E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | April 14, 2026 | | |
Join us for a 7-week pre-assembly Bible study exploring key stories from Acts and what it means to bear witness today. Each congregation will receive Bearing Witness in Acts and Today by Rev. Dr. Troy Troftgruben, featuring discussion questions and practical applications for evangelism.
Rooted in our 2026 Synod Assembly theme, “Do You Understand?” (Acts 8), this study will also connect to keynote insights on Fresh Expressions—new and creative ways of being church in everyday life.
Participate as a congregation, with voting members, or alongside neighboring churches. You can also join a weekly Zoom conversation on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. starting tonight, April 14. Visit the website to download weekly discussion guides.
| | Register Today for Synod Assembly! | | |
Synod Assembly is more than a meeting—it’s a time to worship, learn, connect, and celebrate the ministries happening throughout the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
During Assembly you will:
- Participate in inspiring worship and the celebration of Holy Communion
- Hear reports and vision from synod leadership
- Elect leaders and vote on important matters for the life of the church
- Connect with ministry partners and congregations from across the synod
- Attend workshops designed to strengthen ministry in your local context
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Register for a V2A Intro Workshop!
The 2026 Vision to Action Introductory Workshops are being offered at a variety of times beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15, at 12 noon. Register here.
Sending a representative from your congregation or ELCA organization to an introductory workshop is a required first step in the application process. This is true whether you are applying for the first time or if you are hope to apply for additional funding for a current project.
In addition to unique grants addressing one of the Synod's strategic priorities, there is the option of applying for a pre-packaged Dinner Church grant or a Building Bridges grant. Read about the pre-packaged grant options here: Dinner Church and Building Bridges Pre-Packaged Grants. This year, 10 congregations around our synod are launching Dinner Church. King of Kings in Port Richey is seeing grace abound as their Dinner Church enters its second year.
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Ash Wednesday Dinner Church at King of Kings
King of Kings Lutheran Church in Port Richey welcomed 70 people to a meaningful Ash Wednesday Dinner Church gathering. The evening began with sharing the peace, followed by a simple “meager meal” of soup and bread. After the meal and lesson, the congregation sang “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” and received the imposition of ashes. It was a sacred and spirit-filled start to the Lenten season for all who attended.
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Time to Update Your Constitution
The Churchwide Assembly approved changes to the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations. Every congregation now needs to update its local constitution to align with the 2025 model document (ELCA, 2025).
Start by downloading the updated model on the ELCA website.
- Review the required and recommended provisions. Please read the opening of the model constitution for an explanation of symbols used throughout the document.
- Make the updates to your constitution.
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Send that draft to Bill Rosche, Director of Operations, for a quick compliance review at BillR@fbsynod.org. We will review the updates and let you know if there is anything that may still need your attention.
After the administrative review is completed and approval of synod council, the updated constitution will be brought to the congregation for approval according to current constitutional procedures.
This process protects your governance, clarifies roles, and keeps your ministry aligned with current churchwide standards. If you have questions, contact Bill Rosche at BillR@fbsynod.org.
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Sunday, May 3 at 10 AM: Installation of Rev. Nancy Haupert at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Spring Hill as Pastor for Retiree Ministry. Pr. Nicole Eastwood will preside.
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Global Mission Table Women's Accompaniment Trip
Attend the Women's Convention of the Lutheran Church in Guyana, August 20–26
Next Information Session being held tomorrow, April 15!
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April Church Worker Newsletter
Holy Week and Easter are behind us, but the journey isn't over. In this month's Church Worker Newsletter, Lutheran Counseling Services offers a gentle and pastoral invitation to pause before rushing into the next ministry demand. From honoring your Lenten story to caring for your body and soul, this issue is filled with practical reflection prompts, a breathing prayer practice, and a reminder that even Christ rested. Click below to read the April newsletter.
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Try Some Stuff: Nativity, Palm Beach Gardens
Try Some Stuff is a new synod video series to help churches find their voice again. Each short episode shares a simple practice any congregation can try to help people notice, name, and share how they see God at work. Real stories. Everyday faith. Communities rediscovering what it means to be witnesses.
The third video, “Moment of Thanks,” features Pr. Steve Winsor of Nativity Lutheran Church in Palm Beach Gardens. Watch the video and be inspired by how this simple practice is helping people focus on intentional gratitude.
If your congregation has a practice that’s helping people speak more openly about their faith, let your DEM know!
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St. John, Winter Park Celebrates Seder
Palm Sunday had a special meaning at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winter Park as the women of the church hosted a Seder dinner inspired by their Jewish roots. The Passover was remembered as they shared a meal and a talk by Nancy Ludin, the CEO of Jewish Pavilion, on the meaning of the Seder. Rev. Tom Lyberg joined in the celebration. Each table had a Seder plate with all the elements of traditional Jewish Seder. Each item was explained as a lively question and answer session took place with Ms. Ludin and the participants. It was explained how the celebration of Christians and people of the Jewish faith often happen at the same time of the year. The parts of the original story with Moses and the Exodus were familiar themes as they reconnected with their heritage.
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Grace Lutheran Church, Clearwater Announces Grand Opening of its Cranach Center for the Arts
Grace Lutheran Church in Clearwater is holding the grand opening of its new Cranach Center for the Arts beginning with a blessing and dedication at the 9:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 19. This service will include the Cranach Center’s latest Sacred Art Experience: Their Eyes Were Opened, featuring works from a select group of artists from the congregation, the local community, and across North America. The creation of the Art Center was made possible by a 2024 grant from the Vision to Action program of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
The grand opening continues with an invitation to attend a portion of a rehearsal of the Suncoast Symphony Orchestra from 7–8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. The orchestra has rehearsed at Grace Lutheran Church for over 20 years.
The festivities culminate in an art exhibit and reception on Saturday, April 25, from 2–5 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Registration is requested but not required. To register, please go to graceclw.com/cranach-reception.html or contact the Grace Lutheran Church office at 727-446-5026.
| Upcoming Concert at Grace Lutheran, Carrollwood |
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Have you explored the new ELCA.org? This new website meets you where you are with understandable language, a clean, uncluttered design, and the full range of ELCA resources.
If you’ve got questions about church ministries, congregations, leadership or Lutheran theology, the guided exploration tool can provide answers from across ELCA.org, Living Lutheran articles and the ELCA Resource Center.
If you’re a lay leader or rostered minister, the new ELCA.org provides easy access to the resources you need to effectively guide your congregations.
Find greater connection with God and your church: visit ELCA.org today.
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Introducing the Church Property Resource Hub
The Church Property Resource Hub, a new ELCA initiative, supports synods and congregations in faithful property stewardship, offering how‑to guides, stories, eLearning and more to help serve neighbors well.
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April 17–19: God Spa, Luther Springs
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September 19: School of Lay Ministry Graduation, Hope Lutheran, The Villages, 4 p.m.
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October 5–7: Conference on Ministry, Mission Inn Resort, Howey-in-the-Hills
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