We give thanks to God for the many people and organizations who helped us reach our initial Growing Generosity goal. Together, in ways big and small, we fulfill our call to connect people, create possibilities, and communicate Jesus.
In this post, we gratefully list those who have given to our appeal.
Read MoreThrough the generosity of individuals and congregations, together, as Grand Canyon Synod, we raised more than $500,000 within the first year of our three-year appeal.
In gratitude for, and in light of this success, the Growing Generosity Task Force has challenged us to seek additional $250,000 by the end of 2023. The plans for these additional funds will benefit Lutheran Campus Ministries, new & emerging ministries, and our advocacy efforts.
If you have already made a gift or pledge, thank you. If you are able to make a second gift, or if you still considering a gift, please check out our website or contact any member of the Task Force.
Read MoreThrough the incredible generosity of our synod, we have reached our initial goal of $500,000 for our Growing Generosity Appeal, nearly two years ahead of 12/31/2023 schedule!
As of this post, we have $533,289 in pledges and gifts, with over 90% of gifts received. Our initial goal funded three initiatives:
Growing Financial Viability: $150,000 for a Lilly 3E dollar-for-dollar grant, providing a total of $300,000 for our synod.
Growing Future Ministries: $250,000 raised for Lutheran Campus Ministry ($100,000) and new & emerging ministries ($150,000).
Growing Fervent Voices: $100,000 raised for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA, $70,000) and Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN, $30,000).
The Lutheran Church of Senegal elected Rev. Latyr Diouf as the new President. Église Luthérienne du Senegal is the accompanying church to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Gambia. Blessings to the outgoing leader, Rev. Adama Faye, for his leadership.
Read MoreWe share advocacy updates from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. as well as the UN and state edition, including U.N., Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In this post we feature and highlight the update from Solveig Muus, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA).
Read MoreIn their most recent newsletter, Navajo Lutheran Mission 2022 Mission Board Chair Patty Charley shares remembrances of the Mission’s founding in 1953.
“God’s love has blessed the Diné with so much. My name is Patty. My community is Rock Point, Arizona, near the Four Corners in the Navajo Nation. This is who I am as a Navajo woman to the world.”
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. David Pavesic and the people of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson, part of the Santa Cruz Conference. Visit their site at beautifulsavior.net and their Facebook page.
Read MoreRev. Lisa Kipp, Senior Manager of Congregational Engagement with Lutheran World Relief (LWR), visited the Office of the Bishop this week and updated us on the rapidly changing situation and response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Read more in this post about LWR’s pan-Lutheran work, Lent resources, mission quilts, the doubling of congregational gifts to the Ukraine crisis, and their hunger challenge as the war disrupts food distribution worldwide.
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod Women of the ELCA is participating in a quilt and kit ingathering for Lutheran World Relief on Saturday, 4/30/2022, 9am –2pm MST, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 4001 W. Beardsley Rd, Glendale AZ 85308.
Visit grandcanyonwomen.org/events and lwr.org/quilts/resources for more information. Or, contact our AZ LWR Ingathering Coordinator, Laura Krueger. Plan now for a Quilt & Kit Blessing Sunday to get your items on their way. Thank you!
Read MoreThis week, we celebrate retired pastor Rev. Martin Overson’s 43 years of ordination on March 18.
Read MoreAccording to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, high level counties in our synod are Apache, La Paz and Yuma.
Medium level counties are Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma.
Low level counties are Clark, Mohave, and Washington.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui Pagel will attend Faith Formation In A Secular Age, the Luther Seminary event at Living Water with Dr. Andy Root. As usual, staff travels around the synod to preach and visit.
At our in-office staff retreat on Wednesday, we were visited by Rev. Lisa Kipp, who updated us on the latest relief efforts by Lutheran World Relief.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman and the people of Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at Facebook page.
Read More2021 was a very meaningful year for Rock Point area households. In total, the Navajo Lutheran Mission received and distributed over a quarter-million pounds of food to almost 2,000 Navajo homes.
Read MoreRev. Patsy Koeneke, interim pastor with Grace Lutheran in Kingman, celebrates 15 years on March 11.
Rev. Bruce Ayers, retired, celebrates 60 years on March 11.
Rev. Steven Crittenden, with Epiphany of Christ Lutheran in Apache Junction, celebrates 13 years on March 12.
Rev. Beth Gallen, with New Journey Lutheran in Fountain Hills, celebrates her first year on March 13.
Rev. Peter Lai, retired, celebrate 37 years on March 16.
The #NoPlasticsforLent initiative, led by young adults across the church, calls us to prayer for creation, to lament the ways we have been complicit in the degradation of the earth, and to take action to care for our neighbor in fasting from the things that are hurting our planet. For more info, view the ELCA Young Adults Facebook page or the No Plastics for Lent website.
One of the discussion group leaders is Tiana Diaz-Reyes, a student in our synod’s Lutheran campus ministry. She is working toward her PhD in Sustainability at ASU.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer visits Cruzando Fronteras, Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta preaches at Epiphany of Christ Lutheran in Apache Junction, and Rev. Jacqui Pagel preaches at Community Lutheran in Bullhead City. Read all the updates from the staff in this weekly post.
Read MoreLutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson is seeking a professional Administrative Assistant for part-time employment. The Administrative Assistant will work closely with our pastor, as well as with other staff and members of the Church Council. View job description and how to apply in this PDF.
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