Lutheran Summer Music is pleased to share a musical selection every day of Advent, from favorite LSM performances to brand new recordings submitted by alumni, faculty, and friends. Follow the calendar in real time on the LSM Website for a moment of music and reflection each day until December 24th!
Read MoreThe LSM Winter Session, January 9-February 11 2022, is completely online on a customizable schedule for grades 8-12. $99 or pay what you an, no audition required. Learn more and enroll at Ismacademy.org/winter-session-2022.
Read MoreSave the dates for two of our biggest events of 2022! We’ll provide more details as we finalize plans.
Our 2022 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly will be Friday and Saturday, 6/10/2022 and 6/11/2022, at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa. Our theme is “Stirred Up by the Spirit.”
Our 2022 Bishop’s Fall Gathering is October 17-19, 2022, at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale.
Advent blessings to you of hope, joy, peace, and love from the Office of the Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod!
Read MoreIt’s your final week to create and submit a video that shares a story of generosity that offers hope for the new year! Visit our film festival page for info and submission guidelines (web page or PDF).
Read MoreAll but two counties in our synod continue to have extremely high levels of risk for unvaccinated people. 45% of our synod remains unvaccinated.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
We’re compiling our news and events for Advent and Christmas on one page on our site. Visit gcsynod.org/advent to see it all, and let us know if we’re missing anything.
Read MoreThis Advent brings several reasons for hope: children can soon receive vaccinations for COVID-19, many congregations are gathering again in person, families look forward to holiday celebrations. Yet humanity grieves losses and experiences great suffering and forms of oppression, as does the planet itself.
Two new hymns in All Creation Sings that address this, see “Can You Feel the Seasons Turning” and “Abba, Abba, Hear Us” among others in the “Lament” and “Creation” sections.
Read More“And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13
With prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving for all who share in our ministry together throughout the Grand Canyon Synod. —Bishop Deborah Hutterer and the Office of the Bishop staff
Read this post for the what’s and where’s of the team in the coming week.
Read MoreIs your congregation ready to take some steps (even small steps) toward renewal or revitalization? Then, you are invited to attend the 2022 Spring Session of the ELCA Vital Congregations Re-BOOT Camp, which are four sessions, 1/13–2/27/2022.
Registration closes on 1/7/2022. FREE Registration link: Vital Congregations Spring 2022 Session - Google Forms
Please see the attached PowerPoint for more information regarding the Re-BOOT Camp. You can contact our GCS Director for Evangelical Mission, Miguel Gomez-Acosta, for further information or with questions.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer will preach and preside at these upcoming installations:
Pastor Doug Dill will be installed at Central Lutheran in Arizona City during worship, Sunday, 12/12/2021. Time will be confirmed.
Pastor Mari Larson will be installed at St. Andrew Lutheran in Las Vegas, Sunday, 12/19/2021 at the 8:30 and the 10am service (9:30 and 11 am MST).
Pastor Ruby Myers will be installed at Trinity Lutheran in Phoenix on Sunday, 1/9/2022 at 2 pm.
Pastor Naomi Hartman will be installed Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson on Sunday, 2/6/2022, at 2 pm, in Tucson. Clergy will be invited to process.
The Center of Addiction & Faith is hosting a one-hour free webinar ‘Addiction & The Science of Gratitude’ next Tuesday, 11/30/2021, 10–11am MST, 9–10am PST, with follow-up 30 minute Zoom discussion. Register here.
Dr. Amy Krentzman will present research on addiction and recovery focusing on the science of gratitude.
Read MoreIn a Dec. 1 2021 webinar, Heidi Hammel, vice president for science at AURA, a consortium that operates large astronomical observatories, explains what the James Webb Telescope will see, and her take on whether it will see God.
This free Zoom webinar is hosted by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 4-5:30pm MST, 3–4:30pm PST. Register here to receive the Zoom link.
Read MoreCalifornia Lutheran University is rebooting the Executive Skills for Church Leaders program, and hosting an online space for leaders offer feedback to inform their planning on Thursday, 12/9/2021 from 11am-12:30 pm MST, 10-11:30am PST. Facebook Event link here, with RSVPs and questions sent to thriving@callutheran.edu.
Read MoreLooking for something to watch during Thanksgiving weekend? How about the wonderful videos from last year’s Generosity Film Festival? They’re quick, fun, and hopeful. Watch them here.
Feeling inspired? Create your own story this weekend! Visit our film festival web page for tips and guidelines. The deadline for submission is December 8, 2021, with videos premiering Christmas week.
Read MoreAll but two counties in our synod have extremely high levels for unvaccinated people.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
This week’s update features photos from the Ordination of Pastor Ruby Myers and the Installation of Pastor Amalia Vagts. Read the post to see what the staff is up to as we enter the busy Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas season.
Read MoreDid you know we’ve increased the number of candidates in the Grand Canyon Synod nearly tenfold? With around 30 people in the candidacy process, we’re excited to build on this momentum.
If you or someone you know is interested in being a candidate, we’ve updated candidacy information on the synod site, with initial steps for candidates to follow, our candidacy committee roster, and news archive. Visit the updated page at gcsynod.org/candidacy.
You can also contact Pastor Jacqui Pagel, Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy at jpagel@gcsynod.or or (480) 678-4406.
Read MoreWondering how you can make a positive impact in the world right now? With ELCA Good Gifts, you can choose from more than 50 charitable gifts to give in honor of friends and loved ones.
Start your holiday shopping now and order free, customized cards for each gift you give. Print-at-home and online cards are also available instantly at any time. Shop now…
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