Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) shares their synod assembly report. View on YouTube or in this post.
CEO and President Connie Phillips stirs it up with others at LSS-SW to share the many ways they serve our synod.
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If you know of someone in your synod who is discerning a call to ministry and might like to hear from all the ELCA seminaries in one space, please encourage them to attend a collaborative ELCA Seminaries virtual discernment event on Saturday, May 7th from 8 am - 1 pm MST/PDT, 9am-noon MDT. Register here.
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“I see Jesus saying, ‘Give to everyone who begs from you’ as less of a command and more of an invitation into an attitude of generosity. I see all the requests and pleas and need out there as God offering us options.” Read in this post or view as PDF.
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The Office of the Bishop has organized an online presentation from the Phoenix Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office on security in houses of worship. Tuesday, 5/10/2022, 5-6:30pm MST/PDT, 6-7:30pm MDT. Click here to register.
Violence and criminal acts are a threat to all faith-based communities from persons who seek to spread fear and hate crimes, or the unexpected site of acts of domestic violence. We recognize the importance of education and raising awareness of potential threats to religious facilities, or the groups who may use these buildings regardless of type or denomination.
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Under the direction of Shawn Bristle, the Cantata Choir of Community Lutheran Church in Bullhead City presented the Easter Cantata "Upon This Rock" on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. Watch their presentation on Youtube or this blog post.
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Note: We update this post with a full obituary, a website to share stories and celebrate Rev. Jerry’s life, info on donating in his memory, and the celebration of life service at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio on May 16, 2022. Read more in this special newsletter from Sierra Pacific Synod.
We grieve with Carol Schmalenberger and her family at the death of Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmalenberger, April 25, 2022 in Sedona, Arizona.
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This week, the Office of the Bishop team travels, preaches, meets, and plans as we connect people, communicate Jesus, and create possibilities.
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This week’s ordination anniversaries are:
Rev. Kevin Meyer, who serves Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and Covenant Lutheran in Quartzsite and celebrates 27 years on April 30.
Deacon Sally Almen, who celebrates 35 years on April 30.
Rev. Melissa Harr, who celebrates 11 years on May 1.
Deacon Don Burgess, who celebrates 17 years on May 1.
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) shares their synod assembly report. View on YouTube or in this post.
Martin Malmberg gives an update, being Stirred Up in the Spirit at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, and shares how over 50,000 were given grocery assistance and 167 families get housing.
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We give thanks for the life of Pastor Ron Golberg, who died April 20, 2022. We pray for his wife Jewel, his family, friends, and congregations he served.
Services will be held Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 1pm at Desert Hills Lutheran, 2150 South Camino Del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622. We will provide updates as we receive them.
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We pray for Rev. Ryan Hersch and the people of Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at peaceaz.org.
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Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares her letter to 2022 assemblies. View as PDF in English or Spanish, and also read in this post.
“Theresa of Avila talked about the church as the hands and feet of Christ in the world, the very way God will work to engage new people.”
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We pray for Deacon Katie Adelman and the people of House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Rock Point, part of the High Country Conference. Visit their site at nelm.org/church.
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Our regional gift planners, Lisa Higginbotham, CFRE, and Josh Kerney, shares their ELCA Foundation report. View as PDF, read in this post, and also view this ELCA Foundation video and view a message from Lisa.
“The vision of the ELCA Foundation is to be a thriving ministry that develops a culture of intentional generosity and financial stewardship to expand the work of the ELCA. Our mission is to support and sustain ELCA ministries by enhancing gifting capacity and stewarding resources.”
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Grand Canyon Synod Coaching Ministry shares a letter from Phil Gustafson for their synod assembly report. View as PDF or read in this post.
“The Grand Canyon Synod, along with other Synods of the ELCA, offers an exciting and effective ministry that is often untapped or even unknown — Coaching Ministry. Coaching assists a client to focus on a specific goal and identify resources and steps to journey to that goal from the client’s own life situation and experiences.”
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Cruzando Fronteras shares a letter from Annette Chavez for their synod assembly report. View as PDF or read in this post.
“Cruzando Fronteras is an ecumenical ministry effort which includes the financial and organizational support of the ELCA Lutheran Church, the Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ. In addition the Methodist Church offers legal aid through the Arizona Justice for our Neighbor Ministry. This is very important as it gives those that are seeking asylum a chance to develop their case.”
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Arizona Faith Network shares a video for their synod assembly report.
“Arizona Faith Network is a interfaith organization dedicated to bringing people together to promote peace and understanding through interfaith education and dialogue as well as healing of the world through collaborative social action.”
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We are on for June 26-29, 2022, at the Dumas Bay Center in Federal Way, Washington. Staff, please fill out this form to register. Synod folks, encourage the staff in your part of the world to join us for this important and life-giving event!
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Synod council member Sue Jensen shares how an annual rummage sale at Tanque Verde Lutheran in Tucson transformed during the pandemic into a yearlong ministry that provides goods to local social service agencies.
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