there!

Hotel: Group rate is $149/night. Reserve your room today! Reservations must be made on or before the cut-off date of May 8, 2024 in order to be eligible for the group rate.
Service Project: This year, we'll be serving the Orlando Union Rescue Mission.
Nominations: We ask your help in identifying nominees to fill these important positions.
Resolutions & Memorials: All Memorials & Resolutions must be submitted by May 1, 2024 to be reviewed and prepared to be brought to the assembly floor.

Ordinations and Installations

Rev. A.J. Striffler will be installed as Pastor of St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington on May 5, 3 p.m. with Rev. Nicole Eastwood officiating.
Rev. Rebecca Craig will be installed as Pastor of Crossroad Lutheran Church in Fleming Island on May 18, 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Pedro Suárez presiding.

Weekly Prayer Focus

Almighty God, you gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to your Son. Grant that we, remembering their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns and you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Approving, Practicing, and Adapting Our Response

Task #11: Obtain Approval of the Plan

At this point our planning team has identified the possible threats our church could face and decided on the parameters of what our response would be. Based on those decisions, response teams were formed, and possible team leaders were identified. The response team took an inventory of the human, financial and physical assets of the church. They identified municipal partners and available resources that could help in our response and assessed any special vulnerabilities that the church could face. This information allowed a detailed response and communication plan to be prepared. Now that plan must be officially approved. Usually this will be done through the congregation council.

Task #12: Communicate, Practice, Review and Adjust the Plan

Once the plan is approved, the preparedness team will begin to train our community. As we practice the plan it is important to take time and review the plan and make needed adjustments. It is important to regularly practice the plan as circumstances may change, new people may join, or the leadership of outside organizations may change.

Task #13: The Process Grows and Deepens Overtime

As the congregation lives out the preparedness plan, new insights will emerge, vulnerabilities and assets may change, relationships will grow in the surrounding community and the plan will necessarily change. For example, as a congregation reviews its assets, it often becomes aware of how it could update, expand or strengthen them. It might review whether there is sufficient insurance coverage for its actual physical assets, put a battery-operated weather radio in the office, expand partnerships with local emergency management or add information about common responses to the training of Stephen Ministers. Members of the preparedness team can work with others to identify and act on ways to increase the strength of the congregation to avert and respond to disasters.

MINISTRY & PARTNER UPDATES

Updates to ELCA World Hunger’s Domestic Hunger Grants

ELCA World Hunger’s Domestic Hunger Grants are one way our church accompanies communities throughout the United States and Caribbean as they respond to hunger and poverty.

Domestic Hunger Grants Open May 1!

Our team is excited to share that the application process for Domestic Hunger Grants will open May 1, 2024. For those who are familiar with the Domestic Hunger Grants, this year’s process will be the same as last year’s but with additional time for applicants and reviewers, after receiving feedback that more time was needed. To learn more about the

process and how to apply, please visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants.

Applicant Info Webinar

Hunger will host a webinar for interested applicants and others to learn more about the process. We will go over the grant application process and how to submit an LOI, and we will answer questions. To join us for this virtual event, please register here. Participants

will be provided with a Zoom link once registered. The webinar will be recorded and accessible via the Domestic Hunger Grant website: https://elca.org/domestichungergrants

Domestic Hunger Grants Application Timeline

Letter of inquiry form open: May 1–June 16, 2024
Letter of inquiry review: June–August 2024
Response to the letter of inquiry (decline or accept): by August 23, 2024
Invited applicants to complete grant application in ELCA GrantMaker: August-September 2024
Review and communication between ELCA World Hunger staff and grant applicants on proposal: August–October 2024
Award notifications shared with applicants: November 2024
2025 Domestic Hunger Grants start date: March 2025

Daily Bread Matching Grants Update

These grants provide daily bread for neighbors experiencing hunger while also serving as a catalyst for garnering additional financial support. Funding from a Daily Bread Grant is meant to supplement existing food-based ministries. ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Grants will be made available to congregations on a rolling basis. You may submit a request for a Daily Bread Grant beginning on May 1, 2024. In 2024, ministries feeding K-12 students over the summer or after school in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming will be prioritized as these states are not implementing all of the summer nutrition programs through the USDA. The fundraising platform from past years will not be utilized as a part of this grant cycle.

Visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants for a link to apply beginning May 1.

Just Love Summer Ambassador Retreat - June 28-30, 2024

Join the Just Love team at Luther Springs June 28-30, 2024, for an ambassador retreat where we will support one another and learn the skills to do justice in our congregations, conferences and communities.

Participants will arrive late Friday afternoon/early evening for dinner and will finish with worship late Sunday morning. All participants will receive a journal and a PDF of the Just Love Biblical Justice workbook.

Registration includes lodging and meals (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday breakfast), as well as two follow-up sessions on Zoom. If you prefer a printed version of the Just Love Biblical Justice workbook, it will be an additional $10. Registration is capped at 40.

Please contact Pr. Kari Niedermaier at doulakari@gmail.com or Paula Edwards at Pedwards1013@icloud.com for additional information about the retreat.

Justice work is integral to our life in Christ and should not depend on our financial resources. If attending the Ambassador Retreat will cause financial stress, please reach out to Paula or Rev. Kari as scholarships are available.

Click here to register.

Global Mission News

The synod's Global Mission Table has been busy this year! Read all about the activities in the Spring 2024 Newsletter found here. Learn about the YAGM program--Young Adults in Global Mission--and celebrate with Megan Valle of our synod who will be serving in Hungary next year! Please support her and this important ministry by making a donation using the QR code in the newsletter.

There is room for more on the Global Mission Table which can have up to 18 people. It's a fabulous opportunity to connect with our companions in the Caribbean Basin. Email Rev. Katie Carroll, Global Mission Chair, at revkhc@gmail.com if you would like to learn more.

Additional Vision to Action Introductory Workshops Being Offered

Missed the V2A Introductory Workshops offered in March and April? Good news: another is being offered via Zoom on Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. Note it is a requirement that at least one person from your congregation or organization attend a one-hour, Introductory Workshop in order to apply for a V2A grant. There are no exceptions! You are urged to review the Vision to Action website, www.v2agrants.org, to learn about other eligibility requirements and the suggested timeline for applying.

A workshop about V2A is being held at the Synod Assembly; while attendance at this workshop can meet the attendance requirement, note that timing will be very tight for meeting the application deadline of July 15. You are strongly urged to participate in the May workshop. Questions? Email Rev. Katie Carroll at grants@fbsynod.org.

It’s not too late to join Lutheran Summer Music 2024!

We’re looking forward to an incredible year at LSM, and we’ve been able to add extra spots for this summer! Final openings are available for the four-week Full Session (June 30-July 28) for students in grades 8-12 who play clarinet, flute, horn, oboe, trumpet, euphonium, violin, or string bass. Contact LSM Admissions for questions or to refer students: admissions@lutheransummermusic.org. For more information or to apply, visit LSMacademy.org.

Photo of the Week: Synod Parish Deacon Retreat

The Synod Parish Deacon retreat was held in Lakeland April 19-20. The theme was "Refresh and Renew."

To share your photo in E-Spirit, email comms@fbsynod.org.

LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Free Alb and Stoles Available

The pictured stoles and alb were those of Pastor Jack Reents, who was Director of Lutheran World Mission Volunteers. They are free for the taking. The alb is for a larger man, 6’2, from Castle Craft. For questions, please contact Rev. Art Wuertz of Joy, Ocala at arthurwuertz@gmail.com.

Music Equipment for Sale

Three Octave set of Malmark Handbells

A new set on the Malmark website is advertised at $15,595.00 to $17,595.00. There are several used set advertised for $10,000.00 and up. Price $6,000.00.

Please direct any questions to Bill Rosche billr@fbsynod.org