Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Don Lorfing, Good Samaritan, Las Vegas, Good Sam at The Lakes, Las Vegas, who celebrates 30 years on June 9.
Rev. John Serkland, who celebrates 63 years on June 9.
Rev. Philip Gustafson, who celebrates 47 years on June 9.
Rev. John Hackler, Lord of Life, Sun City West, who celebrates 41 years on June 9.
Rev. Lisa Hackler, American, Sun City, who celebrates 41 years on June 9.
Please note that the Office of the Bishop will be closed Monday, June 15, 2026, following Synod Assembly to allow staff time for rest after the gathering. The office will also be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
Read MoreVolunteers are needed to help prepare and reset spaces for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly. Opportunities include a Decorating Team on Wednesday, June 10 (11:00 AM–1:00 PM) and a Tear Down Team on Saturday, June 13 (12:00–1:00 PM). To volunteer, contact Kathye Hamm at khamm@gcsynod.org.
Read MoreThe 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly offering will support the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), a small but resilient Lutheran church serving congregations and schools in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and beyond. Congregations across the synod are invited to participate by collecting designated gifts before Assembly or contributing through the synod office.
The ELCJHL continues its witness of faith, education, and reconciliation in the region where Christianity began. Through this year’s Assembly offering, our synod will stand in solidarity with our global Lutheran partners, supporting ministries rooted in hope and steadfast faith in the Holy Land.
Read MoreJoin the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly online! Tune in live on June 12, 2026, via the Love of Christ Lutheran Church’s Facebook Page. This livestreaming opportunity ensures all our members, from across Arizona, southern Nevada, St. George, Utah, and the Navajo Nation, can partake in our assembly’s key moments. Don’t miss out on this chance to stay connected and involved in our community’s important decisions and celebrations. Watch here.
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 MoreThe 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly is almost here! Find everything you need to prepare for June 11–13 in Mesa, including schedule highlights, voting information, workshops, livestreaming, the service project, special guest Rev. Tim Brown, and how our homepage will serve as your Assembly information hub throughout the week.
Read MoreThe ELCA has released a playlist of short videos for synods and congregations to use during synod assemblies and beyond. Explore stories of ministry, justice, disaster response, Navajo mission, youth ministry, Mission Support, and more—and see how God is at work through our wider church. View the playlist here.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Donald Liles, who celebrates 40 years on June 8.
Rev. Bennett Henrikson, who celebrates 57 years on June 8.
Rev. Melinda Gapen, Noble Hospice, Mesa, who celebrates 12 years on June 8.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stoney Bowen-Weiszmann, Banner Del E Webb Medical Center, Sun City West, who celebrates 18 years on June 7.
Rev. Tim Eighmy, Community, Bullhead City, who celebrates 34 years on June 7.
Rev. John Lundering, who celebrates 67 years on June 7.
Rev. David Miller, who celebrates 56 years on June 7.
Rev. Donald Legacie, who celebrates 39 years on June 7.
Rev. Ronald Hedwall, who celebrates 62 years on June 7.
Rev. Jarrod Iversen, Central, Arizona City, who celebrates 1 year on June 7.
Rev. Debra Hippen Schultz, who celebrates 39 years on June 7.
Nearly a year after Congress approved Medicaid funding cuts, questions remain about whether Medicaid should pay for home- and community-based services. In Mosaic’s latest blog, President and CEO Linda Timmons shares why that investment matters: Long-term care is too expensive for most families to afford on their own, and people with disabilities, like anyone else, deserve a say in what their lives look like.
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, Wesley Ellis makes a case that will reframe the way you think about prayer.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Arlyn Saathoff, who celebrates 61 years on June 6.
Rev. Vern Barlow, who celebrates 61 years on June 6.
Rev. Daniel Carlson, who celebrates 44 years on June 6.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stephen Beyer, who celebrates 45 years on June 5.
Rev. Jason Adams, Good Samaritan, Las Vegas, Good Sam at The Lakes, Las Vegas, who celebrates 12 years on June 5.
Rev. Ryan Marsh, Crossroads, San Tan Valley, who celebrates 10 years on June 5.
The Rules of Procedure for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly are available online. Voting members and attendees are encouraged to review the document ahead of the June 11–13 assembly in Mesa, including important details about resolutions, debate limits, electronic voting, and assembly participation.
The rules outline how the assembly will conduct business while emphasizing respectful Christian community grounded in Galatians 5 and the shared work of discernment, governance, and ministry together.
Read MoreArizona Faith Network’s 2026 Extreme Heat Relief Program is now serving communities across the state, providing cooling spaces, water, supplies, and compassionate care during dangerous summer temperatures. Congregations and individuals can support this ministry through donations, volunteering, supply drives, sharing resources, and using a congregational toolkit to help protect vulnerable neighbors this summer.
Read MoreArizona Faith Network’s latest newsletter includes opportunities for advocacy, service, and interfaith engagement across Arizona this summer. Highlights include heat relief efforts, election protection volunteer opportunities, environmental justice conversations, meditation and dialogue gatherings, and ways to support vulnerable neighbors during extreme heat.
Read MoreThis week’s Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) newsletter features an urgent Farm Bill action alert, opportunities to advocate around hunger and immigration, updates on extreme heat relief and Oak Flat, and upcoming events focused on justice, creation care, and faithful civic engagement.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop is preparing for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly while continuing ministry across the synod, including the Installation of Rev. Patsy Koeneke at Epiphany of Christ in Apache Junction (June 7, 2026, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM), congregational leadership, faith formation, and ongoing support for congregations and ministry partners.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Joseph Doherty, New Promise, St. George, who celebrates 27 years on June 4.
Rev. Floyd Anderson, who celebrates 65 years on June 4.
Rev. Keith Hardy, who celebrates 47 years on June 4.
Rev. Maria Valenzuela, who celebrates 37 years on June 4.
