This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stephen J. Hammer, who celebrates 44 years on April 25.
Rev. Debra Slifer, who celebrates 39 years on April 25.
Rev. Diane Drach-Meinel, Christ the Servant, Henderson, who celebrates 39 years on April 26.
Rev. David Drach-Meinel, who celebrates 39 years on April 26.
Rev. Kevin Meyer, LSS-SW, Phoenix, Covenant, Quartzsite, who celebrates 31 years on April 30.
Deacon Sally Almen, who celebrates 39 years on April 30.
Camp ALOMA invites you to an Open House on Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. in Prescott (300 S. Margaret Dr.). Tour the camp, enjoy refreshments and s’mores, and experience activities while exploring options for retreats or summer camp.
RSVP to office@campaloma.com or (928) 778-1690, and learn more at campaloma.com.
Read MoreIn an emergency, clarity saves time—and can save lives. This article highlights the importance of defining simple roles in advance: who calls 911, who meets first responders, and who communicates with the congregation.
Part of the Grand Canyon Synod’s 2026 security series, this reflection offers a practical step congregations can take to respond more calmly and effectively when it matters most.
Read MoreNominations are open for leadership roles to be elected at the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly, including Synod Secretary, council members, and committee positions. Any member in good standing may nominate themselves or others, with all forms due by May 4, 2026.
This is an invitation to prayerfully discern how God may be calling leaders to serve in the life of the synod. Learn more about open positions and submit nominations today. Learn more and submit a nomination.
Read MoreThose wishing to submit a resolution for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly must do so by Monday, April 27, 2026, by sending an editable electronic file to Kathye Hamm (khamm@gcsynod.org). Resolutions must comply with the ELCA and Grand Canyon Synod governing documents, Robert’s Rules of Order, and the assembly’s rules and agenda. More info here.
The Reference and Counsel Committee will review submissions and publish a report—including recommendations—on the synod website by May 22, 2026. While all submitted resolutions will appear in the report, the assembly’s agenda and rules determine whether they are discussed or voted on during the gathering.
Read MoreYoung adults are invited to a special Women of the ELCA webinar on Wednesday, May 6 at 4:30 p.m. (AZ/NV time). Hear from three young leaders—Naomi Mbise, Rebeca Amaro Trevino, and Bliss Tungnung—who have launched ministries supporting women and girls around the world through Seed Grants.
Learn how they discerned their call, started their work, and how you can make a difference in the church and world. Register now to join this inspiring conversation.
Read MoreAs preparations begin for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, a new webinar offers practical guidance on budgeting and planning for your group. Led by Gathering leadership, the session provides timely tools, key dates, and a Q&A to support congregations as they prepare for this important faith-forming experience.
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, what does real church community cultivation actually require? For most churches, the honest answer is: more than we're currently doing.
Read MoreRecipes are already coming in for the Grand Canyon Synod’s Rooted at the Table project, including dishes like tabbouli, chicken pot pie, oatmeal cookies, waffles, and bread pudding from congregations across the synod. Each submission reflects the stories, cultures, and communities that shape our shared life.
There’s still time to contribute—submit your recipe by May 1, 2026 to be part of the online collection and possible inclusion in the Synod Assembly cookbook.
Read MoreMany of the people we support experience challenges similar to those of anyone else. Staying organized is one of them. It can feel like a constant juggling act, but organization is not about perfection; it’s about finding simple ways to make staying on track easier. Nancy Potter, Mosaic’s Director of Clinical Mental Health & Behavioral Services, shares how our direct support professionals help with that and offers six tips anyone can apply today to stay organized.
The post It’s About Understanding, Not Perfection: Six Tips to Stay Organized appeared first on Mosaic.
Read MoreRegistration is now open for Leadership in Difficult Times, a guided certificate cohort from Faith+Lead running April 28–July 28, 2026. This live, four-session experience equips leaders with practical skills and spiritual grounding to lead faithfully amid division and uncertainty. Open to rostered and lay leaders alike, the cohort meets monthly on Zoom and offers scholarships. Learn more and enroll at faithlead.org.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA are offering four scholarships to attend the Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering, July 16–19, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. Each scholarship covers registration plus $500 toward travel and lodging.
Applications are due April 1, 2026, with notifications sent by April 15. Congregations are encouraged to share this opportunity widely. Learn more about the Gathering and how to apply today.
Read MoreThe ELCA Foundation helps individuals and congregations turn generosity into lasting ministry through gift planning, endowments, and faithful stewardship. In 2025 alone, the Foundation helped generate over $205 million in gifts and investment assets while supporting congregations and ministries across the ELCA.
As the 2026 Synod Assembly approaches, explore how this work—guided locally by Lisa Marie Higginbotham—is building a culture of generosity that sustains the church now and into the future.
Read MoreThe Mission Investment Fund (MIF) continues to support congregations and ministries across the ELCA through loans, investments, and financial partnership. With more than $614 million in loans and over $10 million supporting ministries in the Grand Canyon Synod alone, MIF helps bring ministry visions to life.
Explore the report to see how faithful stewardship and shared investment are strengthening congregations, rebuilding communities, and supporting God’s work across the church.
Read MoreThe ELCA Federal Credit Union provides banking, loans, and financial tools designed specifically for ELCA members and ministries. As a not-for-profit cooperative, it supports faithful stewardship while offering competitive and values-based financial services.
Programs like Resourceful Servants have helped more than 700 rostered leaders build over $1 million in savings, strengthening financial wellness across the church. Explore the report to learn more about how ELCA FCU supports individuals and ministries alike.
Read MoreInspired by a refugee family her own family hosted when she was just 11, Vicki Schmidt has dedicated decades to supporting those seeking safety. Watch her journey and discover how answering the call of welcome brings hope to refugees and immigrants, and meaning to those who choose to walk alongside them. Learn more in this video from Global Refuge.
Read MoreNorth Scottsdale United Methodist Church is seeking a full-time Office Administrator in Scottsdale, AZ, with a starting salary of $55,000 plus benefits. Applications are being accepted through Indeed. The role oversees communications, office operations, database management, and administrative coordination that support the congregation’s ministry and daily life.
Ideal candidates will bring strong organizational and communication skills, experience with office and database systems, and a commitment to supporting the church’s mission—serving in a key behind-the-scenes role that helps connect people and sustain ministry.
Read MoreNext week, synod staff will gather for an in-person staff meeting while continuing key leadership, ministry, and administrative work across the synod. Highlights include Deborah K. Hutterer and staff participating in the Ordination of Carly Chamberlain at Faith Lutheran, Phoenix, Apr 18, 2026, 10:30 AM, advancing assembly and audit preparations, collaborating with churchwide and conference leaders, and supporting congregations through preaching, stewardship conversations, and ongoing communications. We also share photos from the Region 2 First Call Accompaniment gathering at Franciscan Renewal Center.
Read MoreRecipes carry more than ingredients—they carry stories of faith, family, and community. The Grand Canyon Synod’s Rooted at the Table project invites you to share not only a recipe, but the story behind it.
Submit your recipe by May 1, 2026, and help build a collection that reflects the lived experiences and memories that shape our life together.
Read MoreIn the Grand Canyon Synod, where ministry takes many forms across diverse communities, ELEA’s work reminds us that faith formation is a shared calling. Whether through schools, early learning centers, or congregational life, we are all part of nurturing faith in the next generation.
As we gather for Synod Assembly, this report invites us to consider how we can continue to connect, develop, and inspire — rooted in God’s story and sent into the world.
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