E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | May 14, 2024

Register Today for Synod Assembly!

Last Chance to Register Online

Registration for the Synod Assembly closes on May 15, 2024. After this date, onsite registration will be required. Please note that no refunds will be issued after May 15, 2024.

Service Project

This year, we'll be serving the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. Learn more.

Nominations

We need a youth nominee for Synod Council, who is a high school student, 15-17, male or female from any mission district. Also need nominees for the Discipline Committee: 1 female layperson, 1 male rostered minister, and 1 female rostered minister. For Churchwide Assembly voting members, we need 1 female layperson and 1 male layperson from the Southeast Mission District; and 1 youth, high school student, age 15-17, male or female from any district. Please consider who might fill these positions and submit their nomination from the floor of the assembly on Friday. More info...

Spending Plan (Budget) Forum

You are invited to join a Zoom call on Tuesday, May 28, at 10:00 AM to review the synod’s spending plan for 2024-2025. This is an optional meeting. The spending plan and resolution will be posted on the Synod Assembly website: https://www.fbsassembly.org/. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82766277354; Meeting ID: 827 6627 7354

Ordinations and Installations

• 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.

• Margarita Romo will be ordained on Saturday, June 15, 1 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, with Bishop Suárez presiding. Margarita has been called as Pastor of Resurrection House Mission in Dade City.

Are We Prepared? Community Resilience in the Face of Severe Storms

When something happens in our community, our neighbors will be knocking on our doors whether or not we are prepared to meet their needs.

Tallahassee and the Panhandle experienced severe storms including tornadoes on Friday, May 10. As I write this on May 13, 40,000 households are still without power and they are back under a tornado watch and a flood warning. We have two congregations in Tallahassee and while the church buildings were spared severe damage, the community was not. North Florida is not the only area at risk from tornadoes. I was surprised to learn that tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are more frequent in South Florida than some people realize. Since 1996, South Florida has averaged 11 reported tornadoes per year, and since 1950, a total of 154 tornadoes of EF-1 or EF-2 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (winds greater than 85 mph) have occurred. We are used to having time to prepare for Florida’s number one threat, hurricanes, but these tornadoes show the necessity of following up on having written preparedness and response plans in place before a disaster. Over the last several months, we have reviewed how to develop a Congregational Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan. A Guide for that can be found here Lutheran Disaster Response - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org). 

If you have trouble accessing the document or have any questions please reach out to Bill Rosche at billr@fbsynod.org.

Rev. Katie Carroll (Global Mission Chair), Shelon Bruce (women's ministry leader), Elocia Smith (Secretary), Rev. Sandra Kurtzious (President), Jill Sullivan (VP)

79th Annual Convention of FBS Synod Companion The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana

The Florida-Bahamas Synod was honored to participate in the annual convention of ELCG (Lutheran Church in Guyana), held May 7-9 in New Amsterdam, Guyana. Along with the leaders and delegates of the local church, Rev. Katie Carroll (Global Mission Chair) attended as did other global partners: Rev. Jaime Dubon of the ELCA, Rev. Sonia Skupch, Lutheran World Federation Regional Secretary, and Rev. Peter Kuhnert of the Lutheran Church in Canada.

Under the theme "One Body, One Spirit, One Hope," the church celebrated its rich past of 281 years of Lutheranism in Guyana, just as it embraced its potential for the future. Among the business items, Executive Committee elections were held. Rev. Sandra Kurtzious will be ELCG's president until 2026. There were presentations, devotions, evening programs and, of course, worship. Through our participation, FBS's ties were strengthened and deepened. We look forward to further collaboration in women's and youth ministries, along with providing support to ELCG's technology expansion and revived Lay Academy.

Just Love Juneteenth Observance

The Just Love Ministry of the Florida-Bahamas Synod presents a Juneteenth Freedom Day Observance, Saturday, June 15 at 3 p.m. The observance will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Orlando (7900 S. Apopka Road) and will be livestreamed on the synod Facebook page. Additional details in the flyer here.

To find Juneteenth liturgy and worship resources from the ELCA, click here.

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. 

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 

Feeding Ministry Grant Opportunity

2024 Feeding Ministry granting opportunity, which prioritizes ELCA congregations with feeding/hunger ministries in your synod, is now available.

These grants provide daily bread for neighbors experiencing hunger. Funding is meant to supplement existing food-based ministries (i.e., meal programs, food pantries, grocery delivery, etc.).

Key Information:

1. ELCA World Hunger Feeding ministry grants are available to congregations on a rolling basis.
2. Feeding ministries may submit a one-time request no greater than $1,000 beginning on May 1, 2024.
3. 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.
4. Learn more at elca.org/domestichungergrants.

APPLY

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to ELCA World Hunger Program Manager, Roselle Tenorio, who can be made available for a one-on-one meeting to discuss eligibility, application process, and any other details regarding the grant, at roselle.tenorio@elca.org.

*Note: no fundraising platform will be offered in conjunction with this funding opportunity*.

We look forward to receiving funding requests and supporting the important work of ensuring our communities are fed.  

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.

Memorial Lutheran Church has six confirmands that will be affirming their baptism on Pentecost. During their last unit of study, they envisioned living out Luther's "priesthood of all believers" to help them understand that everyone, not just pastors, are called to serve God in their vocations. The confirmands had fun trying on "collars" and discussed why people often think of pastors as different from regular people. It was a thought-provoking and fun experience!

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

Positions Available at LCS

Lutheran Counseling Services (LCS) provides professional counseling, mental health education, and consultation services, guided by the grace of God. We're currently hiring for two positions: Front Desk Receptionist and Billing Specialist in our Winter Park Office.

Front Desk Receptionist Position:

Are you friendly, organized, and passionate about helping others? Join us as a Front Desk Receptionist! You'll be the welcoming face of LCS, providing excellent customer service to our clients. While insurance verification and Spanish-speaking skills are a plus, they're not required. We value strong attention to detail and good customer service above all else. If you're motivated to make a positive impact, apply today!

Billing Specialist Position:

Are you detail-oriented and skilled in billing processes? LCS is seeking a Billing Specialist to join our team. In this role, you'll ensure accurate billing, reconciliation of accounts, and resolution of discrepancies. Knowledge in mental health billing and accounts receivables is needed for this position. If you're ready to contribute to our mission of renewal and growth, we want to hear from you!

Join LCS and be part of a team dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. If you want to learn more or apply you can email admin@lcsfl.com.  

Seeking Organist/Pianist/Vocal and Handbell Choir Director

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Address: 2256 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota, FL 34239

We are looking for a part-time church musician with a variety of musical skills to lead our worship service at 9:30 a.m., special seasonal services, and to help grow the music ministry of St. Paul. Our worship service incorporates both traditional and contemporary music accompanied by a 21-rank Moeller pipe organ, Steinway grand piano, and Kawai keyboard. The church musician would also direct the vocal and handbell choirs. Salary based on experience. Full job description available upon request. Please contact Pr. Ashley Nicolls at PrAshley1010@gmail.com or 941-955-6479.

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 sets advertised for $10,000.00 and up. Price $6,000.00.

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

This month our May 2024 ELCA Mission Support Memo follows the journey of Parkside Lutheran Church, nestled in North Buffalo, NY, where over the last six years they have been experimenting, risking, and building connections to show "God's doors are open for all" and all are invited to come early and stay late! Plus join us Monday, May 20 for a fabulous webinar on "STORY MATTERS" from Rev. Heather Roth-Johnson, a storyteller, a public speaker, a workshop leader, a writer and in general just a creative soul. We also share our gratitude for all the staff and volunteers who work so hard to plan and execute synod assemblies. Read the memo here! 

• May 19: Melodies & Masterpieces - Advent Lutheran Church, Melbourne

• May 31 - June 2: Synod Assembly, Embassy Suites, Orlando Lake Buena Vista South

• June 18-29: Joint Synod Pilgrimage to Greece

• September 8: "God's work. Our hands." Sunday

• September 16-18: Conference on Ministry, Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

• September 21: School of Lay Ministry Annual Retreat and Graduation Worship, Mandarin Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

• October 4-7: Marty's Autumn Motorcycle Retreat at Lutheridge Camp & Conference Center

• November 13-15: National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) Biennial Conference