Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares her letter to 2022 assemblies. View as PDF in English or Spanish, and also read in this post.
“Theresa of Avila talked about the church as the hands and feet of Christ in the world, the very way God will work to engage new people.”
Read MoreOur regional gift planners, Lisa Higginbotham, CFRE, and Josh Kerney, shares their ELCA Foundation report. View as PDF, read in this post, and also view this ELCA Foundation video and view a message from Lisa.
“The vision of the ELCA Foundation is to be a thriving ministry that develops a culture of intentional generosity and financial stewardship to expand the work of the ELCA. Our mission is to support and sustain ELCA ministries by enhancing gifting capacity and stewarding resources.”
Read MoreApril is Fair Housing Awareness Month and Bishop Eaton encourages us to continue the Lutheran tradition of being advocates for fair housing legislation and “tackle the legacy of segregation, housing discrimination, and ongoing disparities of homeownership for persons with disabilities, or based on race and gender.”
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod Coaching Ministry shares a letter from Phil Gustafson for their synod assembly report. View as PDF or read in this post.
“The Grand Canyon Synod, along with other Synods of the ELCA, offers an exciting and effective ministry that is often untapped or even unknown — Coaching Ministry. Coaching assists a client to focus on a specific goal and identify resources and steps to journey to that goal from the client’s own life situation and experiences.”
Read MoreCruzando Fronteras shares a letter from Annette Chavez for their synod assembly report. View as PDF or read in this post.
“Cruzando Fronteras is an ecumenical ministry effort which includes the financial and organizational support of the ELCA Lutheran Church, the Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ. In addition the Methodist Church offers legal aid through the Arizona Justice for our Neighbor Ministry. This is very important as it gives those that are seeking asylum a chance to develop their case.”
Read MoreIn his Daily Meditation of February 6 on 1 Corinthians 12, Rev. Richard Rohr writes “Humanity consistently has to face the problem of unity and diversity. We’re not very good at understanding it. We habitually choose our smaller groups, because we don’t know how to belong to a larger group. That demands too much letting go.”
Read MoreJoel McKinnon Miller is an actor. A lifelong Lutheran, he currently isn’t a member of an individual congregation but continues to be affiliated with the ELCA.
Read MoreArizona Faith Network shares a video for their synod assembly report.
“Arizona Faith Network is a interfaith organization dedicated to bringing people together to promote peace and understanding through interfaith education and dialogue as well as healing of the world through collaborative social action.”
Read MoreSynod council member Sue Jensen shares how an annual rummage sale at Tanque Verde Lutheran in Tucson transformed during the pandemic into a yearlong ministry that provides goods to local social service agencies.
Read MoreLutheran Church of the Foothills, Tucson shares a video for their synod assembly report. The congregation received a grant from the Grand Canyon Synod to construct their audio/visual booth.
Read MoreRead the 2022 Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service synod assembly report as a PDF or in this post.
“Like all of you, we found ourselves facing parallel crises: the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, an influx of vulnerable immigrant children at our border, and the devastating refugee criss in Afghanistan. While it was an incredibly difficult year in many ways, it was also one of the most inspiring in our 83-year history.”
Read MoreRead the 2022 ELCA Federal Credit Union synod assembly report as a PDF.
“The ELCA Federal Credit Union, founded in 2016, provides a full suite of financial products and services to members, congregations and ministries of the ELCA. We are the first of the ELCA’s financial ministries to offer loans to individuals. The Credit Union offers a rich variety of products—from savings and checking accounts and CDs ... to loans, lines of credit and credit cards.”
Read MoreRead the 2022 Mission Investment Fund synod assembly report as a PDF and watch a report video.
“The Mission Investment Fund, a financial services ministry of the ELCA, provides a strong, stable, faith-based way for individuals, congregations, and ministries to achieve their financial goals. We put investments to work to fund building and renovation loans for congregations and partner ministries, including social service agencies and outdoor camps.”
Read MoreRead the 2022 Portico synod assembly report as a PDF or in this post, and watch the report video from Andrea Arey, Regional Representative for Regions 1 and 2.
“As the benefits ministry of the ELCA, Portico cares for those who serve. We walk with you in times of joy and in times of challenge.”
Read MoreRead the 2022 Mosaic synod assembly report as a PDF or in this post.
Mosaic serves more than 5,200 people in 13 states and 750 communities, including Phoenix, Prescott, and Tucson. Services are tailored to meet individual needs and goals, allowing people to be as independent as possible. Services are designed for people with disabilities, mental and behavioral health needs and autism, as well as aging adults.
Read MoreIn the April 2022 Crucible Newsletter. Told Bolsinger shares insights on leading through the “little ice age” we are from the massive disruption of Covid-19. Two bits of advice: first, don’t predict, prototype; and second, keep clear on what will NEVER change. Read the full newsletter here.
Read MoreSeveral years ago I was having an over-the-fence conversation with my neighbor. My garden lay at the edge of my property line, and her children’s play set stood at the edge of hers, so we’d exchange chitchat now and again as neighbors do.
On this afternoon, she peeked over the pickets and said somewhat breathlessly, “Anna, today I had to take my daughter out of our Baptist day care and put her in the Lutheran one.”
Read MoreLast week, history was made when the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. She will serve as the first Black woman justice in the 232-year history of the Supreme Court. It is not the only, nor likely the last “historic first” for the highest court in the United States.
Read MoreResurrection – new life out of death – is built into the natural world—the interdependent life cycles of plants and animals living together in ecosystems mirror resurrection. How can our faith help us care for creation?
Read the article by LeeAnn Pomrenke in Café, a publication of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA).
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