The New and Renewing Team of the Grand Canyon Synod is excited to announce the Lilly 3E Vital Right-Shaped Ministry (VRSM) Vitality and Innovation Grants. Click to download the application as a Word document.
Two Zoom information sessions will be offered about the grants, click a date to register: Thurs., 3/25/2021 @ 6 pm MST/PDT and Thurs., 4/8/2021 @ 1:30pm MST/PDT. Once registered, you will receive an email with your unique link to join the meeting.
Read MoreMembers of the Association of Asians and Pacific-Islanders – ELCA share the Embodied Blessing and Healing, part of the litany for the day of lament against anti-Asian racism observed on March 21, 2021. The litany is done without words, using movement as expression.
Read MoreLeaders are invited to an anti-racism training workshop each Saturday in May, 2021. The 1.5 hour workshops are led by Reverend Joan Crawford, whose ministry includes promoting interracial healing and dialogue. Spiritual leaders will be equipped to engage in conversations within their communities.
Hosted by Phoenix Fusion, the cost is $40/person, with attendance capped at 60 participants. Download the flyer and visit gcsynod.org/solidarity for more info.
Read MoreOur 2021 synod assembly worship service will be made available for use by all congregations for use on the weekend of June 12 and 13, 2021.
Our assembly is Saturday June 12, 2021, with worship tentatively scheduled to be live-streamed at 3:30 pm MST/PDT. If our worship service is pre-recorded, the file will be made available earlier that week. If we are recording live, we will make the file available as soon as possible on Saturday.
Read MoreA Good Friday worship service—premiering April 2, 2021, at 6pm MST/PDT—is available on the synod’s YouTube channel and in this post. It is a service of Tenebrae, with reading of the passion by leaders from the Colorado River Conference, a message from Bishop Hutterer, and special music. Download the order of worship in PDF or as a Word doc.
Our thanks to Pastor Jason Adams, (Reformation Lutheran, Las Vegas) for heading up this project.
Read MoreAs part of ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving, this post and accompanying video continue a series weekly reflections.
Thus far this Lent, we have heard stories of God working through this church, our companions and our neighbors to end hunger. Here, in this last week, companions from Colombia will help teach us about the final tool: action.
Read MoreELCA Worship provides resources for worship in the home for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod Covid Service of Lament is available in this blog post and on our Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo. Download available on Vimeo.
We thank our participants: Rev. Alan Field; Carol Paulsen; Diakonia participants, Bill Aurand, Tina Gilson, Cheryl Pridgeon, and Cindy Stein; Bishop Hutterer; music from organist Lars Andersen and vocalists Sherri McClellan and Jennifer Wortman from Tanque Verde Lutheran in Tucson; and Pastor Sarah Stadler from Grace Lutheran in Phoenix.
Read MoreSave the date for two upcoming services, available for use on Monday of Holy Week, March 29, 2021. We’ll share additional details as we receive them.
In the Grand Canyon Synod, a Good Friday service is in the works, a project led by Pastor Jason Adams, Reformation Lutheran, Las Vegas.
A Region 2 worship for Easter 2 will be available, with Dr. Shauna Hannan, Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, as the preacher.
Read MoreThe Asian and Pacific Islander Association of the ELCA recently issued a statement, affirmed by the ELCA Conference of Bishops, calling on the church to declare a day of lament during Lent to express solidarity with, help in healing and support Asian American victims of violence.
Sunday, March 21, has been named as the common date, though worshiping communities may choose a different date as appropriate for their context. Worship resources are available in this PDF.
Read MoreA recent episode of NBC’s Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist contained a conversation between Mo (Alex Newell) and Max (Skylar Astin) about the menu for their new restaurant. Mo asks Max to help decide on a font, saying the font needs to be something that both shows whimsy and strength. Max responds, “Like Cambria?”
Read MoreAs we approach the time last year when we ceased in-person gathering, we take time to lament: an opportunity to express deeply held grief and frustration. Through Scripture, music, and prayer, we invite you to allow yourself to lament our life under COVID.
This service premieres on March 14th, 5pm MST, and will be available on our Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo pages. Featuring Bishop Hutterer, Rev. Alan Field, Diakonia participants, and music from Tanque Verde Lutheran in Tucson as well as Pastor Sarah Stadler.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod is pleased to announce that the registration for the next cohort of Stewardship for All Seasons is now open. For more information and a brochure about the program, please visit gcsynod.org/stewardship-for-all-seasons.
If you have questions do not hesitate to contact Pr. Miguel Gomez-Acosta at miguel.gomez-acosta@elca.org. The deadline to sign up is April 5th, 2021. First meeting will be May 8th, 2021.
Read MoreAs part of ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving, this post and accompanying video continue a series weekly reflections.
The direct service of providing filter pitchers and the organizing work of bringing demands to our alderpersons, health department and mayor all lead us back to the font, where we stand with people at the holy water that makes us God’s children and sends us out to serve God’s justice.
Read MoreWe’ve added PDF resources from the Stewardship Team of the Grand Canyon Synod presentation, “Building an Effective, Productive and Faithful Stewardship Team." Access the resources and watch the video to learn the rationale and strategies for your congregational stewardship team to engage in effective year-round ministry.
Read MoreMonday, March 8, 2021, is International Women’s Day! The ELCA celebrates this day by uplifting the International Women Leaders (IWL) program. On the Sunday before International Women’s Day, your congregation can take an offering for IWL that will go twice as far. Learn how and download resources in this post.
Read MoreThis virtual seminar will draw on poets and the expertise of Christian Wiman to think more carefully and critically about how language and liturgy intersect. Cost: $25. Saturday, March 13, 2021, 9am MST, 8am PST. Register here.
Presented by the Institute of Liturgical Studies, Valparaiso University.
Read MoreAs part of ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving, this post and accompanying video continue a series weekly reflections.
If we are going to end hunger, we have to start by being honest about the stories of pain, exploitation, injustice and violence that lie behind it. We must start with honesty about what hunger is and what it is not.
Read MoreAccording to a recent article, by Ruth Graham of the New York Times, there has been a big surge in the popularity of prophecy among some Evangelical Christians.
While it’s true that God is always listening and cares deeply about our prayers, God is not an automated service that caters to our desires like Siri or Alexa.
Read MoreNew Fire. Easter Proclamation. Ancient stories. Baptismal waters. Bread and wine. This is the night. As you plan worship for the Vigil of Easter, All Creation Sings offers many and various ways for us to sing the centrality of our faith.
2021, like its 2020 counterpart, will be unique in how the Easter Vigil liturgy is offered.
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