Featured News

The 2024 Synod Assembly nominating committee is calling for nominations for synod council members, committee positions, and Churchwide Assembly voting members. Embrace this opportunity to serve and lead within the Grand Canyon Synod by submitting your nominations by April 30, 2024. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of our church. View our nominations page for full info.

Join us at the Synod Assembly on June 13, 2024, to help pack Hygiene Kits for Grace in the City, Phoenix. Participate in our service project by purchasing items from our Amazon Gift List by June 1. Your involvement will directly support those in need and enhance our community outreach efforts.

All members of the Grand Canyon Synod—and especially assembly voting members—are invited to participate in a Q-&-A Zoom presentation of the 2025-2026 Mission Plan, hosted by Erik Rehms, our Synod Treasurer, and Barbara Carl, our Synod Vice-President. Each session is the same, with two dates to choose from.

• Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30pm MST/PDT, 6:30pm MDT. Click here to register.

• Saturday, June 1 at 9am MST/PDT, 10am MDT. Click here to register.

Book your stay at Westgate Painted Mountain for the Grand Canyon Synod assembly with our exclusive group discount. Ensure your reservation by May 13, 2024, to enjoy special rates and a prime location near the event. View all our accommodations recommendations here.

Discover how to vividly convey your community's mission through our step-by-step webinar on creating Narrative Mission Plans. Led by Pr. Tim Brown on May 6th and September 9th, this session is perfect for anyone looking to transform their budget into a compelling story of impact.

Support the Grand Canyon Synod Youth Gathering by donating snacks or gift cards to fuel 165 attendees as they join 26,000 peers in worship and learning. Drop off contributions at the Synod office or donate online or via Amazon.

Submit your resolutions for the 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly by April 22, 2024. Ensure they align with procedural guidelines for a chance to shape our collective direction. Details on submission and review process inside.

Take advantage of early bird registration for the 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly and secure your place at a discounted rate. Join us from June 13-15 for a gathering full of worship, fellowship, and decision-making. Act now—early bird rates end April 15, 2024.

As part of the Lenten Challenge across the synods of Region 2, a whopping 717 individuals from 148 congregations pledged to participate in daily devotions, daily decluttering, daily wellness activities, or a donation of a dollar or more a day for ELCA World Hunger.

Region 2 raised an estimated $56,135 — meaning, more is coming in — for anti-hunger efforts through ELCA World Hunger. Thank you! Read more on the LAMA web site.

Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes, Associate Vice President for Mission and Identity at California Lutheran University, joins the 2024 Synod Assembly as a special guest and Bible study leader, bringing her extensive experience in Lutheran higher education and commitment to fostering faith communities.

Pastor Carol George will be installed Wednesday, 4/17/2024 at 6:15pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church (11575 N 1st Ave., Oro Valley, AZ 85737). Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer will preach and preside. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is white.

A dessert reception will follow (please RSVP the church for the reception, not not for the installation). A livestream will be available on Resurrection Lutheran’s YouTube channel.

“He has been raised; he is not here.” —Mark 16:6

This year, journeying through Lent as well as the spring gatherings around our synod, I was heartened by the joy of our most basic calling: sharing the Good News.

At gatherings of conferences in Las Vegas, Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona, a portion of our time was dedicated to simple open mic sessions, introduced by conference deans, where leaders of our congregations and ministries proclaimed the wonders of God's work in their communities. The feedback we received was clear: we live in a world desperate to hear any kind of good news.

In her Easter message to the church, Bishop Eaton focuses on three words that describe what the women at tomb experienced when the angel announced that Jesus had been raised from the dead: fear, amazement and being seized or possessed.

“These three words really say something about the women, and I think about us and, most especially, about Easter…I think it's very important to take time to be a little amazed, to be standing in a different place, to have a sense of this awe and trembling before the Lord, and to allow ourselves to be possessed by the Spirit, who will give us power and courage in these times.”

Get ready for the 2024 Synod Assembly by learning how your congregation can determine its number of voting members. Be sure to include new opportunities to include youth, people of color, or non-English speakers. Join us in Mesa this June for a powerful gathering of faith and fellowship.

Thank you to everyone participating in the 2024 Lenten Challenge! Your commitment enriches our community and supports ELCA World Hunger. Remember, it's never too late to join or donate. Let's continue making a difference together during this Lenten season.

Join us in Sedona for our final Spring Gathering of 2024 at Christ Lutheran Church, an experience of spiritual growth, community connection, and reflection amidst the beauty of Sedona. Let's explore together what it means to live out God's Word in our lives and communities. Watch the livestream on Vimeo.

Secure your spot at the 2024 Synod Assembly with early bird registration available until April 15, 2024! Don't miss this opportunity for fellowship, worship, and engaging discussions. Visitors and exhibitors are also welcome to join us for this enriching experience. Register now to be part of shaping our community's future together.

Pastor Amy Janssen will be installed on Wednesday, 3/20/2024, 6:30 pm, at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church (8625 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Tucson, AZ). Bishop Hutterer will preach and preside. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is purple. A dessert reception will follow. Livestream is available at tvlc.org/livestream.

We are honored to welcome a distinguished lineup of special guests to the 2024 Synod Assembly, each bringing a wealth of experience and insight from their respective fields of ministry, education, and service.

As we gather under the theme “Embody the Word,” our guests' diverse backgrounds and profound commitments to faith, leadership, and community will inspire and challenge us to deepen our engagement with the world around us.

You're not late — everyone else is just early! From now until April 15, ELCA Youth Gathering registration is $475. It’s not too late to get your krewe together to attend the Gathering this summer.

Registration will close on April 15. Join us for a week of faith formation, worship, fun, jazz and great food. Please contact Pr. Jacqui JPagel@gcsynod.org if you have any YouthGathering 2024 questions.

We are excited to invite you to our annual Spring Gatherings, themed “Embody the Word.” These gatherings are not just meetings; they are opportunities for spiritual renewal, learning, and community building. Learn more here.

Cactus, Capital, Fiesta, Northeast Valley, and Rio Salado Conferences: Mar 17, 2024, 2pm at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Phoenix

High Country Conference: Mar 23, 2024, 11 am at Christ Lutheran Church in Sedona

Join the Grand Canyon Synod for the concluding Spring Gatherings, themed "Embody the Word." Engage in Bible study, discuss the bishop election process, and be inspired by stories from our ministries. Don’t miss these opportunities for spiritual growth and community connection on March 17th in Phoenix and March 23rd in Sedona.

The 2024 Synod Assembly nominating committee is calling for nominations for synod council members, committee positions, and Churchwide Assembly voting members. Embrace this opportunity to serve and lead within the Grand Canyon Synod by submitting your nominations by April 22, 2024. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of our church. View our nominations page for full info.

We are deeply troubled by the actions of the Texas attorney general's office against Annunciation House, a volunteer-run faith-based organization that has been a pillar of welcome and hospitality in El Paso for more than 40 years. Annunciation House has been singled out by the attorney general's office over potential legal violations for the social services it provides to immigrants in Texas. We recognize Annunciation House's exemplary way of faith—by way of humanitarian works in close partnership with the federal government and other nonprofits in the region—that ensures migrants are treated with dignity and respect.

Join us as an exhibitor at the 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly! Engage with assembly participants through interactive displays that highlight the vital work of your ministry. Register by May 20, 2024, to secure your spot and be a part of our mission-driven community.