Youth in grades 7–12 from ELCA congregations across the Valley are invited to a Youth Community Event on Sunday, March 29 from 4–7 p.m. at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa. The evening will include games, food, and fellowship, bringing together youth from multiple congregations including Esperanza and Desert Cross.
Additional churches are welcome to join. Congregations interested in participating can contact Deacon Laura Book (lbook@gcsynod.org) for details.
Read MoreLCM at ASU invites volunteers to a Palm Sunday Hygiene Kit Assembly on March 29 (11:30 AM–2 PM) in Tempe. Help assemble and distribute kits for neighbors experiencing homelessness while supporting student-led outreach grounded in faith and service. Registration is open.
Read MoreLCM at ASU invites the synod to support their team in the Out of Darkness Campus Walk on March 21 at 11 AM, raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention. Join the walk or donate to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and stand with students witnessing to hope, healing, and Christ’s call to bear one another’s burdens.
Read MoreCampformation 2026 will take place June 29–July 3 at Camp Pinerock in Prescott, Arizona, welcoming youth entering grades 6–10 for a week of faith formation, outdoor adventure, and community. Congregations from across our synod gather each summer for this long-standing Lutheran outdoor ministry tradition.
With more than 60 years of history, Campformation combines worship, small-group faith exploration, and activities like zip lining, hiking, swimming, and ropes courses. Learn more and register at lutherancampformation.com.
Read MoreRegistration is now open for Leadership Lab 2026, a week-long youth and leadership formation experience taking place June 22–27 at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Participants explore leadership for church and community through hands-on learning, worship, and shared faith experiences grounded in the promise of Joel 2:28: “your young shall see visions.”
The registration cost is $420 per person, with lodging, meals, and a T-shirt included. Discounts are available for returning participants, first-time congregations, and groups bringing multiple students. Registration increases by $50 after April 15, so congregations are encouraged to register early.
Read MoreReady for summer? Lutheran congregations across the Grand Canyon Synod are offering Vacation Bible Schools and children’s camps filled with faith, fun, and fellowship. Explore the growing list of programs, and help us share your church’s summer offerings by emailing Deacon Laura Book at lbook@gcsynod.org.
Read MoreYouth in grades 7–12 from ELCA congregations across the Valley are invited to a Youth Community Event on Sunday, March 29 from 4–7 p.m. at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa. The evening will include games, food, and fellowship, bringing together youth from multiple congregations including Esperanza and Desert Cross.
Additional churches are welcome to join. Congregations interested in participating can contact Deacon Laura Book (lbook@gcsynod.org) for details.
Read MoreELCA school leaders are invited to a 30-minute webinar on March 18 at 1:00 p.m. CST introducing Sparkhouse Digital, a platform designed to help educators easily prepare meaningful chapel services and faith formation experiences. Hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA) in partnership with Augsburg Fortress, the webinar will include an overview of the platform’s features and an exclusive offer for live attendees. Register here. All who register will receive the recording after the event.
ELCA Schools and Learning Centers have also launched a new online Community platform where members can connect, share resources, and collaborate with fellow Lutheran educators. Register and learn more through the links provided. More info here.
Read MoreELCA Schools and Learning Centers has released its latest newsletter highlighting Lutheran Schools Week (March 1–7), ministry resources like Coins for Lent, leadership opportunities on the ELEA board, and a new School Spotlightcelebrating Lutheran early childhood ministry. The update also includes member resources, discounts, and upcoming events supporting Lutheran educators nationwide. Explore the resources and learn more about Lutheran education ministries at elcaschools.org.
Read MoreGathering Webinars are designed to provide timely, relevant information as you prepare for the Gathering. Each session is led by Gathering leadership and includes a presentation followed by a live Q&A. Webinars begin at 7:00 p.m. CST and run approximately 45 minutes. For those unable to attend live, recordings will be available online several days following the webinar. To learn more about upcoming webinars, visit the Gathering site. View the first webinar here.
Read MoreOn November 12, 2025, the ELCA Church Council adopted a Social Message on Child Protection, calling congregations to strengthen preaching, policies, and trauma-informed care. Wartburg Theological Seminary and the Center for Faith & Child Protection are offering a free webinar series (beginning February 26 at 6:45 p.m. CST) to help leaders implement these recommendations. Pastors and lay leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to register and equip their congregations to protect and care for the “least of these.”
Read MoreEnrollment for this summer is over 80% full, but there’s still time for young musicians to apply, and for you to nominate students. Lutheran Summer Music is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school musicians. Students come together from around the country for a joyful summer of music-making through large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, elective classes (conducting, composition, jazz, musical theatre, handbells, pipe organ) and use their musical gifts in performance, and in worship.
LSM 2026 | St. Olaf College, Minnesota | June 21 - July 19, 2026 | Grades 8 - 12 | Learn more: LSMacademy.org/program.
Read MoreDive into the 2027 Gathering’s theme, Imagine More! Based on Ephesians 3:20 (Inclusive), the Gathering will be a space for young people to Imagine More - love, welcome, joy, courage, and grace. To learn more about the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), the tAble, or the Young Adult Gathering, please visit elca.org/Gathering.
Read MoreLooking for a simple daily devotional practice? d365 offers a free, five-step daily devotion—Pause, Listen, Think, Pray, Go—written especially for youth and young adults and used by readers around the world. Available online and as a free mobile app.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod is a proud member of the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA), a national network supporting Lutheran schools and early learning centers. ELEA offers practical benefits for educators and staff—including insurance options, professional development, vendor discounts, and leadership support—alongside mission-centered advocacy for Lutheran education.
Schools and ECE centers within the synod are also eligible for a $50 discount on annual ELEA membership. Learn how ELEA can support your ministry at elcaschools.org.
Read MoreWhat began as a creative response to pandemic disruption has become a defining ministry practice at Desert Cross Lutheran Church. Through thoughtfully curated monthly Faith Formation Playlists for children, youth, and adults, Desert Cross offers flexible, accessible “faith on the go” that meets people wherever and whenever they are—far beyond Sunday morning.
This behind-the-scenes look explores how a whole-church team collaborates around shared themes, integrates worship and learning, and embraces the belief that faith formation happens 24/7. Read the full story to learn what other congregations can take from Desert Cross’s intentional, community-centered approach to lifelong faith formation.
Read MoreThe ELCA has released the first three videos introducing the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, offering an early look at this churchwide experience for youth, young adults, and leaders. The Gathering will be held June 28–July 2, 2027, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, under the theme “Imagine More.”
The videos highlight the Gathering as a movement of faith and introduce key pre-events, including the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble, which affirm leadership, belonging, and inclusion. Learn more at elca.org/Gathering, and watch for future updates as we begin preparing across the Grand Canyon Synod.
Read MoreThe 2026 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival is now accepting applications for students in grades 8–12. Hosted at St. Olaf College, LSM offers young musicians a formative experience of musical growth, performance, and worship in a supportive Lutheran community.
The Standard Enrollment deadline is March 1, and spaces are filling quickly. Nominate a student at LSMacademy.org/nominate or encourage them to submit a free application at LSMacademy.org/apply.
Read MoreThe January ELEA newsletter is full of resources to help Lutheran educators start the year strong. Highlights include the Lutheran Schools Week 2026 “BRAVE” toolkit, grounded in John 13:34–35; a call for workshop proposals for the 2026 Biennial Conference in Los Angeles (due January 16); member-only Community conversations; and timely employment law updates through Zywave.
The issue also features a School Spotlight on Peace Lutheran Preschool, upcoming events, and reminders about ELEA membership benefits. Read the full newsletter for links, tools, and opportunities to connect with educators across the church.
Read MoreRegistration is now open for the 2026 Western States Youth Gathering, happening June 28–July 1, 2026, at California Lutheran University in Southern California. Youth graduating 8th–12th grade and their adult leaders are invited to gather for worship, service, learning, and connection in this faith-forming regional event.
Held the summer before the ELCA Youth Gathering, WSYG 2026 offers a meaningful opportunity for congregations to invest in youth ministry and prepare young people for a larger churchwide experience. Registration includes housing, meals, and programming. Learn more and register at westernstatesyg.org.
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