Even with recent falling numbers, residents in all counties of the Grand Canyon Synod are at an extremely high risk for contracting Covid-19 right now, according to an analysis by public health experts. Use this New York Times interactive guide to show the risk level and specific suggestions for your community.
Read MoreAs we celebrate and honor Black History Month, we’ll be continually updating this page with related news from our blog and events from our calendar.
It also has an archive of posts from our blog concerning racial justice and selected resources from ELCA.org.
Read MoreThe Stewardship Team of the Grand Canyon Synod invites you to a presentation on “Building an Effective, Productive and Faithful Stewardship Team", Tues. Feb. 23rd at 7pm MST, 6pm PST.
We will share the rationale and strategies for your congregational stewardship team to engage in effective year round ministry. Please register here.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Charles Newman and the people of Crossroads Lutheran Church in San Tan Valley, part of the Rio Salado Conference. Visit their site at iamcrossroads.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
Read MorePastor Pam Reynolds will be ordained by Bishop Hutterer at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Sun City West, on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Watch the service on their YouTube page, posted within 24 hours.
“The whirlwind of directional change around my first call has been amazing and there is only one entity responsible: God,” says Reynolds.
Read MoreMembers of all Grand Canyon Synod congregations and ministries, including active and retired leaders, are welcome to our online spring gatherings.
Our most consistent response from spring gatherings is how much people enjoy meeting folks outside their congregation. Knowing this, we’ve created plenty of time for discussion. We gather Saturday morning, 2/6/2021, Tuesday evening, 2/9/2021, and Tuesday afternoon, 2/16/2021.
Read MoreThe Nevada Legislature opened on February 1, 2021, with a prayer from Bishop Hutterer and an invocation from Rev. Dr. Leonard Jackson.
Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) offers a video on how to engage with the Nevada Legislature. In the video, Bishop Hutterer talks about the importance of keeping engaged with government. View the whole video or just Bishop Hutterer’s message.
Read MoreA reminder that our Annual Congregation Meeting Resources page is available if you haven’t had your annual meeting yet.
Attorney Bryan Daum reminds congregations using the written ballot procedure in addition to an online annual meeting, “Please remember that you must send a written ballot to each voting member and not just the persons who attended the virtual meeting.” View our resource page for full info.
Read MoreDo you enjoy sifting and sorting? We are looking for a volunteer to go through papers from closed congregations to find archivable material. Contact Theresa Thornburgh if interested in this project.
Read MoreJoin Pastor Adele Resmer, Rabbi Mari Chernow, Azar Hussain, and moderator Barb Peterson for a discussion of Women in Scripture, hosted by the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona, held via Zoom on Fridays: Feb 12, 19, 26 & March 5 at 1 pm MST, noon PST. Info at isb-az.org/women-in-scripture.
The sessions will be recorded and posted on the Islamic Speakers Bureau website and offered as a resource for those who could not attend the meeting.
Read MoreJoin retired Rev. Carl Zimmerman and Barb Peterson, members of Peace Lutheran Church, Peoria, AZ, in a lecture series exploring the life and legacy of Martin Luther.
Monday evenings in March, 6:30pm MST, 5:30pm PST, will have a 15-minute presentation followed by 45 minutes of informal discussion. Click a link to join each meeting: 3/8/2021, 3/15/2021, 3/22/2021, 3/29,2021. RSVP @ petefv51@gmail.com.
Read MoreAll are welcome to attend the installation of Pastor Annemarie Burke at Esperanza Lutheran Church, Phoenix, by Bishop Deborah Hutterer on Saturday, January 30 at 3 pm MST, 2 pm PST. The ceremony will be conducted on Zoom.
Click here to join the Zoom meeting, and view/download the Service of Installation as PDF.
Ever-living God, strengthen and sustain pastors, especially Pastor Annemarie Burke, that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people. Grant that together they may follow in the way of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Read MoreMaximizing Social Media for Congregations, presented by Pastor Charles Newman and Melanie Moscicki of Crossroads Lutheran in San Tan Valley, is available for viewing on Vimeo or in this post. You can also view the Powerpoint presentation file.
We are grateful for the real-world expertise from the leaders at Crossroads, who are continually refining their digital presence.
Read MoreThe annual Report to the Bishop is an opportunity for active and rostered ministers to connect directly with Bishop Hutterer, who looks forward to your responses and feedback.
Completion of this required report is one of the commitments rostered ministers are invited to make upon entering the synod. The report is due back to Bishop Hutterer by February 19, 2021. Access the form online or offline here.
Read MoreRead the minutes from the synod council meeting on November 21, 2020, in PDF format.
Read MorePastor Steve Springer, Dove of Peace, Tucson, reminds us that January 15 is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the day he’s on our Lutheran calendar. As Dr. King is a martyr, the liturgical color for today is scarlet red.
Pr. Springer shares five petitions, each beginning with "We remember" and a verbatim citation from "Letter From a Birmingham Jail."
Read MoreUnder the theme “Freed in Christ,” all lay and rostered people (active and retired) are invited to share updates about our synod and new stories of being church together.
With plenty of time for discussion, this is a great opportunity to connect with new people in our synod. Get more info and register at gcsynod.org/spring-gatherings.
Read MoreJoin people of faith throughout Arizona as we virtually celebrate Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Monday, January 18 through Monday, January 25, 2021. Bishop Hutterer will present Tuesday, January 19.
Daily devotions, videos, and prayers will be posted in this Facebook event. This is a time for all Christians to come together as an ecumenical community to pray for peace.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of Nevada shares their January, 2021, newsletter with news of generous gifts from Carolyn and Gary Weaver, a report on giving to children and seniors through their Christmas program, and welcoming Jocelyn G. Rodulfo as the recently hired Community Health Coordinator for Women's Health Connection.
Read MoreCalifornia Lutheran University and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary invite “actively serving” pastors of the Grand Canyon Synod to participate in this first Contemplative Action Group, which they hope to begin Thursday, January 28th.
Contemplative Action Groups provide spiritual growth, accountability, and discernment to congregational leaders who seek greater clarity and depth within their personal and public life.
Please email Pastor Brent Maxwell, desertmax@msn.com, or visit thrivingleadershipformation.org for more information.
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