Final year of Stewardship for All Seasons features significant scholarships

A new cohort of Stewardship for All Seasons begins May 21, 2022. This year’s program is subsidized significantly by the last year of our Lilly 3E grant and other donors. For more info, view our web page or PDF.

We highly recommend that congregations that participated in Beginning a Culture of Generosity consider signing up for this last cohort of SAS. Scholarships are also be available for second year SAS congregations. If you have questions or want to sign up, please contact Pr. Miguel Gomez-Acosta.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardApril 6, 2022Stewardship, Stewardship for All Seasons, Lilly 3EComment

Bishop Hutterer: Holy Ground

As I approach the end of my Lenten journey, I see the Grand Canyon Synod has many places of holy ground. I have experienced holy ground when in conversation with candidates hoping to enter seminary and with candidates near graduation, waiting to interview with a congregation.

I am on holy ground when I visit our various congregations to preach, preside, meet church leaders, and participate in conversations in special congregation meetings.

Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardApril 6, 20222022 Lent, Bishop Hutterer LettersComment

Prayers for Pastor Thaddeus Book

We pray for Pastor Thaddeus Book (Desert Cross, Tempe) who was recently admitted to the hospital needing antiobiotics to treat an elbow infection.

“O Lord, your compassions never fail and your mercies are new every morning. We give you thanks for giving Pastor Thadd both relief from pain and hope of health renewed. Continue in him the good work you have begun; that he, daily increasing in bodily strength and rejoicing in your goodness, may so order his life and conduct that he may always think and do those things that please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardApril 6, 2022Fiesta Conference, Desert Cross TempeComment

Celebrate the 2022 Diakonia graduates

All members of the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in the Diakonia Graduation, Thursday, 6/2/2022, 5pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Register for the Diakonia graduation here. Congratulations to:

James Cleven, Sierra Evangelical Lutheran, Sierra Vista
Norman Engstrom, Mt. Zion Lutheran, Tucson
Cynthia Guenthner, Saint Andrew Lutheran, Phoenix
Deborah Martin, Mt. Zion Lutheran, Tucson
Richard Yeager, Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Tucson

Read their testimonies in this post.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardApril 6, 2022Diakonia, 2022 Synod AssemblyComment

Prayers for Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix

We pray for Rev. Sarah Stadler and the people of Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at graceinthecity.com, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.

Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardApril 5, 2022Grace Phoenix, Capital ConferenceComment

POSITION FILLED: Be a summer camp counselor at Camp ALOMA

Camp ALOMA, Prescott, is looking for male and female counselors for summer camp, 18 to 25 years old. Come have some fun this summer! Please contact us to learn more about dates and pay: office@campaloma.com, 928-778-1690.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardApril 5, 2022Camp ALOMA, Youth and Young Adult, Help WantedComment

COVID-19 community levels: March 31, 2022

According to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, we have one medium level county: Apache.

Low level counties are Clark, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 31, 2022CoronavirusComment

Grand Canyon Synod Holy Land Trip reservations almost full

There are a handful of spots remaining for the Grand Canyon Synod Holy Land Trip, led by Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer and Rev. Mark Holman.: January 2-11, 2023. View information on the trip here and view a PDF here.

The trip also includes an optional 3-days post-tour excursion to Jordan, January 11-14, 2023. A waiting list will be available for those who try to reserve after the trip’s limit is reached.

News, Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 31, 2022Bishop Deborah K. HuttererComment

Active Shooter & Intruder Preparedness presentation from Phoenix Police Department

The Office of the Bishop has organized an online presentation from the Phoenix Police Department on active shooter or intruder preparedness. Tuesday, 5/10/2022, 5pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Click here to register.

Detective Bradley Calender with the Phoenix Police Department will present.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 31, 2022Comment

Ordination celebrations: 4/1-4/7/2022

This week, we celebrate two retired rostered ministers. Deacon Glenda Blegan celebrates 16 years of ordination on April 2, and Rev. Adele Resmer celebrates 35 years of ordination on April 5.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 31, 2022Ordination AnniversariesComment

A Tri-Faith Discussion: Attributes of God

The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA) invites you to a free and online tri-faith discussion on the Attributes of God, presented by Imam Omar Tawil, Rev. Dr. Rob Boyd, and Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman. Tuesday, 5/10/2022, 6pm MST/PDT, 7pm MDT. Get more info and register here.

Mecca: A Journey Through Time

The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona shares with us a virtual reality experience of Mecca, coming to the Phoenix Convention Center on May 14 and 15, 2022.

Visit their web page for more info and registration to this immersive virtual reality experience of Mecca, Hijra, Israa & Miraj, and the Mawlid of Prophet Muhammad).

A Cup of Generosity: A new stewardship campaign

“We are stewards of something greater than our monetary wealth. Paul tells us we are stewards of God’s mysteries. We have a new stewardship campaign at our church. We are pledging to invite people into these mysteries.” Read in this post or view as PDF.

Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 31, 2022Stewardship, A Cup of Generosity, GCS Stewardship TeamComment

Office of the Bishop Updates: 4/1/2022

In this updates we share photos from last week’s “Synod on the Move,” where a number of the Office of the Bishop staff traveled to southern Arizona for a variety of events. We also share what the team is up to in the upcoming days.

Prayers for Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Goodyear

We pray for Rev. Jeffery Gallen and the people of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Goodyear, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at christevangelical.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Youtube.

Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 29, 2022Christ Evangelical Goodyear, Cactus ConferenceComment

New mural in the sanctuary of San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson

San Juan Bautista Lutheran in Tucson shares news of their new sanctuary mural, created over a weekend in a collaborative project with Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Tucson and Casa De La Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones. Read in this PDF or view more in this post.

Domestic Hunger Grants awarded to two synod ministries in 2022

ELCA World Hunger announced recently that two ministries in the Grand Canyon Synod received Domestic Hunger Grants in 2022: Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix and Grace Lutheran Church, also in Phoenix. Read more in this post, and learn about the 2023 Grants here.

Allie Papke-Larson: Pouring myself out

Lent is a practice of pouring myself out. An act of emptying out all I have collected in my heart.

Well, at least this is what I am praying for: that I might pour myself out before God and the World, and then be filled up through the promise of Easter.

Six ways your church can prepare for the “great giving reshuffle”

Carey Nieuwhof’s blog shares a guest post on how economic disruptions may affect ministries, with six steps to get ready for the “great giving reshuffle.” Read the full post here.

Make sure your board of directors is prepared and aligned.
Model privately and publicly your personal resolve to Biblical stewardship.
Care for the souls of your people more now than ever.
Rather than presume pre-existing giving patterns, artfully craft an environment that invites people into a community story.
“Major giver” discipleship and development are paramount.
Retool how you engage new givers into your community.

Grand Canyon Synod, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardMarch 29, 2022Carey Nieuwhof, StewardshipComment

Open Space's Last Paint Night is April 21, 2022

Pastor Lars Hammar, Mission Developer and Pastor of Open Space Church, writes: “After 8 years Open Space is closing down. Join us for one last paint night, where we can catch up and say good bye and make some cool stuff. Thank you for all your support over the years.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 29, 2022Open Space, Kino ConferenceComment

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