Risk levels in our synod’s counties are roughly the same: extremely or very high for unvaccinated people.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Cochise, Gila, Greenlee, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma and Washington counties.
Very high risk counties include Apache, Clark, Coconino, Pima, and Santa Cruz.
This week members the Office of the Bishop team travel to Peoria, Oro Valley, and El Mirage. View all the details for each team member in this post.
Read MoreELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and other members of the Circle of Protection coalition met Thursday, Sept. 22, 2021, with senior officials at the White House. The Circle of Protection letter, including the full list of signers, can be read here.
Eaton and other heads of Christian denominations and organizations are working together to urge passage of the economic bills the U.S. Congress is considering now, along with voting rights legislation this fall. Thursday's meeting focuses on the family support bill currently being debated in Congress.
Read MoreEnjoy this dynamic conversation with Lisa Higginbotham, CFRE and Josh Kerney of ELCA Foundation, as they help us connect our charitable hearts and desires to our gift planning intentions.
Planning a legacy is different for each charitable heart, but there are some best practices to help you navigate this pathway of intent. Presented by the Grand Canyon Stewardship Team on September 21, 2021 at 6pm MST/PDT via zoom.
Read MoreEarly-bird registration is now open for the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble!
Congregations that register during Early-bird will be entered to win a variety of prizes (such as their choice of seating at Mass Gathering). Early-bird registration closes 11/21/2021. Register today.
Read MoreJoin us in a prayer of thanksgiving as our synod celebrates the installation of four pastors in the month of October.
Ever-living God, strengthen and sustain Rev. Brian Weinberger, Rev. Sandy Jones, and Rev. Ryan Hersch, that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people. Grant that together they may follow in the way of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Read MoreThe ELCA Youth Leadership Summit will be held November 4-7, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We invite any high school youth active in their church to apply here by October 1, 2021. All lodging, meals, and programming are provided by a gracious grant from the ELCA.
Questions? Contact Pr. Jacqui Pagel, Associate to the Bishop Candidacy & Faith Formation, (480) 678-4406 JPagel@gcsynod.org.
Read MorePlease be advised that the address for the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, doing business as Portico Benefit Services, changed 9/1/5/2021, to 7700 France Ave. S., Ste. 350, Minneapolis, MN 55435-2802. Phone, fax, and emails are not changing.
Read MoreBishop Eaton invites us to an online benefit for ELCA World Hunger, Thursday, Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m. MST/PDT, via Zoom. Register here.
Join Bishop Eaton and Rick Steves, guidebook author and travel TV host, as they celebrate World Food Day!
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares its September Update: UN and State Edition on the ELCA blog. Read updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available.
Read MoreSome people may hope for a return to normal after the world-changing events of the last 18 months, but sociologists tell us our future will revolve around living into a "new normal."
Presented by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the 2021 Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge will probe this new normal.
Read MoreAfter much prayer and conversation, Gathering leadership have decided to require full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative test result (likely 72 hours before arrival) to attend the 2022 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble.
For a list of updated Frequently Asked Questions, we encourage you to visit: elca.org/YouthGathering/COVID19.
Read MoreThe GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY retreat will inspire you to get outside, connect with creation, laugh and play more, & follow Jesus into the world: March 13-16, 2022, at Spirit in the Desert.
Read MoreRisk levels in our synod’s counties are roughly the same: extremely or very high for unvaccinated people.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Clark, Gila, Greenlee, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma and Washington counties.
Very high risk counties include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Pima, and Santa Cruz.
The Office of the Bishop team ranges from Las Vegas to Spain this week. View all the details for each team member in this post.
Read MoreVisit gcsynod.org/grants to get more info and apply for over $200,000 available in Project Support Grants, and Adapting, Connecting, Transforming, and Sustaining (ACTS) Grants. Submit applications by 10/15/2021.
You can also view our Q&A webinar and resources in this blog post.
Read MoreELCA’s Region 2 celebrates the installation of Bishop Brenda Bos in the Southwest California Synod, and Bishop Megan Rohrer in the Sierra Pacific Synod. Check out information and highlights at the Southwest California Synod’s website and Facebook page, and at Sierra Pacific’s Synod website, Facebook, and this wrap-up newsletter.
Read More“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service president and CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah said. “The outpouring of support we’ve seen … feels unprecedented and awe-inspiring. It feels like a unique moment.”
In a typical week, LIRS would see maybe a dozen people sign up to volunteer. In the past three weeks, 45,000 people signed up. And LIRS has partnerships lined up with Airbnb for housing, Uber for transportation and Walmart for gift cards.
Read MoreStudents from ASU and U of A Lutheran Campus Ministries gathered for the 41st time in San Diego for a Labor Day Weekend retreat. Each ministry did their own community building activities and discussions, with shared times are on the beach, worship on La Jolla cliffs, breakfast at Mission Bay, and meditation exercises.
Read MoreNational Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week is now through Saturday, September 18. Once trained to be caregivers only for those who have intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), their responsibilities have grown to be so much more. Read more from Mosaic.
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