The Office of the Bishop will be closed Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We give thanks for Dr. King’s witness and pray for courage to continue the work of justice and reconciliation.
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The Office of the Bishop settles into the new year with regular news postings, office management, visiting congregations, and financial oversight.
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Join Spirit in the Desert’s Spirited Book Club on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 3:00–4:00 pm AZ (2:00 pm PST) for a conversation with author Peter Faur about his new novel, The Heretic Hunters: A Parable for Our Time. The book traces a denomination in crisis as authoritarianism, doctrinal purity campaigns, and personal courage collide—raising timely questions about faith, integrity, and the endurance of love.
The discussion will be facilitated by Sheri Brown, and registration is open. Learn more about the book, read early reviews, and sign up to join the conversation here: Read more & register →
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Many congregations are facing rising costs, leadership shortages, and increasing pressures—but the gospel continues to call us forward together. Join the Grand Canyon Synod for “Possibilities in Partnership,” a synod-wide Zoom conversation on January 15, 2026, at 6:00 pm MST, 5:00 PM PST, exploring new ways congregations can collaborate and share ministry.
Led by Rev. David Pavesic, this gathering invites rostered ministers and lay leaders into reflection, conversation, and discernment around what it means to be church together in this season. Advance registration is required.
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Join Luther Seminary and Faith+Lead for the 2026 Rutlen Lecture on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, featuring Old Testament scholar Dr. William P. Brown. This year’s theme, Be-Wilded by Wonder: Just Creation in the Book of Job, explores how reading Job “from the end” reshapes our understanding of God, justice, and creation—especially in a time of climate crisis. Attend online or in person (with dinner included) and engage with a powerful exploration of Scripture, awe, and creation care. Register at faithlead.org/live-learning/rutlen26.
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January is Financial Wellness Month. Explore Fidelity’s practical financial tips and schedule a free appointment with a credentialed Portico Financial Planner who understands ELCA benefits. Appointments are available online or by phone at no cost to you.
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Starting January 1, 2026, ELCA-Primary members will have access to expanded EAP services through Spring Health. Therapy and coaching are available for members and dependents, with flexible options including in-person, phone, video, and text-based care. Learn more through myPortico or the 98point6 app.
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ELCA-Primary Health members should have received a new 2026 Portico health ID card, now including a Group ID number. If you received two sets, use the second and destroy the first. Questions? Quantum Health Care Coordinators are available by phone or online, and the Quantum Health app allows digital access to your card.
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As Arizona’s 2026 legislative session approaches, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona is equipping congregations and leaders with tools, training, and opportunities for faithful public witness. From RTS training and hunger advocacy calls to Lutheran Day at the Legislature on February 23, this month’s LAMA newsletter outlines how Arizona Lutherans can engage policy with faith, clarity, and purpose. Read the full LAMA Newsletter and upcoming advocacy opportunities.
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This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stephen Springer, Dove of Peace, Tucson, who celebrates 29 years on January 12.
Rev. Annemarie Burke, Noble Hospice, Mesa, who celebrates 20 years on January 15.
Rev. Lourdes Olson, New Song, Henderson, who celebrates 4 years on January 15.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and congregations are invited to join a focused season of prayer, worship, and advocacy to help #EndHumanTrafficking. Women of the ELCA offers daily prayers, trauma-informed worship resources, and a church leader toolkit—available in English and Spanish—to support this work, especially during the four weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.
These resources equip congregations to respond faithfully through education, prayer, and action. Learn more, download materials, and find support resources at womenoftheelca.org, or contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.
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Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is offering a new Racial Justice and Faith Certificate Program in 2026, featuring 6-week, online, asynchronous courses open to clergy and lay leaders alike. The first course, Womanism and Social Justice, begins February 9, with enrollment requested by January 25.
Courses cost $250, with discounts for PLTS alumni and congregational groups, and four completed courses lead to a certificate. Designed to connect faith with action, this program supports participants in confronting racial injustice and dismantling white supremacy through liberative theological reflection and practice.
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Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson is seeking a skilled Music Accompanist to play piano or keyboard for Sunday worship and seasonal services, and to support choir rehearsals. This 12–15 hour/week position collaborates closely with the Music Director and Pastor and plays a key role in Lutheran worship life. Musicians with strong keyboard skills and a heart for worship are encouraged to inquire.
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Mount of Olives Lutheran Church kicks off the new year with Jazz Vespers on Sunday, January 11. at 5:30 p.m., featuring Beth Lederman with Todd Herzog and a reception to follow. After raising over $10,000 in 2025 and supplying more than 8,000 family units with food, the Music for Food ministry continues to unite worship, music, and service to neighbors in need.
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Christians from across Arizona are invited to gather for the 2026 Statewide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Thursday, January 22, at 6:30 PM at Historic Tanner Chapel AME Church in Phoenix. Hosted by The Rev’d Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas, Sr. and the Tanner Chapel congregation, this ecumenical service is part of a global observance prayed by churches worldwide.
Using worship materials prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church, the service offers a powerful opportunity to pray for Christian unity, deepen relationships across traditions, and witness together to Christ’s reconciling love. All are welcome.
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The Grand Canyon Synod will gather for the 2026 Synod Assembly from June 11–13 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa under the theme Rooted in God’s Story. Congregations are encouraged to begin identifying their voting members now, especially as annual meetings approach. Our churchwide representative will be Rev. Tim Brown, Director for Congregational Stewardship. Additional details and registration information will be shared in early 2026.
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Mark your calendars for the Grand Canyon Synod Spring Gatherings 2026, where we come together under the theme Rooted in God’s Story. Gatherings will be held in Tempe, Sun City, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, and Las Vegas from February through April. These events offer opportunities for connection, reflection, and renewal across our synod.
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Our theme for 2026 is Rooted in God’s Story. This theme will guide our Spring Gatherings, the 2026 Synod Assembly, and the 2026 Bishop’s Fall Gathering, inviting us to tell and live the story of God’s love with clarity and hope.
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As we close 2025, we give thanks for a year shaped by our synod theme, Build Up the Body. Explore the Grand Canyon Synod’s month-by-month Year-in-Review newsletter and celebrate how Christ has been at work among us—while looking ahead to 2026, Rooted in God’s Story.
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Join the synodwide choir for our 2026 MLK Celebration at King of Glory, Tempe. Rehearsals: Jan 3, 10, 15, 17; Service: Sun, Jan 18 at 3:00pm (call 2:00pm). Concert black attire; practice recordings and full service details coming soon. View all the info for our synod’s MLK events at gcsynod.org/mlk.
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