E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | May 13, 2025 | | |
Synod Assembly Spending Plan (Budget) Forum
Tuesday, June 10 | 10 a.m.
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You are invited to join a Zoom call on Tuesday, June 10, at 10 a.m. to review the synod's spending plan for 2025-2026. This is an optional meeting. The spending plan and resolution can be found here.
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Theology and Practicality of Space Usage Webinar
We had a wonderful meeting with Pastor Tim Brown, ELCA’s Director of Congregational Stewardship, exploring theology and the practicality of space usage. The discussion centered around best practices and gave innovative examples being used for mission as well. If you were unable to attend the webinar you can find a recording here.
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Installations & Ordinations
May 17 at 3 PM: Olga-Maria Cruz will be ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament at Grace Lutheran Church in Rock Hill, SC. Bishop Virginia Aebischer of the South Carolina Synod will preside. The service will be livestreamed at www.gracerockhill.com. Olga-Maria has been called to serve as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Lakeland where she will be installed on June 8 at 3 p.m.. Bishop Suarez will preside.
June 1 at 2 PM: Rev. Carl Taylor will be installed as Senior Pastor at Advent in Melbourne; Bishop Suarez will preside.
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Calling All Published Pastors & Deacons!
The Florida Bahamas Synod would like to raise up its pastors and ELCA deacons who have had their writings published. This year at Assembly, we will reserve an area in the Connection Café to highlight your books. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Bill Rosche at billr@fbsynod.org for more information. Deadline to respond is May 21.
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Honoring the Emanuel Nine: A Churchwide Conversation
You are invited to join a meaningful churchwide effort to honor the Emanuel Nine—nine faithful souls who were killed during a Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. A virtual gathering on May 15 at 7:30 p.m. will feature reflections from several speakers, including Steve Beumer, who will share how local congregations are remembering the Emanuel Nine and engaging in the ongoing work of racial justice.
This event is not only a time of remembrance but also an opportunity to deepen our collective commitment to confronting racism within and beyond the church. Click here to register.
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Grace in Action May Zoom Gathering & Training
The Just Love mission is to see love established in public, which creates justice for all. With so many policy changes at every level and many of our neighbors, and ourselves, experiencing fear, anxiety, job loss, and/or insecurity around food, housing, and healthcare, where does one start to establish love in public that creates justice for all? Join the Just Love team for a Zoom gathering and training to lament, encourage one another, and dream together of a future where God’s kingdom comes and God’s will is done, where we can experience and participate in God’s grace in action: Thursday, May 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
We will also share some of the work of Just Love in the coming months, including some justice and advocacy trainings around the synod.
Zoom details:
Click here to join via Zoom.
Passcode: 643842
Meeting id: 827 5503 3514
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Hunger Mini-Grant Season Has Ended
Thank you to all who applied for a Hunger Mini-Grant! It is inspiring to learn about the many vital ministries of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Applications are no longer being accepted as the funds available to grant have been fully allocated. The Hunger Team met and reviewed applications in the order with which they were received. Award checks will be sent to congregations shortly. Thank you again for your participation and for your commitment to addressing hunger and its root causes.
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Dinner, Discipleship, and a $10K Head Start
Did you know that there are two Vision to Action grants that are "pre-packaged."
Think of it as a “grant in a box” with the basic idea and parameters of the project, the timeline and the budget all laid out and ready to implement in your context. This year there are two pre-packaged grants to choose from:
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launching a Dinner Church; and
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launching Building Bridges, a Latino ministry.
What is Dinner Church? Watch these inspiring videos to learn more: About Dinner Church
Become part of a national movement to extend Christ's table into your community. Each $10,000 grant includes training, resources, coaching, food costs, marketing, facility rental and more!
"To watch a day in the life of Jesus, would mostly be seeing him healing and eating." - Dinner Church training
Next week's feature: Building Bridges pre-packaged grants
Interested? Be sure to attend a V2A Introductory workshop required of all applicants. Questions: v2agrants.org or email grants@fbsynod.org.
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Answering the Call Anew: Alberto Gomez’s Journey to Lutheran Ministry
Alberto Gomez’s path to ministry has taken many faithful steps. After years of serving in Baptist and Presbyterian churches, he felt a renewed calling—this time through the grace-centered lens of the Lutheran tradition. That journey led him to Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary, where his call was not only affirmed, but deepened.
“Through my studies,” Alberto shares, “I fell in love with Lutheran theology and found clarity in how I’m called to serve. My customized learning plan provides flexibility to add seminarian studies to my life without giving anything up.”
Alberto lives with his family and works full-time in construction in Lehigh Acres. He is entranced for Candidacy to Word and Sacrament ministry in the Florida-Bahamas Synod, fully committed to serving God’s people in his community with humility and hope.
If you’re considering the candidacy process and feeling called to ministry, click here to learn more about becoming a pastor or deacon.
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Witnessing Ministry in Action Across the Southeast
Pastor Carlos Ham, Director for Evangelical Mission (South) and Assistant to the Bishop, recently spent several days visiting congregations in the southeastern region of our Synod.
At Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Juno Beach, he joined Pastor Jim Graeser and representatives from Lutheran Services Florida for a presentation about how LSF administers federal and state funds for ministry programs that assist our underserved neighbors and citizens, including national education programs like Head Start and state programs that address human trafficking and refugee resettlement.
The next morning, Pastor Ham visited Nativity Lutheran Church in Palm Beach, where he was impressed by their vibrant preschool ministry. The preschool currently serves around 30 children representing 11 different nationalities. Ms. Pia Heiser, a member of the Synod Council, directs the program. Each day begins with a prayer in the sanctuary, and on Wednesdays, the children gather for “Quickie Church”—a 30-minute chapel time led by Pastor Steven Winsor, where children and parents learn Bible stories together. This ministry offers a beautiful example of the integration between church and school life.
Pastor Ham also visited Immanuel Lutheran Church, which has two campuses—one in Palm City, where Pastor Chad Fair serves, and another in Stuart, led by Pastor Rosa Miranda-Torres. The Palm City campus hosts a sizable preschool, while the Stuart campus is undertaking a meaningful initiative by dedicating church-owned land for the construction of small homes to support homeless families.
The visit concluded at Living Faith in Tradition, Port St. Lucie, where Pastor Ham met with Sue Long. They toured the future site of the new church building and discussed next steps following the signing of the Agreement for a Union Congregation—an exciting partnership between our Synod and the Presbytery of Tropical Florida (Presbyterian Church USA). The congregation is energized and committed to moving forward together.
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A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Eaton on the Election of Pope Leo XIV
"We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America join with people around the world in praying for the ministry of Pope Leo XIV. We rejoice with the people of the Roman Catholic Church, especially those in our communities, as they joyfully receive their new shepherd." Read more...
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ELCA Advocacy Podcast
Listen in to Here I Pod from ELCA Advocacy, where we connect faith-based advocacy and current events that matter in our neighborhoods, worship communities, social service and lives. Each episode brings you insights on important advocacy topics and shows you how to get involved. You will hear from ELCA staff who share their knowledge and experience, helping you reflect on today's challenges. We bring together voices of faith-advocates caring for all people and creation. Tune in to learn, act, and be inspired!
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September 20: School of Lay Ministry Graduation Retreat & Worship, New Life Lutheran Church, Sarasota
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September 29-October 1: Conference on Ministry, Mission Resort & Club, Howey-In-The-Hills
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