E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | May 9, 2023 | |
|
Helpful Tips, Information, and Reminders
Synod Assembly is right around the corner, and we want you to have as much information as possible as you prepare for this event.
Synod Assembly Website: Please check this site periodically for voting member information and documents.
Spending Plan (Budget) Forum: You are invited to join a Zoom call on Monday, June 5, at 3:00 p.m. to review the synod’s spending plan for 2023-2024. This is an optional meeting. The spending plan and resolution will be posted on the Synod Assembly website: www.fbsassembly.org and the Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89941574701
Voting Members: Please bring an internet accessible device (smart phone, tablet, or laptop) so that you can vote and have access to documents on the synod website.
Orientation for New Voting Members is available from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Hibiscus.
For Youth Voting Members: The worship committee is seeking youth to assist in the worship services. If you are interested in serving in this way, please email Rev. Pam Smith at pastorgracelakeland@gmail.com.
Anne Corti, member of Grace Lutheran Church in Tampa, will serve as the Youth Voting Member Coordinator this year. Anne will host the following gatherings for youth voting members during the assembly:
-
Thursday, June 8, 9:00 p.m. – Meet for games, desserts, and discussion of the day’s events.
-
Friday, June 9, 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m. – Lunch at no charge.
-
Friday, June 9, 8:00 p.m. - Gathering for fellowship, desserts, and discussion of the day’s events.
Please RSVP Anne at anne.sanyi@gmail.com by May 29 so that we have enough food for all the youth coming to the lunch and let her know if you have any dietary restrictions or special needs. Please feel free to bring board games or cards to enjoy during the gathering times.
Worship Offerings:
- Opening Eucharist: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
- Closing Eucharist: Global Mission Table - Companion Partners
Service Project: We will be accepting donations for the ministry of Harbor House, and you will have the opportunity to assemble welcome baskets for distribution by Harbor House. We ask that you sort ongoing donations from those to be used for the welcome baskets before your arrival.
Registration closes on May 15. In the event of cancellation between May 1 and May 15, you will receive a refund less $50. There will be no refunds after May 15.
Parking: Commuters must pay a daily rate of $28 to park. The parking fee is waived for those staying at the Caribe.
Walking Distances: The Caribe Royale is an expansive resort with long walking distances between the hotel rooms and the convention area. Please bring comfortable shoes.
Food: Food options are available but limited at the Caribe Royale. Please feel free to bring food and drinks as every sleeping room contains a small fridge, microwave oven, and coffee maker.
See you at the Assembly!
| | |
|
|
Save the Date: Transition Training
Are you a First Call Pastor, interested in Interim Ministry, or are serving a congregation that is in transition of some sort? If so, you might want to make note of the following:
Transition/Interim Ministry Training
Online, 9 a.m. to noon, July 24-28, 2023
| | |
|
|
Boundaries Workshop - May 11
Are you due for your triennial Boundaries workshop required for all rostered ministers? Join Rev. Ken Blyth and Rev. Kari Niedermaier for a fun day exploring the gift of boundaries, a gift that offers blessings to rostered ministers, their families, their congregations and the church. Substantial time will be given for group discussion, and open and honest conversation. The registration fee covers lunch, and all the resources that will be shared with participants. Click here for details and registration.
| | |
Weekly Prayer for Synod Assembly 2023
Synod Assembly is coming.
Synod Assembly is near.
In reflection and prayer,
let us together prepare.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh) and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Let us pray:
Lord, in you we place our confidence as we gather together for the assembly of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Help us to approach the synod gathering with a true heart, questing to engage with childlike faith, being accountable to the processes established for the good order of supporting the mission of the synod. Be with the synod leadership, staff, and event planners as they finalize details and prepare to implement this event. In the name of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. Amen.
Rev. Nicole Martin, Messiah Lutheran Church, Panama City Florida
|
|
|
Just Love Ambassador Training
The Just Love team is passionate about building lay and rostered leaders who practice love publicly that creates justice for all. If you are interested in learning how to grow Just Love in your congregation, conference or community, please join us for two upcoming Just Love Ambassador Trainings.
“Embracing God’s Call for Justice”
Saturday, May 20th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Zoom
Practices include exploring the justice lens of scriptures and understanding the power of testimony.
“Justice & Power”
Wednesday, May 31st, 6-8 p.m. on Zoom
Practices include exploring tension and comfort from a biblical lens, understanding people power, and heart listening at the margins.
Zoom details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82755033514?pwd=UHZpcDNxTW13OFV3bVU3RTRpSFQ2dz09
Meeting ID: 827 5503 3514
Passcode: 643842
|
 | |
2023 Rostered Leaders Retreat
We have a gift for you! Through a generous grant from Lutheran Disaster Relief-US, the Florida-Bahamas Synod is offering a free healing and renewal retreat for rostered leaders. We recognize how difficult it has been these past two years to lead a congregation through the pandemic and hurricanes while trying to care for our own wellbeing. Many of us are tired and hurting.
We are offering our second retreat on Monday, June 26 - Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The cost of all activities, meals, and housing (single room) and optional healing modalities are covered. The only thing you need to cover is your transportation to the event.
We will be housed at Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Events and sessions will take place at the hotel and surrounding areas.
Our goal is to provide a safe and healing space for you to learn and experience spiritual practices and receive emotional and spiritual support both in individual and small group settings. All of this will be framed by the beauty of water, sun, and sand.
There are different activities will be throughout the event such as dolphin tour and much more.
"Come to the Well” with an open heart, ready to receive the grace of God’s healing and unconditional love.
Spouses are welcome and the cost is $200 to cover meals and activities for the three days.
Please note that even though the event is free, a cancelation fee of $428.00 will be required if canceled after May 26, 2023 to cover the hotel room fee. Registration closes Thursday, May 25, 2023. Click here to register.
|
|
|
Mission Partners 100 Spring Appeal: Messiah Lutheran, Panama City
From Pastor Nicole Martin:
In 2018, Messiah Lutheran stepped relevantly into a more perfect story. A Perfect Storm. You might call it Michael, Hurricane Michael, but we call it Hope. It is hard to imagine a perfect storm as a period of transition, but it is our truth, and we have learned to embrace who we are because of it.
Our playground, as necessary evangelism tool, was damaged by Michael. Therefore, an important part of our congregation’s infrastructure of hospitality to young people and families was wounded. We are hoping that, with your help, the MP100 Grant can help us heal it, not just to replace what was there, but to make what seems to be “just a playground” become an even more significant space for community hospitality and spiritual renewal. What do we envision? “Play and Pray Adventures.” Click here to read more.
| | |
|
Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram
The latest Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-Gram is now available for view. Click here to see current news from LMIM including upcoming events and virtual opportunities for study and worship.
|
|
Photo of the Week: St. John, Winter Park | |
|
On April 13, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winter Park hosted an Iftar Dinner as part of the month of Ramadan celebration with our Muslim neighbors. Over 60 children of Abraham -- Muslim, Jewish and Christian -- joined together for a meal at sunset. A representative from the Muslim community and Pastor Tom Lyberg from St. John shared their perspective on charity. This was the central theme of the evening. Lively discussion followed the presentations at each table group. The meal was accompanied by the playing of the qanun, a musical instrument used throughout the Middle East. A call to prayer was given by the local Imam and dinner was closed by Pastor Tom Lyberg. (Photo courtesy of Parish Deacon Steven Beumer)
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
| |
|
Christus Victor, North Naples Open Positions
Parish Administrator
Christus Victor Lutheran Church in North Naples seeks a compassionate leader to guide the administration of resources and carefully nurture relationships as we grow our ministry within and beyond the doors of our church building. 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 new full-time position was created as part of our planning efforts to grow our ministry and expand our impact in the community. Previously, we had a part-time office administrator retiring after fourteen years. Read more...
Parish Support
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. 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...
|
May 20 Concert Benefits Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Efforts | |
|
Join the Ukrainian community for a special evening celebrating Ukrainian culture. “War, Culture and Music,” a benefit concert to raise money for humanitarian support for Ukraine, is set for 4-7 p.m., Saturday, May 20, at Faith Lutheran Church, 7750 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL, 34238. Mark your calendar, and please plan to attend.
Dr. Taras Filenko, a noted Ukrainian scholar and pianist, will perform a wide range of music by Ukrainian composers, and will speak about Ukrainian music, culture, history and the ongoing war. Click here to read more.
| |
|
Stories of Faith in Action: ALL Ages Living Their Faith
Imagine people of ALL ages living their faith, claiming their Christian identity and sharing God’s love in the world in creative and unique ways — that is the hope for ELCA Ministry with Children. The Rev. Janelle Rozek Hooper, manager of the program, knows that children are spiritual beings and that they deserve not merely a place to be told what to believe but creative and careful faith formation that instills a lifetime of experiencing God with and for themselves. Funded through generous Mission Support, the program curates appropriate faith-formation resources for congregations across this church, content that gives children the opportunity to lead, ask important questions and experience loving Christian community. Read more...
|
|
-
July 24-28: Transition/Interim Ministry Training
| |
-
September 23: - diakonia graduation/retreat and conversation with the Bishop, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church - Retreat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Graduation & Worship 5 p.m.
| |
-
October 16-18: Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Location TBD.
| |
-
November 10-12: Save the date! Florida-Bahamas Women of the ELCA Fall Gathering
| | | | |
