E-Spirit
July 3, 2018

Bold - Passionate - Faithful
Features:
  • My Favorite Color is Blue. Sometimes.
  • Synod Assembly Offering Totals
  • "Seeds for Haiti" Update

  Events Coming up:
  • Hearts, Hands and Voices
  • Synod Parish Deacon Retreat
  • God's Work Our Hands Work Day at Luther Springs

For Your Information:
  • Office closed on July 4
Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honesty in the workplace, truth in education, and honor in daily life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance/ and from every evil course of action. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and in troubled times, do not let our trust in your fail. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ELW p. 77)
Click the calendar above for more information about these events
July 4 - HOLIDAY (Synod Office Closed)
July 21 - Ordination of Moises Carasquillo (Mision Luterana Sagrado Corazon/Sacred Heart Lutheran Mission, Miami)
July 30-Aug 1 - Transition Ministry Training (Luther Springs)
Aug. 11 - New Facilities Dedication, Luther Springs
Aug. 24-25 - Synod Parish Deacon Retreat
Aug. 25 - Hearts, Hands and Voices workshop, Our Savior, Vero Beach
Sept. 8 - God's Work Our Hands Work Day, Luther Springs
Sept. 9 - God's Work Our Hands Sunday
Sept. 27-30 - Practice Discipleship Retreat for Youth Workers (Luther Springs)
Oct. 9 - Boundaries Workshop, Cross+Road, Fleming Island
Oct. 28 - Grand Opening/Dedication of space: Castle Church Brewing Community
Features
My Favorite Color is Blue. Sometimes
A Resource to Process Grief
The text and illustrations of this lushly colored picture book guide the reader through different emotions and reactions related to grieving, including shock, tears, anger, and hope. My Favorite Color is Blue. Sometimes . is a children's picture book by design, but accessible to people of all ages.

Synod Assembly Offering Totals
Thanks for all the generosity towards the Synod Assembly offerings.
  • The offering from opening worship is designated for the ELCA Campaign: Youth/Young Adult focus. The total collected: $3,722.95
  • The offering from closing worship is designated for a project in Guyana. The total collected: $5,038.02
"Seeds for Haiti" update
The Florida-Bahamas Synod Global Mission Committee is hoping to raise $10,000 for "Seeds for Haiti," a joint project to purchase seeds and plants for communities hardest hit last year by hurricanes. To date, around $1,200 has been raised or pledged. If 10 people in each congregation donated $5 each, the goal would be met. Please send your donations to the Synod Office with "Haiti" designated on the memo line.

How do donations to the Global Mission Committee support ministry in global companion congregations?  
 
The companion churches identify their priorities for mission through decisions by their churchwide councils. If they want help from the FB Synod, they fill out at Project Concept Note (PCN) which is a two to three page document describing a project. They tell how their church will own and accomplish the project and ask for help from the FB Synod. They identify how long the project will last. The PCN is considered by the task force for that companion church, and often there is a revision of the document. The task force then sends the revised PCN to the entire FB Synod Global Mission Committee for consideration. If there is a request for funds that is approved, the money is sent to the companion church by a wire transfer from the FB Synod bank account to the companion church bank account.

When a project is completed, receipts and photographs are sent to show the work that was accomplished. You can be assured that the money you contribute to the FB Synod for our companion churches goes directly to those churches to meet their priorities. The accountability is complete, transparent, and honest. 

Donations to the Global Companion Churches are 'designated gifts,' meaning they are given directly to the project/ministry. All the money sent to our companion churches comes from congregations and individuals who designate a companion church on their check. Congregations and individuals can send donations to the Synod office and designate their donation for one of the Global Companion Churches: Haiti, Suriname, Guyana, Jamaica, or Cuba. Donations designated for "Global Mission Committee" will be used by the Global Mission Committee at their discretion.

Will you please prayerfully consider joining with us to make sure the requests of our companion churches in Haiti, Suriname, Guyana, Cuba, and Jamaica can be met?
 
Thank you for your help with this important work. 
 
For more information, or to get more involved, contact: 
Anita Unrath
Haiti Task Force Chair
321-757-3637
tunrath@cfl.rr.com
Upcoming Events
Hearts, Hands and Voices--a workshop for church musicians
Hearts, Hand and Voices A local workshop for all church musicians!  
August, 25th 2018 – 9:30 to 3:30
Our Savior Lutheran, Vero Beach, FL

Cost for all day including lunch and refreshments $45.00 (students $20.00)
Sponsored by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

The day will focus on resources and leading congregational song in smaller parishes, especially on using people of all abilities and how to foster relationships and build small programs into larger programs.

The day will use “Ted Talk” style presentations by all presenters and include hands on work and exploration of resources. Topics will include psalmody, hymnody, refreshing the liturgy (with care!), working with the older voice, intergenerational choirs, using children in worship, instruments of all kinds in worship, clergy/musician relationships, concerts series, new resources outside of the Lutheran church…… and more! All participants will be invited to submit specific questions for the closing session and be invited to share one resource with the group.

Schedule
Registration and Coffee – 9:30 – 10:00
Program 10:00 – 3:00
Closing thoughts and song: 3:00 – 3:30
Optional Evening Worship Participation at 6:00 p.m.

Presenters Include 
Ryan Hostler, Jim Rindelaub, Barbara and Brian Larson and more! 

For more information and to register visit: https://alcm.org/event/vero-beach-fl/ 
Synod Parish Deacon Retreat
The Synod Parish Deacon Retreat will be on August 24-25 at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Orlando. Dr. Susan McArver (Professor of Church History and Educational Ministry at Southern Seminary) will be the keynote speaker.

Registration information and details on the flyer:

God's Work Our Hands Work Day at Luther Springs
Youth groups, men’s groups, women’s groups, congregations, families, individuals! Projects may include clearing trails, chopping wood, painting, cleaning, sorting and organizing or a special building project. Our main day of service will be Saturday, with lunch provided. Overnight accommodations are based on availability. There is NO COST for participating in the work day, but c all Sue Mendenhall (727) 415-9887 to register. Overnight accommodations are based on availability . Space is limited!
For Your Information
Office of the Bishop
Bishop's Schedule
July 3-17, 2018

  • Vacation (July 2-10)
  • Bishop's Academy (Chicago)
  • Tampa Office
  • Region 9 Bishops' Gathering (Hippenstel)
Florida-Bahamas Synod 813-876-7660 
info@fbsynod.org