What is this week all for? Many of us look at the weekly schedule and see… so many things, and a few worship services on top of them. It can sometimes seem like it’s a bit overkill to do these services.
Yet this is the week. THE week which celebrates God’s unrelenting love, Christ’s solemn unity with humanity and unspeakable suffering, and the Holy Spirit’s persistent gentleness, breathing life again.
Read MoreAs we prepare to enter into Palm/Passion Sunday, I invite you to reflect on the ways that this day encompasses a wide spectrum of human experience: from praise to denial, joy to fear, and palm waving to stone throwing.
Read MoreJesus did not have to suffer. He did not have to endure the mocking, the betrayal, the shame, and injustice of it all. He, though he was God, emptied himself and became obedient to the point of death. And the beauty of this reality about the God whom we worship is that this is the truth of love.
Read MoreStart reading your copy of US: The Resurrection of American Terror, and be ready to join Simon’s Project for discussions with Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler about his new book. Reading the book is encouraged, but not necessary.
Our first discussion is Tuesday, 4/4/2023, 10am MST/PDT, 11am MDT. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
Read MoreOn March 26, 2023, Mount Olive Lutheran Church held a commemorative mortgage burning ceremony at all three of its worship services to celebrate the milestone accomplishment of paying off their building loan.
They share their history and how this came to be in this post.
Read MoreLinda Staats’ story, centered on children, bears striking similarities to the biblical story of Sarah, who was 90 years old when God surprised her with a child.
Linda, who currently serves on the Grand Canyon Synod stewardship team, is featured in this Living Lutheran story of an ELCA family who helps settle a Kenyan family through the green card lottery.
Read MoreFor some of us, the phrase “sermon prep” can create a sense of panic. It seems like there’s never enough time to give planning, writing, and revising your undivided attention. Besides, your work is among the people, and that’s hard to do if you’re holed up in your office.
Sermon Camp offers preachers the chance to refresh and be empowered for a better way forward.
Read MoreThank you, to those of you who have already registered! For those who haven’t, you can still register and receive the early-bird rate of $245 through April 21, 2023. You will need to book hotel and travel separately. Highlights of the gathering, and more information are available at elca.org/rmg.
If you like to welcome people, help with registration, or have the gift of hospitality, please connect with Pastor Doug Dill: pastordoug@centrallutheranaz.org or 402-235-6969. Click here to register as a volunteer at elca.org.
Read MoreI find this Jesus, the suffering servant, to be welcoming and comforting – one who stretches his arms wide on the cross, willingly bearing suffering and evil knowing that the resurrection dawn will certainly come.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop participates in the Installation of Rev. Dan Potaznick, (Apr 1, 2023, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, St. John’s, Glendale) in multiple ways, and continues to prepare for assembly and other meetings. We also share photos from the High Country Conference Spring Gathering, as well as the Installation of Rev. Scott Klimke.
Read MoreOther than Apache, which is at a medium level, all of our synod’s counties are at at low levels.
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.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:
Deacon Glenda Blegen, who celebrates 17 years on April 2.
Rev. Adele Resmer, who celebrates 36 years on April 5.
This year the suffering servant text struck me differently – struck me almost in the way Rocky Balboa gets struck over and over in the famous movie franchise Rocky.
Read MoreIn anticipation of Palm Sunday, and in the aftermath of yet another shooting, today’s devotion is a poem written b Pr. Katy Stenta. Hosanna, a dangerous prayer indeed.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Kevin Meyer and the people of Covenant Lutheran Church in Quartzsite, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their Facebook page.
Read MoreWe welcome Rev. Dr. Anthony Bateza as our special guest at the 2023 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly. Dr. Bateza is a specialist in Martin Luther, moral theology and Christian ethics.
At St. Olaf College, he is the: Associate Professor of Religion; Department Chair of Race, Ethnic, Gender and Sexuality Studies; and Director of Race and Ethnic Studies. Learn more in this post or on our 2023 assembly special guests page.
Read MoreWe are pleased to welcome Rev. Sara Cutter as our ELCA churchwide representative at the 2023 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly. She serves as the Senior Director for Operational Effectiveness in the Christian Community and Leadership Home Area of the ELCA’s churchwide organization. Learn more in this post or on our 2023 assembly special guests page.
Read MoreAll members of the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in a Q-&-A Zoom presentation of the 2024-2025 Mission Plan, hosted by Erik Rehms, our Synod Treasurer, and Barbara Carl, our Synod Vice-President. Each session is the same, with two dates to choose from. View the proposed plan here.
Tuesday, 5/16/2023, 5pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Click here to register.
Saturday, 5/20/2023, 9am MST/PDT, 10am MDT. Click here to register.
Someone said to me just the other day, “The church mayyyyy be broken.”
I can’t say I totally disagree, as there is so much about our church that simply doesn’t work anymore, or that sorta, kinda works, but desperately needs transformation.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. John Maroni and the people of Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church in Sun City, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at shepherdofthedesertelca.org, and their Facebook page.
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