Diakonia’s new 2025-2026 Foundation Year courses begin on August 25, 2025. This program, a long-standing ELCA ministry, offers flexible learning tracks to deepen your faith. Enroll now at www.diakonia.education and explore both online and hybrid communities in the Grand Canyon Synod.
Read MoreFor the upcoming Assembly week, the Grand Canyon Synod homepage will transform into a comprehensive digital hub. Just visit gcsynod.org and you’re there! This enhanced homepage will feature quick access links and real-time updates to keep you informed throughout the event. Accessible on any device, our goal is to make your Assembly experience as seamless and engaging as possible. Stay connected with us and check back regularly for the latest news!
Read MoreIn this episode of the Pivot podcast, Terri Elton, Dwight Zscheile, and Alicia Granholm tackle some key church leadership challenges facing pastors and ministry leaders today.
Read MorePastor Brian Weinberger was seriously injured in a car accident on Tuesday and is currently hospitalized, undergoing multiple surgeries. Please keep Pastor Brian, his wife Bekkah, their children, and the people of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mesa in your prayers. We invite you to read a prayer and join the synod in lifting them up in love and support.
Read MoreExplore key moments from the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including Bishop Hutterer’s welcome, the election of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, and reports from ELCA leadership. Watch highlights, theme videos, and special award presentations, all from this year’s historic gathering in Phoenix.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop attends the Installation of Deacon Emma Janzen at Resurrection Lutheran in Oro Valley, prepares for the Bishop’s Fall Gathering, and rests and wraps up after the Churchwide Assembly. We also share photos from the Ordination of Kevin Anderson at Love of Christ in Mesa.
Read MoreApproximately 250 people gathered for the AMMPARO Candlelight Prayer Vigil on July 30 at Peace Park in Phoenix, across from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Lutheran and interfaith leaders—including Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Bishop Deborah Hutterer—joined voices in prayer and witness for the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees, and asylees. The vigil was a moving call to live out our faith through accompaniment and solidarity. Click here to view the full pictorial and read more.
Read MorePeter Faur, a lifelong Lutheran and member of La Casa de Cristo in Phoenix, has joined the LAMA Policy Council for a three-year term. With a background in journalism, public relations, and advocacy, Peter brings deep experience and a passion for justice to this important role. Please join us in praying for and supporting his work with LAMA. Click here to read the full announcement.
Read MoreDiscover newly released worship resources from Augsburg Fortress, including hymn accompaniments, prayers, and reflections on Lutheran liturgical life. Highlights include Joining in Glad Adoration, Vol. 2, Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks, and a refreshed edition of Baptized, We Live by Daniel Erlander. Plus, help celebrate the five-year anniversary of All Creation Sings by sharing a photo and testimonial by August 15 for a chance to win a $150 gift card. Click here to explore the full August resource roundup on the ELCA Worship blog.
Read MoreCamp ALOMA’s 2025 summer season brought joy, spiritual growth, and unforgettable moments to children across our synod. From first canoe rides and faith-filled Bible studies to hilarious cabin moments and deepening friendships, campers returned home transformed. Read stories from Anna-Belle, Mae, Lucas, Maddie, and Reagan as they reflect on a season of God’s presence, laughter, and learning in the woods.
Read MoreSeventeen-year-old Kenny from Love of Christ in Mesa served as both a voting member and Election Committee member at the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. Invited by Bishop Hutterer, Kenny brought energy, thoughtfulness, and leadership to a week of worship, decision-making, and hope for the future of the ELCA.
Read MoreIn BJC’s August Faith Freedom Dispatch, meet the 2025 BJC Fellows, learn how North Texans are organizing against Christian nationalism, and read why the Johnson Amendment still matters for churches. Plus, celebrate a $50,000 grant awarded to the BJC Center for Faith, Justice, and Reconciliation. Read the full BJC newsletter here.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to live more simply as a person of faith? In a world shaped by overconsumption and climate anxiety, One Home One Future invites us to embrace simplicity as a spiritual, ecological, and justice-oriented practice. Rooted in Scripture and supported by science, this reflection from Rev. Carol Devine explores how simple living—spending time outdoors, consuming less, and making sustainable choices—connects us to God, to our neighbors, and to all of creation. Click here to read the full reflection on Blessed Tomorrow’s blog.
Read MoreThis week’s Arizona Faith Network newsletter includes updates on the new Safe Communities Coalition, upcoming interfaith events, and ways to serve amid extreme heat. RSVP for AFN commissions, book groups, and meditation sessions. Find opportunities for service and justice—including heat relief canvassing, interfaith internships, and a contemplative retreat. Read the full newsletter and subscribe at arizonafaithnetwork.org/newsletter.
Read MoreRegistration is now open for the Women of the ELCA 2026 Triennial Gathering, held July 16–19 in Des Moines, Iowa. With the theme “I Am Worthy,” this powerful event brings Lutheran women together for worship, learning, and connection. Reserve your spot today!
Read MoreLutheran Summer Music (LSM) will return to St. Olaf College in 2026, the site of its inaugural season in 1982. The move marks a homecoming and a fresh chapter for LSM as it partners with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) for a vibrant summer of sacred music and intergenerational learning. This follows a successful eight-year residency at Valparaiso University.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Sharon Brown, who celebrates 12 years on August 2.
Rev. Thomas McFarland, who celebrates 39 years on August 3.
Rev. Janet Richardson, who celebrates 36 years on August 6.
Rev. Richard Peterson, who celebrates 32 years on August 8.
Rev. John Hoelter, who celebrates 58 years on August 9.
Rev. Wyatt Linde, Resurrection, Oro Valley, who celebrates 2 years on August 9.
Rev. Joseph Dillon, who celebrates 49 years on August 10.
Rev. Paul Campbell, who celebrates 46 years on August 12.
Spirit in the Desert shares campus updates, fall retreat previews, and spiritual resources in their August 2025 newsletter. From facility improvements and heartfelt summer reflections to new retreats and ongoing prayer offerings, Spirit invites you to rest, reflect, and reconnect. Read the full newsletter here: Spirit August 2025 Newsletter.
Read MoreJoin us Sept. 29–Oct. 1 at the Franciscan Renewal Center for the 2025 Bishop’s Fall Gathering: Life Together—Lament, Love, and Christian Hope in a Time Such as This. Rostered ministers and SAMs will reflect on Bonhoeffer’s Life Together alongside biblical texts with Wartburg Seminary guests Rev. Dr. Kristin Johnston Largen and Rev. Dr. S. Helen Chukka. Meals and lodging included; commuter options available. Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 5.
Read MoreFeeling like your church doesn’t have enough? Join a free webinar on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. Central (4 p.m. AZ)to discover the hidden resources your congregation already holds. Learn from the Kaleidoscope Institute how currencies of relationship, truth, and more can help us move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance. No registration required—just click to join.
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