News

Jenna Perry, daughter of Pastor Mark and Linda Perry, Sierra Evangelical Lutheran Church, is recovering at home. She has returned to work with reduced hours. Continued prayers are appreciated.

We offer up prayers of thanksgiving and support for Norine Floyd, our outgoing Director of Administration and Events. Anyone who has interacted with Norine this year has surely noted her friendliness, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Norine has been the steady center of the Office of the Bishop in this transitional year. Building from a good foundation, she leaves the office with an efficient system in place and detailed operations manuals. We are also very grateful for her coordination of this year’s synod assembly.

Norine and her husband David are returning to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where David has a teaching job. We hold our time together close to our hearts.

As we celebrate the gift of freedom, pray for those in our communities, our nation and our world who still experience oppression, persecution or inequality. Ask for God’s forgiveness for the ways in which we deliberately or unconsciously exert or support control over others for our own benefit or advantage; pray that we might exercise our freedom responsibly and compassionately for the well-being of all people.

Robert ("Bob") Duea, age 79, passed away with family by his side on June 27, 2019, at the Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West. Bob was a man of spiritual strength and found his call to service through Lutheran Social Services (LSS).

Family, friends and others whose lives Bob touched are invited to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 13724 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, AZ, on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. to reminisce, grieve, support each other and, of course, celebrate a loving man.

O God of grace and glory, we remember before our brother Bob. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

We pray for Patrick Burns and the friends and family of Rev. Richard Andersen, who passed away on Sunday, June 2, surrounded by friends and family. Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him.

Rev. Richard Andersen’s memorial service will be at Ascension Lutheran, Paradise Valley on Friday, June 21 at 3 pm. Clergy are invited to process: gather at 2:45, the color of the day is white.

Richard Andersen was born in Iowa and grew up in Minnesota. He was a Vietnam veteran and a graduate of the University of Minnesota and Luther Seminary.  He initially helped construct the ARC Retreat Center in Minnesota.

He served as pastor at Watson Immanuel Lutheran churches in southwestern Minnesota. Later, he was Executive Director of the Foundation of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, while also serving as interim pastor at St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in the city of St. Paul.

In 1991, Richard began a successful fifteen-year career at Thrivent Financial. He co-founded a Minnesota non-profit called Third Act Ministries which served groups of people as they individually considered ways in which to transform their lives. Before coming to Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Richard was called by the ELCA to be Director of Congregational Relations and Senior Major Gifts Officer for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS).