The Office of the Bishop visits and preaches at various congregations around the synod, and takes a day off on Labor Day. We also share photos from the Installation and Ordination of Solomon Kuch at Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran.
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For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Ethiopia…
For all victims of gun violence, especially in Minneapolis, MN…
For business owners and leaders, facing increased costs and challenges…
For victims of flooding and landslides in Vietnam and Thailand…
For police officers and military personnel…
For immigrants coming to the US to escape violence in their countries of origin…
For those without a home or secure housing and those who serve them…
For those seeking meaningful work and all who are unemployed, underemployed, or retired…
For students transitioning to college and for the staff and faculty who care for them in these spaces, especially at our ELCA Colleges and Universities…
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Paul Ninnemann, who celebrates 49 years on August 29.
Rev. Carol George, Resurrection, Oro Valley, who celebrates 26 years on August 29.
Deacon Barbara Sikkink, who celebrates 33 years on August 30.
Rev. Renee Geiger, who celebrates 37 years on September 1.
Rev. John Schaumburg, who celebrates 53 years on September 2.
Rev. Kirk Anderson, who celebrates 53 years on September 3.
Deacon Cathy Mannel, who celebrates 26 years on September 4.
Rev. Gregory Mannel, who celebrates 47 years on September 4.
For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Ethiopia…
For victims of gun violence, especially in Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX…
For those without secure housing and those criminalized for being homeless…
For flash flooding in Wisconsin, evacuations in Alaska, and all facing storms and flooding…
For nurses and healthcare workers, especially those serving on the frontlines of war and conflict…For safety for journalists who bring stories and awareness to the tragedy of war…
For all marriages, relationships, and family groupings that reflect mutual love and trust…
The Office of the Bishop attends the Installation and Ordination of Solomon Kuch at Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran, Aug 24, 2025, 1:00 PM. We also share photos from our time volunteering at West Valley Lutheran Thrift Store in Sun City, followed by a delicious lunch and staff meeting at Shepherd of the Desert in Sun City.
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Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Loren Swanson, who celebrates 54 years on August 22.
Rev. Gary Garvey, who celebrates 43 years on August 22.
Rev. Carlyle Smith, who celebrates 61 years on August 23.
Rev. Naomi Barcanic, who celebrates 28 years on August 24.
Rev. Julie Gerrish, Christ, Sedona, who celebrates 1 years on August 24.
Rev. Nathan Bowman, Hospice of the West, who celebrates 40 years on August 25.
Rev. Sandra Jones, Bethany, Scottsdale, who celebrates 18 years on August 25.
Rev. John Maroni, Shepherd of the Desert, Sun City, who celebrates 20 years on August 27.
Rev. Michael Sager, Desert Hills, Green Valley, who celebrates 31 years on August 28.
Rev. Hildegardo González Gómez, who celebrates 26 years on August 28.
This week the Office of the Bishop volunteers at the West Valley Lutheran Thrift Store, followed by a lunch and staff meeting.
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For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Ethiopia…
For victims of gun violence, especially in Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX…
For those without secure housing and those criminalized for being homeless…
For flash flooding in Wisconsin, evacuations in Alaska, and all facing storms and flooding…
For nurses and healthcare workers, especially those serving on the frontlines of war and conflict…
For safety for journalists who bring stories and awareness to the tragedy of war…
For all marriages, relationships, and family groupings that reflect mutual love and trust…
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
The Rev. Cheryl Fox, who celebrates 16 years on August 15.
Rev. Mark Powell, who celebrates 45 years on August 17.
Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Office of the Bishop, Phoenix, who celebrates 21 years on August 18.
Rev. Brent Maxwell, who celebrates 18 years on August 19.
Rev. Kurt Fangmeier, Sierra Evangelical, Sierra Vista, who celebrates 24 years on August 19.
Rev. Marilyn Ascarza, who celebrates 35 years on August 19.
Rev. Scott Hackler, Spirit of Grace, Surprise, who celebrates 36 years on August 20.
Michael Purcell, who celebrates 47 years on August 20.
Rev. Barbara Rapp, who celebrates 32 years on August 21.
Rev. Martha Neff Stum, who celebrates 15 years on August 21.
For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Ethiopia…
For swift and accessible aid to those suffering starvation in Gaza…
For an end to political division within the United States and for a united vision that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable among us…
For those affected by gun violence, especially in Anaconda, MT, Los Angeles, CA, and Fort Stewart, GA…
For favorable conditions that aid in controlling wildfires and for those suffering the effects of poor air quality..
For victims of flash flooding in northern India…
In thanksgiving for all leaders of congregations, synods, and churchwide ministries…
The Office of the Bishop attends the Installation of Deacon Emma Janzen at Resurrection Lutheran in Oro Valley, prepares for the Bishop’s Fall Gathering, and rests and wraps up after the Churchwide Assembly. We also share photos from the Ordination of Kevin Anderson at Love of Christ in Mesa.
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Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Sharon Brown, who celebrates 12 years on August 2.
Rev. Thomas McFarland, who celebrates 39 years on August 3.
Rev. Janet Richardson, who celebrates 36 years on August 6.
Rev. Richard Peterson, who celebrates 32 years on August 8.
Rev. John Hoelter, who celebrates 58 years on August 9.
Rev. Wyatt Linde, Resurrection, Oro Valley, who celebrates 2 years on August 9.
Rev. Joseph Dillon, who celebrates 49 years on August 10.
Rev. Paul Campbell, who celebrates 46 years on August 12.
For an end to war, violence, and genocide across the world, especially in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Cambodia…
For those at risk of famine and starvation in Gaza, and for those who work to provide aid and relief…
For victims of violence, especially in New York City, NY, Reno, NV, and Traverse City, MI…
For those who are still missing in the aftermath of flooding in Texas, and for the ongoing work of search and rescue teams…
For those experiencing deadly flooding in Beijing, China, and for all places affected by severe weather…
For those facing the aftermath of the eastern Russia earthquake, and for all evacuees in the region…
For Presiding Bishop-elect Yehiel Curry, for Presiding Bishop Eaton, and for the ELCA in this season of leadership transition…
In thanksgiving for the Spirit’s wisdom and guidance during ELCA Churchwide Assembly…
In gratitude for the volunteers, convention center staff, and Churchwide staff who made ELCA Churchwide Assembly possible…
The Office of the Bishop attends and volunteers at the final events of the Churchwide Assembly, and also attends the Ordination of Kevin Anderson at Love of Christ in Mesa, Aug 6, 2025, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM.
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