O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Read MoreWith the outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 in North America and around the world many people may be without a physical copy of Christ in Our Home. To assist with devotional life during this time, Augsburg Fortress is offering a limited-time complementary email subscription. Sign up and we will deliver the daily devotional to your email at 4am Central Time through June 30, 2020.
Read MoreMemorial Day Today we remember, mourn and give thanks for the military men and women who have given their lives in pursuit of justice, peace and freedom for our country and all nations.
Read MoreRev. Jacqui Pagel, Bishop’s Associate for Candidacy and Faith Formation with the Grand Canyon Synod, brings greetings, the Gospel, and a sermon for the seventh Sunday of Easter. The Gospel, John 17:1-11, can be found at the beginning of the video. The greetings and sermon start at 2:00.
Read MoreGive thanks, praise and glory to God for restoring our relationship with our Creator and unifying us ― beloved children of God ― through the love and sacrifice of Jesus.
Read MoreIn an ELCA blog post, ELCA World Hunger provides one-page guides for each state to help families apply for benefits and access resources. Click to download PDFs of the guides for Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
Each one-page guide shares info for unemployment insurance, SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP, rental and housing resources from HUD, and child care assistance. In addition, each sheet has contact information for the National Suicide Hotline, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Farmer Crisis Hotline.
Read MoreThink about the blessings, wisdom, revelations and gifts you have received by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ; give thanks for each one.
Read MoreWhat do a Malayan Tiger, Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake, Ridgeway Hawk, Hawksbill Turtle and Eastern Black Rhino have in common? Each of these animals is classified as critically endangered – that is, facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due in large part to human activity.
In the ELCA resource, “Why Lutherans Care for Creation,” we are reminded that the key tenet of Lutheran ethics has been faith active in love. More »
Read MoreRemember in prayer our ELCA missionaries, global companions and international leaders. Pray for their health and well-being as well as their continuing witness and service in the world even though some of
our work together may have been temporarily suspended.
These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church. Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
Read MoreAscension of Our Lord. While we look forward to everlasting life and being with Jesus in heaven, pray that we will live with confidence and joy in the promise of salvation and the presence of the Spirit, which sustains and equips us for the work we are called to today as people of the good news.
Read MoreOn this seventh Sunday of Easter, we gather in our homes and yet together as one, praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need. Our response to each petition is, “Your mercy is great.”
Read MoreApril 1, Census Day, is a key reference date for the 2020 Census—not a deadline. You can still respond after that date, and the deadline has been moved to fall of 2020.
The Arizona and Nevada Census 2020 websites, loaded with resources, are https://census.nv.gov and https://azcensus2020.gov/be-counted.
Bahney Dedolph, Deputy Director with the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, shares words of encouragement on how we can lift our low response rates.
Read MoreGive thanks for parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents whose example and convictions teach children and youth the values of compassion, generosity and respect for one another.
Read MoreAs part of the ELCA’s COVID-19 response, ELCA congregations can raise funds for their feeding ministries through ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Matching Grants. Learn more and apply.
The application due date for ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants has been extended to June 1.
Read MoreJoin Bishop Kevin L. Strickland and Bishop Elizabeth Eaton on Thursday, May 21st 7-8:30pm EDT for a Webinar: “Becoming the body of Christ where all bodies are valued: A conversation around the ELCA’s resolution to condemn White Supremacy.”
We encourage you to sign-up for this call by clicking this link here: https://www.elca-ses.org/eventdetail/13995520
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod members attended a free stewardship presentation by Evan Moilan, CFRE, entitled “Stewardship in Uncertain Times” on Monday, May 18, 2020.
In this seminar, Evan Moilan used historical giving data and new forecasts to share best practices that congregations can engage right now, and over the next few months to ensure generosity not only continues but strengthens in their ministries.
Read MoreOn the ELCA’s COVID-19 resource page, www.elca.org/publichealth, an extensive PDF in entitled Resources for Returning to In-Person Worship provides guidelines and considerations for when and how to re-open our church buildings. View Spanish version here.
The ELCA will monitor changing developments and update these guidelines accordingly.
Read MoreHere to Serve: Being Church in the Time of COVID-19, a weekly online gathering for ELCA Leaders, Wednesdays, 1PM Central.
Our weekly gathering on May 20 will focus on children and youth. The conversation will be facilitated by Linda Staats, founder of HomeGrown Faith and ELCA Coordinator for The Generosity Project.
Read MorePray that our baptism into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will banish our fears of doing God’s work in the world and will prepare us daily for sharing the gospel and serving our neighbor with gentleness and reverence.
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