At the Office of the Bishop, we prepare for upcoming fall events and the Installation of Rev. Jose Valenzuela at Community of Grace in Peoria and other upcoming installations.
Read More
Rev. Stephen Hilding, Tanque Verde, Tucson, who celebrates 5 years on July 15.
Rev. Sherwood Glover, who celebrates 49 years on July 15.
Rev. James Price, who celebrates 25 years on July 15.
Rev. Erin Morris, Resurrection, Oro Valley, who celebrates 3 years on July 15.
Rev. Rick Alpers, who celebrates 36 years on July 16.
Rev. Mark Huggenvik, who celebrates 50 years on July 16.
Rev. Alan Field, who celebrates 37 years on July 18.
Rev. Karn Carroll, Our Saviour’s, Phoenix, who celebrates 23 years on July 18.
Deacon Lana Neighbors, Honor Health, Scottsdale, who celebrates 25 years on July 20.
Rev. Robert Jones, Santa Cruz, Tucson, who celebrates 39 years on July 21.
Rev. Dennis Nelson, who celebrates 48 years on July 21.
Rev. Harold Kriesel, who celebrates 54 years on July 21.
Rev. Richard Miller, who celebrates 54 years on July 21.
ELCA Global Mission shares their July 2022 Global links newsletters, which introduces the new YAGM volunteers, new mission personnel, and ways to get involved. View online or download a pdf version.
Read More
Diakonia presents an Exploring Your Spiritual Gifts Retreat via Zoom, August 6, 13, and 20 2022, 9am-12pm MST/PDT, 10am-1pm MDT.
Come join us on this adventure of discernment and answer the questions you have been asking yourself. All are welcome! Register at diakonia.education > Home Page > Events/Retreats. View info as PDF.
Read More
The summer 2022 edition of Promise, Mosaic’s national magazine, is now on their website for easy reading. Click here to read the latest edition.
As the end of our Called to be Bold multi-year, comprehensive fundraising campaign closes, we share more stories in this issue of how heartfelt donor generosity continues to enable those we serve to lead BOLD lives in the way they choose–and on their own terms.
Read More
RSVP for Poll Monitor Training & Poll Worker Introduction via Zoom. Click a date to RSVP: July 13th, 14th, 19th, and 23rd, 2022. This workshop will be given by the Election Protection AZ Partners: All Voting is Local, Arizona Democracy Resource Center, and Native Vote.
From ELCA Votes: “We are called to conversation and prayer around our role as U.S. residents and as people of faith in ensuring our election systems promote dignity and respect for all.”
Read More
We update this post with news of a memorial service to be held at Central Lutheran (12921 Sunland Gin Rd, Arizona City, AZ 85123), on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 11 am. A luncheon will follow the service. All clergy are invited to arrive by 10:30 am to vest and process. Color of the day will be white.
We pray for Rev. Robert Kleinke’s family and friends, especially his wife Joanne, after his death on July 12, 2022, following hospitalization while visiting family in Minnesota. He passed peacefully with his family alongside at St. Luke Hospital, Duluth MN. Pastor Bob Kleinke was recently an interim pastor at Central Lutheran in Arizona City and Casa Grande.
Read More
We pray for the family of Rev. Howard E. Wennes, especially his wife Mary, after his death on July 12, 2022, following a recent hospitalization. Pastor Howie Wennes is bishop emeritus of the Grand Canyon Synod (June 20, 1987 – August 31, 2001), and president emeritus of California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks.
7/14/2022: We update this post with obituary and service information, as well as a letter of remembrance from Lori E. Varlotta, Ph.D., President of California Lutheran University.
Read More
On Sunday, July 3rd, Camp Pinerock in Prescott, AZ welcomed fifty- five students (6th-11th grade) from the Grand Canyon Synod to Campformation 2022. In addition, twenty-four young adults (11th grade-22yrs) served as counselors; leading small groups, worship, Bible study discussions, and guiding campers throughout the week.
During the week students also had the opportunity to meet and worship alongside Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Jacqui Pagel. More info and lots of photos in this post…
Read More
We share the video from Rev. Jay Alanis’ reflection titled, The Walk to Emaus, La Caminata a Emaús. It is the first pre-event of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2022.
In preparation for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, ELCA members are encouraged to participate in a series of online Bible studies that will explore the assembly theme, "Embody the Word," from Luke 24. Register here for the live Bible study series held on Zoom.
Read More
Lutheran Disaster Response has raised over $10 million in support of refugees and internally displaced people in Ukraine and surrounding countries. New partnerships in Eastern Europe include L’Arche, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), and Lutheran World Federation.
This post also has a partner update from the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia (ECACS).
Read More
Africa: The Lutheran communion offers “a space to discern together”
Africa: Together to consolidate the Lutheran communion in the region
LWF President Musa visits member churches and partners in Germany
Bolivia: “Inclusion is a teaching of our Lord that the Aymara, Quechua people have always lived”
Kenya: Youth project “Fit for climate justice” draws lively engagement
We pray for Rev. Howard E. Wennes and his family as he is in the ICU. You can follow his medical updates on this CaringBridge page.
Pastor Howie Wennes was the first bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod, June 20, 1987 – August 31, 2001.
Read More
The installation service for Pastor Jose Valenzuela will be on Sunday, 7/17/2022 at the 9 and 10:30 am worship services at Community of Grace in Peoria (10561 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Peoria, AZ 85383).
Read More
The installation service for Pastor Erin Morris will be on Saturday, 7/30/2022 at 5pm MST at Resurrection Lutheran Church at the Oro Valley Sanctuary (11575 North 1st Avenue, Oro Valley, AZ 85737).
Dinner reception immediately following in the Outreach Center. Kindly make reservations by 7/18/2022 here.
Rostered ministers are invited to process. The color of the day is green.
Read More
Vacation and meetings and conferences continue for the Office of the Bishop, as well as planning and day-to-day activities.
Read More
Grand Canyon Synod campus ministry leaders were in retreat in Federal Way, WA June 26-29, with their colleagues from the West to share ideas, look forward to the future, and offer support to one another.
In attendance were Campus Minister Brad Eubanks, NAU, Campus Pastor Gary McCluskey, ASU, Campus Pastor Rebecca Boardman, U of A.
Read More
Leadership Lab, a youth ministry program of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), successfully returned to meeting in person on the Augustana College campus from June 20th - 25th. The Grand Canyon Synod saw participants from Living Hope Lutheran - Las Vegas, Good Samaritan- Las Vegas, Central Lutheran, Arizona City & Casa Grande AZ, and Holy Trinity Lutheran- Chandler. View photos and more info in this post.
Read More