According to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, Gila and Navajo are high level counties.
Medium level counties include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pinal, Yavapai, and Yuma.
All other synod counties are low level: Clark, Graham, Nye, Pima, Santa Cruz, Washington.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Stephen Talmage, Rev. Nanette Christofferson and the people of Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, part of the Rio Salado Conference. Visit their site at loveofchristchurch.net, and their social media pages on Facebook, and YouTube.
Read MoreFood insecurity now affects almost one in six Arizonans. We invite you to stay up to date with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona by visiting their site at lamaz.org and subscribing to their weekly newsletter.
Featured on the LAMA site is a priority page on food insecurity and an entire blog category devoted to hunger. Of particular note is the recent Arizona Hunger Policy Retreat, where more than 50 hunger advocates from across the state met at Spirit in the Desert to discuss how we might collaboratively work to alleviate hunger in Arizona.
Read MoreIn this update from the Navajo Lutheran Mission, we hear from Executive Director Patterson Yazzie, Curriculum and Special Services Coordinator Molly Gary, and Development Director Deacon Kate Adelman.
The Hozho Café has served over 66,000 meals since the beginning of Covid-19, and their food bank in partnership with St. Mary’s distributed over 300,000 pounds of food to almost 2,000 families.
Read MorePastor Craig Larson will be installed at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley on Sunday, 12/4/2022 at 3pm. Bishop Hutterer will be preaching. Reception to follow.
Rostered ministers are invited to process, color of the day will be blue.
Read MoreWe share the latest ELCA Advocacy new, featuring updates from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona: LAMA summit, 2023 policy priorities, and civic engagement.
Read MoreIn this post, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) explores hunger in Nevada, including an interview in a CBS special on food insecurity. We also explore Nevada hunger info from Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN).
Maybe you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity? We at LSSN can help low income folks sign up for SNAP benefits. Click here to sign up.
Read MoreTaking Faith Home (TFH) is an annual resource that provides a weekly guide for faith-filled conversations during the church year. Here are some of its key features:
Based on the Revised Common Lectionary used by many congregations
Gives examples of each of the Four Key faith practices (caring conversations, devotions, service, and rituals and traditions)
Includes a weekly prayer, Bible verse, mealtime prayer, and blessing
Offers suggested daily Bible readings and Hymn for the week
We conclude our series of weekly reflections on the 2022 Churchwide Assembly with thoughts from Synod Council Member Roger Bailey with the Colorado River Conference.
“I found this year’s CWA an eye-opening experience as I saw firsthand the diversity of the ELCA.”
Read MoreRetired pastor Lowell Nelson embarks on a three-month experiment, volunteering as a “Grand Canyon Synod Emissary and Encourager.”
Through the end of January, he’ll check in on council presidents and pastors, sharing stories of the Grand Canyon Synod and our common work. These first three months he will be focusing on the Northeast Valley and Capital Conferences, thanking them for being Church Together and providing mutual encouragement.
Read MoreSeven pastors from across the Grand Canyon Synod gathered with Bishop Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui Pagel at Camp Pinerock in Prescott, as part of their additional education required after seminary. The group took a deep dive into scripture, explored the topic of money and finances, with time for collegiality and leadership building.
In April, 2023, there will be a gathering at Spirit in the Desert and discuss the relevance of applying Family System Theory to our ministry sites.
Read MoreMembers of all Grand Canyon Synod congregations and ministries, including active and retired leaders, are welcome to our spring gatherings. Mark your calendars and connect with the people of the Grand Canyon Synod.
Kino Conference Spring Gathering: Jan 28, 2023, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Tucson.
Colorado River Conference Spring Gathering: Feb 4, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in Las Vegas.
Spring Gathering for Cactus, Capital, Fiesta, Northeast Valley & Rio Salado Conferences 1: Feb 19, 2023, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Phoenix.
Spring Gathering for Cactus, Capital, Fiesta, Northeast Valley & Rio Salado Conferences 2: Feb 26, 2023, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mesa.
High Country Conference Spring Gathering: Mar 25, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in Sedona.
The Office of the Bishop travels and preaches, including a visit to Guadalajara by Bishop Hutterer to visit the Mexican Lutheran Church.
Read MoreWe celebrate Rev. Dr. Mari Larson, with St. Andrew Lutheran in Las Vegas, who celebrates 26 years on November 23.
Read MoreCases and hospitalizations continue to rise nationwide, driven in part by a growing outbreak in the Southwest.
The nation's most rapid growth in hospitalizations with the virus is clustered in our synod, with Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico all seeing hospitalization counts increase by more than 30 percent in the past two weeks. Cases in those states are on a similar upward climb, particularly in New Mexico.
Read MoreThe latest Crucible Newsletter is available from the Fuller Church Leader Institute, featuring their Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast, as well as info on their upcoming Online Adaptive Capacity Cohort. Click here to apply for the fully online cohort starting in January 2023.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Brent Maxwell and the people of Gloria Christi Federated Church in Phoenix, an emerging Federated Community of Faith created by and made up of the former members of Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and part of the Northeast Valley Conference. Visit their new site at gloriachristiaz.org, and their Facebook page.
Read MoreDesert Cross Lutheran Church and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Gilbert are seeking a Worship Leader & Choir/Bell Choir Director.
We are seeking a qualified person to fill both roles. However, If a single qualified candidate is not available, we will consider offering two separate positions.
Read MoreThe Spirited Book Club's December selection is Joan Chittister's The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully. Sheri Brown facilitates the discussion on Thursday, 12/8/2022, 2pm MST, 1pm PST. Register to receive Zoom link.
Not only accepting but celebrating getting old, this inspirational and illuminating work by Sr. Joan Chittister looks at the many facets of the aging process, from purposes and challenges to struggles and surprises.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop will be closed on Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week, 11/24 and 11/25/2022.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, lift up prayers of gratitude for the blessings and abundant resources we enjoy, and remember the people in our communities and world who suffer food insecurity, hunger and poverty. Ask the Spirit to increase our generosity and engagement with our neighbors in need and to help our communities become more just, generous, compassionate and committed to addressing difficult social issues.
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