Posts in News
‘Unity’ theme of LSTC Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration 

Dr. King’s message of unity is the theme for the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration Monday, January 18. Five leading theologians will reflect on the theme during the 60-minute pre-recorded tribute. The recorded event will go live at 11:15 a.m. Central (10:15am MST, 9:15 am PST) on LSTC’s Facebook and YouTube sites.

“In light of recent events and public calls for healing and reconciliation, theological reflection on the promise and the problems with the rhetoric of unity could not be more timely or urgent,” said Erik Christensen, pastor to the community and director of worship, who serves on this year’s planning committee.

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Lutherans in the 117th Congress

As the final election results in Georgia have been resolved, the 117th Congress has begun. Members were sworn into office on January 3, 2021. Check out some of the Lutheran legislators who will serve our country in this new Congress.

Make Sure Your Member of Congress Knows YOU!” shares ideas from the Washington Interfaith Staff Community (prepared in 2019). Find a full list of lawmakers and their religious affiliations at Pew Research Center.

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Neighbors Together in a Divided Nation: An Inter-Religious Conversation

The Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) will partner with Augsburg University’s Interfaith Institute to hold a Zoom webinar on January 26, 2021, 3pm MST, 2pm PST, titled Neighbors Together in a Divided Nation: An Inter-Religious Conversation. Register here.

Students, faculty, administrators and staff at our member institutions across North America are invited to join in this important conversation.

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A View from the Mountaintop: Leadership in the Ultimate Liminal Space

A free webinar conversation between two old friends and colleagues, Tod Bolsinger and Jim Toole. Jim is now facing stage 4 bile duct cancer and offers his reflections on living with cancer and facing the future with faith.

In this webinar they will discuss the leadership lessons that come from reaching the moment where you must prepare your people to go into the future without you. Jan 20, 2021, 11am MST, 10am PST.

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ELCA Coaching presents Discipleship and Civic Engagement, with Amy Reumann, ELCA National Advocacy.

Join Amy Reumann, ELCA Director for Advocacy, to learn more about why Lutherans advocate and how discipleship expressed through civic engagement and public witness impacts the issues of our day.

Part of the Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders, this Wednesday, 1/13/2021, 12pm MST, 11am PST. Links to the meeting at elcacoaching.org as well as archives.

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ELCA presiding bishop joins NCC leaders in letter to vice president, Cabinet and Congress

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined leaders from the National Council of Churches (NCC) in an open letter to Vice President Mike Pence, members of Congress and the Cabinet, calling for the removal of President Donald Trump from office. The letter states:

“Our faith instructs us to take seriously positions of leadership, not to lead others astray and to be careful about what we say and do.

For the good of the nation, so that we might end the current horror and prepare the way for binding up the nation's wounds, we, as leaders of the member communions of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), believe the time has come for the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to resign his position immediately.”

Read the letter here or in this blog post. Use this link to add your name to endorse the open letter.

Signers of the letter include National Council of Churches, United Church of Christ, AME Zion Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Alliance of Baptists, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Episcopal Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, The United Methodist Church, Reformed Church in America, The Armenian Church, Eastern Diocese of America, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Swedenborgian Church of North America, Alliance of Baptists, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Conference of National Black Churches, Community of Christ, Assyrian Church of the East, Ecumenical Catholic Communion, Presbyterian Church (USA).

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A Message on the Events of January 6, 2021, from the Bishops of Region Two

There are times when events in our nation and world are shocking—we search for words to try to make sense of what we are seeing on television.

As bishops serving in Region 2, we stand united in calling upon elected leaders of all political parties to call for an end to this violence.

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Covid-19 health and HVAC reports

Esperanza Lutheran is sharing their working documents on coronavirus health safety, including HVAC recommendations. Esperanza’s Council President is co-owner of a company that does environmental testing.

These documents—the Esperanza COVID19 Plan (Word doc) and Esperanza HVAC Report (pdf)—can be a starting point for public health discussion in your organization.

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Thriving Leadership Formation Group for Deacons

Deacons in ELCA Regions 1 & 2 are invited to participate in a Cohort group that is intended to help leaders thrive in ministry. The group meets on Fridays for 1.5 hours, every other week through June. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this form.

The focus of the group is on spiritual practices, community, accountability, and creating brave spaces.

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Installation of Rev. Thaddeus M. Book at Desert Cross Lutheran Church

All are invited to online Epiphany 2 worship and the installation of Rev. Thaddeus M. Book at Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Tempe/Gilbert, on January 17, 2021, 10am MST, 11 am PST. A welcome reception will follow the installation on Zoom. Click to join the Zoom meeting. Download worship bulletin here.

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Prayers for Pastor Vernon Victorson and family

Following the death of his wife Kay, we pray for Pastor Vernon Victorson and family. Kay Victorson died Monday, January 4, 2021. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April, 2020. As Pastor Victorson shared, "The strife is o'er, the battle done; Now is the victor's triumph won! Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia!"

There are no plans for a service until after the pandemic, when a memorial celebration will be held at First Lutheran in Albany, New York.

Eternal God, your love is stronger than death, and your passion more fierce than the grave. We rejoice in the lives of those whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace. Keep us in joyful communion with them until we join the saints of every people and nation gathered before your throne in your ceaseless praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Happy New Year from the Office of the Bishop Staff

As we begin a new year, we thank you for the ministry we share as the Grand Canyon Synod. We thank you for the honor of serving you. We give thanks for God’s creation and new creation.

Sovereign of the universe, your first covenant of mercy was with every living creature. When your beloved Son came among us, the waters of the river welcomed him, the heavens opened to greet his arrival, the animals of the wilderness drew near as his companions. With all the world’s people, may we who are washed into new life through baptism seek the way of your new creation, the way of justice and care, mercy and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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