The Office of the Bishop celebrates Thanksgiving (we are closed Friday, 11/28), contributes to generosity projects for Giving Tuesday, and works on year-end projects.
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Your ministry matters! Help us share the good news of faith in action across the Grand Canyon Synod. Whether your congregation is hosting an event, looking for volunteers, or seeking to fill a ministry position, we want to hear from you. Submitting is easy—just visit gcsynod.org/share to send us your updates. Let’s strengthen our synod by sharing the ways God is working in our communities!
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This week, the Office of the Bishop visits congregations, works on year-end projects, and celebrates Thanksgiving.
We are grateful to be Church Together with you.
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The Office of the Bishop will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 27–28, 2025, for the Thanksgiving holiday, reopening Monday, December 1. As we enter this season of gratitude, we give thanks for the faithful ministry of our congregations and partners across the Grand Canyon Synod.
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This week, the Office of the Bishop gathers for the synod council meeting and travels to churches for worship and giving thanks..
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Rev. Dan Potaznick, our synod’s Director of Generosity and Strategic Development and pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Phoenix, recently shared joyful news about his growing family. Pastor Dan and his wife, Randi, are expecting their first child—affectionately nicknamed “Baby Hiccup”—with a due date of December 15.
He will be on parental leave from December 15 through February 15, supported by both St. John’s and the Grand Canyon Synod, as they celebrate this precious time together. We join in congratulating Pastor Dan and Randi, holding them in prayer and joy as they prepare for this new chapter of life.
Read the full update and message from Pastor Dan on the St. John’s website: “Baby Hiccup Updates”.
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This week, the Office of the Bishop continues its work across the synod, from preaching, teaching, and stewardship support to event planning, communications, and financial administration.
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This week, the Office of the Bishop is actively engaging across our synod and Churchwide—preaching and worshiping with congregations, meeting with youth and parents, developing mission and stewardship plans, collaborating with national partners, and tending to communication, finance, and event planning to support ministries across the synod.
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The Office of the Bishop is navigating a difficult and tender time for our synod community. Even as we respond with care and transparency, the staff continues its steady work of supporting congregations, leaders, and ministries throughout our synod.
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From congregational visits and grant consultations to teaching and preaching, our team is actively supporting ministries across the synod, as Bishop Hutterer and Theresa take well-deserved time for rest and renewal.
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The Office of the Bishop helps Santa Cruz Lutheran in Tucson Celebrate 40 Years this weekend, attends the "Bearing Worthy Fruit" Retreat, and some of the staff departs for the 2025 Pilgrimage to Greece.
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Bishop Hutterer traveled to Minneapolis for the Installation of Rev. Yehiel Curry as ELCA Presiding Bishop as well as the Conference of Bishops. We also share photos from our 2025 Bishop’s Fall Gathering.
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The Office of the Bishop gathers with rostered ministers at the Bishop’s Fall Gathering and prepares for the Bishop’s upcoming sabbatical. And we share photos from the most recent Synod Council Retreat.
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The Office of the Bishop hosts the Synod Council Retreat, prepares for the Bishop’s Fall Gathering, and attends Leadership Day 2025 at King of Glory in Tempe. We also share photos from the Ordination of Kylee Bestenlehner at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson.
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The Grand Canyon Synod enters the new year with strong leadership, clear plans, and a shared theme of being Rooted in Story. At our recent staff retreat, we prepared both for the year ahead and for Bishop Hutterer’s upcoming sabbatical. During that time, Rev. Mike Girlinghouse will serve as Acting Bishop, while our new synod council begins its work.
Together, we are pacing ourselves for a season of stability, renewal, and shared leadership as we move faithfully toward 2026.
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The Office of the Bishop attends the Ordination of Kylee Bestenlehner at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson, Sep 13, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, and Leadership Day 2025 at King of Glory in Tempe, Sep 20, 2025. We also share a photo from our in-person staff retreat at Spirit in the Desert.
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The Office of the Bishop attends an in-person staff retreat at Spirit in the Desert and plans for the upcoming year.
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The Office of the Bishop will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day. As we rest and give thanks, we remember that all work is holy vocation in God’s creation. Read more, including a prayer for workers and communities.
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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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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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