Walking Together Through Lent and Easter: New Resources and Invitations for 2026

As we enter the season of Lent and move toward the joy of Easter, the Grand Canyon Synod invites congregations and individuals across our synod to engage deeply in prayer, reflection, worship, and action. Our Lent and Easter 2026 pages are now live, offering a growing collection of reflections, events, and resources to support faithful practice during these forty days—and beyond.

Visit gcsynod.org/lent-easter to explore Lenten blog posts, pastoral letters, worship resources, and opportunities for community engagement from across the synod. These offerings reflect the richness and diversity of our shared life, grounding us again in God’s promises of renewal, mercy, and hope.

Join the Region 2 Lenten Challenge

Once again, congregations and individuals across the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to take part in the Region 2 Lenten Challenge, joining four other synods in a shared Matthew 25 commitment. Together, we are working to raise $100,000 for ELCA World Hunger during Lent 2026.

Participants are invited to commit to three of four weekly practices—devotion, learning, action, and donation—using a simple, flexible toolkit designed for individuals and congregations alike. Our shared goal is to engage at least one person from 50 congregations per synod, living out Jesus’ call to serve “the least of these.”

Ash Wednesday is February 18, and registration is now open at lentenchallenge.org.

Upcoming Lenten Events Across the Synod

Lent also begins with opportunities for gathering, prayer, and generosity:

• Music for Meals: Fat Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church (Phoenix)

  On Tuesday, February 17, Grace Lutheran Church hosts an evening of New Orleans–style food and live music to support the Pitchfork Pantry serving ASU Downtown students facing food insecurity. This free event features music by the Connections band, with dinner at 6:00 p.m. and music at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to bring canned goods or make a donation.

• Silent Prayer Retreat at All Saints Lutheran Church (Phoenix)

  Begin Lent in stillness on Saturday, February 28, with a half-day Silent Prayer Retreat rooted in monastic tradition. The retreat runs from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and includes prayer, worship, a shared meal, and service projects. Space is limited.

Worship and Music Resources for Lent and Easter

New worship and devotional resources for the 2026 church year are also available through Augsburg Fortress, including Love Outpoured: Devotions for Lent 2026, a free hymn improvisation webinar series, and new tools for worship planners and musicians seeking faithful, creative approaches to the season.

Share What God Is Doing

Lent and Easter come alive through the stories of God’s people. We invite congregations, ministries, and leaders to share your events, reflections, and practices with the wider synod. Submit your stories and upcoming events at gcsynod.org/share, and help us reflect the many ways God is at work across Arizona, southern Nevada, Utah, and the Navajo Nation.

This season, may we walk together—grounded in prayer, shaped by service, and drawn ever deeper into God’s renewing grace.