“For those of you who are wondering about the particulars of the process to address the issues that arose in the Sierra Pacific Synod, I want to give you an update on the ways in which we are moving forward.” (This update is provided in English and en español.)
Read MoreAs part of Synod on the Move, Bishop Hutterer, Rev. Jacqui Pagel, and Rev. Pat Reed journey to southern Arizona this weekend for a variety of events, including the Installation of Rev. Michael Sager at Desert Hills Lutheran in Green Valley, gathering with active pastors and deacons and Hotel Congress, conversations with retired rostered ministers at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, as well as preaching at Santa Cruz, Abounding Grace, Mt. Zion, and attending other meetings.
We also share photos from Bishop Hutterer’s visits last week to Mount of Olives in Phoenix and Casa De La Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones (House of Mercy and of All Nations) in Nogales, a service of Cruzando Fronteras.
Read MoreWe give thanks for the life of Pastor Dale W. Hallberg, who died February 7, 2022, of natural causes. We pray for his family, friends, and congregations he served.
Services will be held Saturday, April 2, 2022, 1pm MST, at Sun Lakes Chapel for All Faith, 9240 E Sun Lakes Blvd N, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. Rev. Thaddeus Book is officiating.
Pastor Hallberg worked to advance civil rights as a community leader, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma in 1965 and being part of a Lutheran delegation sent to investigate conditions in apartheid South Africa in the early 1980s.
Read MoreWar in Ukraine: Donate; LWF fact-finding visit to Polish-Ukrainian border; Estonian archbishop: We must be peace seekers; Photos: support for Ukraine.
Stories: USA: It matters to young people that issues of justice be a part of “Gospel work”; LWF General Secretary awarded “Der Friedenstein” prize; LWF advocates for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines at Human Rights Council; CSW66: Women must lead the way out of climate crisis; CSW66: Women at forefront of climate solutions; Nepal: Fostering resilience through water, sanitation and health; Colombia: Supporting the most vulnerable amid violence.
Read MoreSouthern Arizona area retired pastors and deacons are cordially invited for coffee, donuts, and conversation with Bishop Deborah Hutterer on Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 10:30am to noon MDT at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1200 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719.
Please RSVP to Theresa Thornburgh (office@gcsynod.org) if you plan to attend. The Bishop is very much looking forward to meeting with you!
Read MoreCommunity Lutheran Church's Holy Week Cantata, "On This Rock," tells the story of the disciple Peter. Shawn Bristle directs the renowned Cantata Choir as part of the Holy Week program produced by Dean Leuthauser.
Sunday, 4/10/2022, 3pm PDT/MST
Friday, 4/15/2022, 7pm PDT/MST
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in central Tucson will host a free will donation benefit concert for refugees affected by the war in Ukraine on Friday, 4/1/2022 at 7pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Online and in-person.
All proceeds will go to ELCA Disaster Response: Eastern European Crisis Response. The concert is being freely offered by Ivory Winds Trio (Deena Reedy, flute; Ji Sun Lee, piano; and Michael Lich, classical guitar.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of the Southwest is hosting a donation drive for families expecting a baby, who recently gave birth, or who are adopting a baby. Please deliver donations prior to April 27, 2022.
Many of the families we serve do not have available resources or relatives nearby, and they need your support. Learn more at lss-sw.org/baby-shower-drive.
Read MoreCheck out which one of our seven weeks works for you to join us this summer! We hope to see you this summer! For more information: campaloma.com, office@campaloma.com, 928-778-1690. Click here to register.
Read MoreAs of Mar. 23, over 3.5 million people are estimated to have left Ukraine, most of which are women and children. The refugees are primarily fleeing to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. According to UNHCR, another 2 million people are displaced within Ukraine.
Lutheran Disaster Response has committed over $2 million to companion churches and ecumenical partners that are accompanying refugees and other impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.
Read MoreLutheran Men in Mission invite you to attend their virtual Bold Gathering, “Stories from the Heart,” April 22, 9-11am MST/PDT, 10am-noon MDT.
BOLD GATHERING is a day for men to come together to learn, to network, and be equipped to BOLDY live out their faith! For more info, visit the Bold Gathering website or this PDF, and register here.
Read MoreGrace Lutheran in Phoenix seeks Outreach Coordinator, who will coordinate and oversee the summer heat respite program. Read the job description and how to apply in this PDF.
Read MoreWe thank the Growing Generosity Task Force for their time and talents, and for a year of working together in this project: Chairperson Myrna Wells-Ulland, Mark Engel, Patrick Gary, Brian Flatgard, Rev. Len Hoffman, Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Laura Musfeldt, Mark Myers, Carol Paulsen, Terri Polk, Rev. Christine Stoxen, and Theresa Thornburgh.
Read MoreWe give thanks to God for the many people and organizations who helped us reach our initial Growing Generosity goal. Together, in ways big and small, we fulfill our call to connect people, create possibilities, and communicate Jesus.
In this post, we gratefully list those who have given to our appeal.
Read MoreThrough the generosity of individuals and congregations, together, as Grand Canyon Synod, we raised more than $500,000 within the first year of our three-year appeal.
In gratitude for, and in light of this success, the Growing Generosity Task Force has challenged us to seek additional $250,000 by the end of 2023. The plans for these additional funds will benefit Lutheran Campus Ministries, new & emerging ministries, and our advocacy efforts.
If you have already made a gift or pledge, thank you. If you are able to make a second gift, or if you still considering a gift, please check out our website or contact any member of the Task Force.
Read MoreThrough the incredible generosity of our synod, we have reached our initial goal of $500,000 for our Growing Generosity Appeal, nearly two years ahead of 12/31/2023 schedule!
As of this post, we have $533,289 in pledges and gifts, with over 90% of gifts received. Our initial goal funded three initiatives:
Growing Financial Viability: $150,000 for a Lilly 3E dollar-for-dollar grant, providing a total of $300,000 for our synod.
Growing Future Ministries: $250,000 raised for Lutheran Campus Ministry ($100,000) and new & emerging ministries ($150,000).
Growing Fervent Voices: $100,000 raised for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA, $70,000) and Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN, $30,000).
The Lutheran Church of Senegal elected Rev. Latyr Diouf as the new President. Église Luthérienne du Senegal is the accompanying church to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Gambia. Blessings to the outgoing leader, Rev. Adama Faye, for his leadership.
Read MoreWe share advocacy updates from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. as well as the UN and state edition, including U.N., Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In this post we feature and highlight the update from Solveig Muus, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA).
Read MoreEcumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) is an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists. Lutherans in attendance have denomination-specific opportunities to get to know one another and vision what we can do together!
#EAD2022 is a virtual gathering, held Wednesday through Friday, April 25-27, 2022. Scholarship opportunities are in this post and more info is at advocacydays.org.
Read MoreELCA World Hunger shares a five point blog post series on the many ways that violent conflict impacts hunger. Learn more how the war in Ukraine will affect food security, food production, food access, food utilization, and stability in the short and long term.
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