The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in recognition of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, reaffirms its commitment to combat racism and white supremacy. This day is set as a recommitment in remembrance of the day police in South Africa killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960.
Read MoreThe Rev. Daniel Rift, Director for ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response Fund, talked live with the Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, Executive Director for Service and Justice, and the Rev. Rachel Eskesen, Area Desk Director for Europe. They discussed the situation in Eastern Europe and Rafael and Rachel shared about the ELCA’s response.
Read MoreRev. Lisa Kipp, Senior Manager of Congregational Engagement with Lutheran World Relief (LWR), visited the Office of the Bishop this week and updated us on the rapidly changing situation and response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Read more in this post about LWR’s pan-Lutheran work, Lent resources, mission quilts, the doubling of congregational gifts to the Ukraine crisis, and their hunger challenge as the war disrupts food distribution worldwide.
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod Women of the ELCA is participating in a quilt and kit ingathering for Lutheran World Relief on Saturday, 4/30/2022, 9am –2pm MST, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 4001 W. Beardsley Rd, Glendale AZ 85308.
Visit grandcanyonwomen.org/events and lwr.org/quilts/resources for more information. Or, contact our AZ LWR Ingathering Coordinator, Laura Krueger. Plan now for a Quilt & Kit Blessing Sunday to get your items on their way. Thank you!
Read MoreRegistration for ELCA World Hunger’s 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants opens March 18, 2022! ELCA World Hunger congratulates those partners in ministry awarded a 2022 Domestic Hunger Grant and all those continuing grants with us this year. Visit the Domestic Hunger Grants page and this FAQ page about applying.
Read MoreIn addition to Ukraine updates, the Lutheran World Federation’s weekly newsletters also includes stories on:
This week, we celebrate retired pastor Rev. Martin Overson’s 43 years of ordination on March 18.
Read MoreAccording to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, high level counties in our synod are Apache, La Paz and Yuma.
Medium level counties are Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma.
Low level counties are Clark, Mohave, and Washington.
Read MoreVisit the ELCA’s Eastern Europe Crisis Response resource page for a compilation of the situation, the ELCA’s response, and how you can help by praying, giving, worshiping, and connecting.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui Pagel will attend Faith Formation In A Secular Age, the Luther Seminary event at Living Water with Dr. Andy Root. As usual, staff travels around the synod to preach and visit.
At our in-office staff retreat on Wednesday, we were visited by Rev. Lisa Kipp, who updated us on the latest relief efforts by Lutheran World Relief.
Read More2021 was a very meaningful year for Rock Point area households. In total, the Navajo Lutheran Mission received and distributed over a quarter-million pounds of food to almost 2,000 Navajo homes.
Read MoreRev. Patsy Koeneke, interim pastor with Grace Lutheran in Kingman, celebrates 15 years on March 11.
Rev. Bruce Ayers, retired, celebrates 60 years on March 11.
Rev. Steven Crittenden, with Epiphany of Christ Lutheran in Apache Junction, celebrates 13 years on March 12.
Rev. Beth Gallen, with New Journey Lutheran in Fountain Hills, celebrates her first year on March 13.
Rev. Peter Lai, retired, celebrate 37 years on March 16.
The #NoPlasticsforLent initiative, led by young adults across the church, calls us to prayer for creation, to lament the ways we have been complicit in the degradation of the earth, and to take action to care for our neighbor in fasting from the things that are hurting our planet. For more info, view the ELCA Young Adults Facebook page or the No Plastics for Lent website.
One of the discussion group leaders is Tiana Diaz-Reyes, a student in our synod’s Lutheran campus ministry. She is working toward her PhD in Sustainability at ASU.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer visits Cruzando Fronteras, Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta preaches at Epiphany of Christ Lutheran in Apache Junction, and Rev. Jacqui Pagel preaches at Community Lutheran in Bullhead City. Read all the updates from the staff in this weekly post.
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response is accompanying our companions in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as such ecumenical partners as Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to the crisis. These partners provide refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits. You and your congregation or organization can donate by clicking here.
Read MoreRev. Rachel Eskesen, ELCA Area Desk Director for Europe, and Associate in Ministry Rev. Zach Courter provide updates from Budapest, Hungary. In this post, we share a video update, an expanded letter (read in this post or view as PDF), and a bulletin insert (PDF).
For those of you wishing to financially support our partner churches who are doing the work on the ground to respond to the needs of refugees, you can donate here.
Read MoreThe Lutheran World Federation’s latest newsletter has many posts about the war in Ukraine and other topics:
Ukraine: Lutheran churches in neighboring countries provide shelter and support
A pall of ashes covers Ukraine: Christians join prayer for peace
Ukraine: Lutheran churches across the world call for Peace and Support
Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson is seeking a professional Administrative Assistant for part-time employment. The Administrative Assistant will work closely with our pastor, as well as with other staff and members of the Church Council. View job description and how to apply in this PDF.
Read MoreWonderful part-time and flexible opportunity in central Tucson, ideal for students, recent retirees, and others. Our Saviour's in Tucson is seeking a part-time Campus Caretaker. Please see full position description in this PDF. Interested applicants please send a letter and/or resume and at least two references to Pastor Amalia Vagts (pastoramalia@lutherantucson.org). You may call the office at 520-327-6521 for more information.
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