We pray for The Rev. Kerry Neuhardt and the people of Church of Our Saviour in Lakeside, part of the High Country Conference. Visit their site at churchofoursaviourwm.org, and their Facebook. page.
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The Extravaganza, an annual gathering of children, youth and family ministry leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, took place Feb. 3-6 in Anaheim, Calif. The event was hosted by the ELCA's Youth Ministry Network.
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Over the weekend, the ELCA Youth Gathering team announced that "the registration fees for the first 1,000 registrants for the ELCA MYLE and the first 200 registrants for the tAble will be waived by the Gathering for the 2024 cycle." These events are in New Orleans, 7/13-7/16/2024.
The Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) is a gathering for youth of color that happens just before the ELCA Gathering, and The tAble is a gathering for young people who live with a range of physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Be on the lookout for more details coming soon!
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The annual Report to the Bishop is an opportunity for you to connect directly with Bishop Hutterer. She 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 28, 2023. Access the report in this post or on our rostered minister report page.
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We pray for Pastor Chris Stoxen, Pastor Louis Ochoa, and the people of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mesa, part of the Rio Salado Conference. Visit their site at firstevlutheran.com, and their Facebook page.
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You are invited to join us for an Interfaith Prayer Gathering of inspirational stories of hope. Experience “Finding Hope in New Beginnings,” a virtual zoom community bringing people of different faiths and perspectives together to share stories of hope and inspiration.
Wednesday, 2/15/2023, noon MST, 11am PST, featuring Susan Masood with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.. Click here to register and get the Zoom link. Hosted by Northeast Valley Consortium & Fountain Hills, AZ, Interfaith Alliance. More info in this post, as PDF, or email HopeInOurWorldNow@gmail.com.
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Please share your congregation’s plan for 2023 Mission Support by February 15, 2023 so the Synod Council can plan for the coming year. Thank you!
In this post, we share a letter (English, Spanish) from Bishop Hutterer and Synod Vice President Barbara Carl, thanking you and our synod’s congregations for continued mission support, half of which is passed to ELCA churchwide for ministry in the larger church.
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All active Grand Canyon Synod rostered ministers are required to participate in professional boundary training every three years. Retired rostered ministers are not required. The Office of the Bishop has partnered with CongregationU to provide Boundary Awareness Training for $29.00.
Click here to take this course by 2/15/2023, and email your certificate of completion to office@gcsynod.org by 2/28/2023. Learn more in a letter from Bishop Hutterer in this post.
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The Arizona Faith Network’s February, 2023 newsletter is available online, featuring Black History Month and AFN's Stone of Hope web page; meeting schedules; a Simplicity and Interfaith Gathering; Environmental Day at the Capitol; Black History Month Film Festival; Faith Rooted Advocacy Leadership Series; Human Trafficking Awareness Webinar; the Connection to Nature Interfaith Family Event; and much more.
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Our synod’s ELCA Foundation planners—Lisa Higginbotham and Josh Kerney—share a monthly bible verse and charitable giving tip. This month’s verse is Galatians 6:6-10, and we explore planned giving.
Also known as Legacy Planning, Estate Planning, and Gift Planning, Planned Giving is a proactive action of love and consideration to include our beloved charities and congregations in our end-of-life plans.
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Luther Seminary's Faith+Lead Bookhub for February, 2023 is 2/16/2023, entitled Work that Means Something: Experiencing God’s invitation in the ordinary. Learn more and sign up here, and check out the three featured books:
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Lutherans Restoring Creation shares their February 2023 Good Green News, featuring: The Ants & the Grasshopper Screening; Earth Day Virtual Service 4/23/2023; and upcoming connections calls Lead-Free Superhero, and Pollinator Projects.
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At its November 2022 meeting, the ELCA Church Council authorized the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) to consist of no more than 35 voting members and directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the Commission.
Each synod is being asked to submit two nominees. Read more in this post about this process and how to nominate yourself or others.
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What a day! For photos and a full recap, please visit lamaz.org. Highlights below.
Nearly 100 advocates from 23 of Arizona’s 30 districts gathered at the State Capitol for a day of advocacy on January 30, 2023
Sen. Raquel Terán (D), Senate Minority Leader from LD26 and Rep. Tim Dunn (R) from LD25 (Yuma) were featured speakers, along with Ashley St. Thomas, Arizona Food Bank Network; Jessie Gruner, Pinnacle Prevention; and Connie Phillips, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.
Participants met with their legislators in support of anti-hunger bills HB2211 and HB2142
Bishop Hutterer led the invocation in the Senate, advocates were introduced in the House gallery by Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (D), LD13 and in the Senate by Sen. Raquel Terán (D), LD26.
Advocates attended the Health & Human Services Committee to hear testimony in support of HB2211, which received a 9-0 due pass recommendation.
The Office of the Bishop travels to Las Vegas as part of Synod on the Move, preaching at various churches and attending the Colorado River Conference Spring Gathering, Feb 4, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. We also share photos from last week’s Synod on the Move in the Tucson area and Lutheran Day at the Legislature.
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This week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:
Rev. Katie Langston, New Promise, St. George, who celebrates 1 year on February 4.
Rev. Shari Bernau, Living Water, Scottsdale, who celebrates 18 years on February 5.
Rev. Pam A. Reynolds, Lord of Life, Sun City West, who celebrates 2 years on February 6.
Rev. Mark Wickstrom, Living Hope, Las Vegas, who celebrates 37 years on February 9.
The West is faring particularly well, with states like Montana and Utah seeing some of their lowest-ever case and hospitalization rates.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
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Watch a video from the Rocky Mountain Synod on Ascension Lutheran’s response to the Marshall Fire.
On Dec. 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire, a destructive wildfire and urban conflagration whipped by sustained winds, swept across Boulder County, Colorado. The fire completely destroyed the homes of several families who are members of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Louisville, including pastor Stephanie Lord’s.
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It's been a rough few years and it may be time for you to reset. This tour will include a visit to India's Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) which includes visiting the famous Taj Mahal. We will also spend five days in a retreat in the holy city of Varanasi.
Contact Pastor Jose at chaplainjosevalenzuela@gmail.com to learn more and be a part of this small, 10-person tour.
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Camp ALOMA needs summer staff 18-25 years old and high school volunteers! Learn lifelong skills by spending the summer in the crisp pines of Prescott AZ! If you have a heart for ministry, the outdoors, and children, then we are eager to meet you! See campaloma.com or apply at www.nloma.org.
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