Our advocacy takes many forms with long-term and immediate aims, and ELCA Witness in Society staff are active equipping members, building influential relationships with policy makers, networking strategically with other concerned partners, researching policy pieces and their impacts and inviting our ELCA Advocacy Network to action at impactful moments.
One timely way we can act as ELCA is to sign on with others to offer pointed comments to decision makers when developments demand.
Read MoreThe Liaison Roundtable for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) will meet the third Monday of the month at 6:30pm (Arizona) via Zoom, with the first meeting on Monday, 10/17/2022, 6:30pm MST/PDT, 7:30pm MDT.
These discussions offer an opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics about congregational engagement in advocacy.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop presents a free Creating Communications Connections webinar on Tuesday, 10/11/2022, at 5pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Click here to register.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, join Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications, for an overview of communications basics and strategy, followed by a question-and-answer discussion. Tailored to the ministries, congregations and organizations of the Grand Canyon Synod, we’ll use real-life examples for clarity and inspiration.
Read MoreNew resources are now available from ELCA World Hunger to enrich the life of your congregation in Advent 2022 and Lent 2023! The theme for the new seasonal materials is "A Journey Through the Psalms With ELCA World Hunger." Download free versions at ELCA.org/hunger/resources.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop attends the Synod Council and Dean Retreat this weekend, in addition to ongoing meetings and day-to-day operations.
Read MoreWe celebrate the following ordination anniversaries this week:
Rev. Gary Ulrich, who celebrates 43 years on September 24.
Rev. Ryan Hersch, Peace, Peoria, who celebrates 19 years on September 27.
Rev. Carl Braaten, who celebrates 64 years on September 28.
ELCA World Hunger announces two more “Hunger at the Crossroads” webinars on conflict and hunger and health and hunger. You are invited to join ELCA World Hunger staff and experts to learn about the intersections of these important topics. Learn more and register here or in this post. Watch the recordings of previous “Hunger at the Crossroads” webinars here.
Read MoreAs a thank you to the Grand Canyon Synod for their support of Lutheran Campus Ministries, the students of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona share a beachside video update from the 43rd Annual Labor Day Weekend Retreat in San Diego.
Read MoreOur Northeast Valley Consortium chose foster children as the focus of service projects for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, 9/11/2022. In this post, the consortium shares photos and the story of their work for the non-profit Arizona Helping Hands.
“Together we packed 440 personal hygiene kits for Arizona Helping Hands. All five churches — New Journey Lutheran (Fountain Hills), Christ the Lord Lutheran (Carefree), Living Water Lutheran (Scottsdale), New Covenant Lutheran (Scottsdale), and Ascension Lutheran (Paradise Valley) — collaborated to support Arizona’s leading provider of necessities to young children, teens, and infants who are making transitions to foster care or among foster care placements.”
Read MoreOur Saviour's Lutheran (1212 E Glendale, Phoenix), celebrates their new organ with a concert featuring Dan Miller on Friday, 10/20/2022 at 7pm. There is no charge for this joyous event.
Come and experience a newly installed Rodgers hybrid organ incorporating the pipework from a previous 1969 13 rank Tellers organ.
Read MoreAcross 18 years in the Negro Leagues, Norman Thomas “Turkey” Stearnes parlayed power and speed into enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
But his daughter Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown, the choir director and organist of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Warren, Mich., is just as impressed by what her father achieved through force of will as an older-than-average schoolboy.
Read MorePastor Jonathan Linman will be installed at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church (801 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014) on Wednesday, 10/5/2022 at 6 pm with a reception following. Bishop Deborah Hutterer will preach.
Rostered ministers are invited to vest and be part of a procession. The color will be white for saints as we also commemorate Francis of Assisi on this day. Rostered ministers can send RSVPs to worship@faithalive.com for further instruction around arrival time and where to meet.
Read MoreAfter nearly two years of research and writing, Ryan Panzer is excited to share that "The Holy and the Hybrid" is available now to readers. Download the first chapters of The Holy and the Hybrid from Luther Seminary, or buy now wherever books are sold!
You can also listen to a podcast with Ryan Dunn, host of Pastoring in the Digital Parish. In this conversation, they talk about the cultural changes affecting ministry in a digital age.
Read MoreThe updated 2022 Model Constitution for Congregations is now available at ELCA.org.
It is recommended that ELCA congregations and synods review the adopted amendments for their constitutions as soon as possible after each churchwide assembly to incorporate the required changes and to consider the recommended changes.
Read MoreELCA Worship shares their September, 2022 newsletter, including:
Readings for the Assembly (Emended) is available for provisional use
Upcoming ALCM Webinar, “Tried and True—With a Twist!”: Friday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m. Eastern time
Music that Makes Community: Advent Planning workshop and other events and resources
Journey to Baptismal Living: North American Association for the Catechumenate
We share the September, 2022 update from Lutheran Social Services Nevada (LSSN), featuring: the importance of meaningful relationships to fight social isolation and despair; a news feature including LSSN from CBS News Now; updates on their back to school drive (823 children served, 265 backpacks); and their open air market, serving 648 people from 204 households.
Read MoreSometime in July/August of 2025, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held in Phoenix. Part of the proceedings will be a presentation from the recently established Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, which will reconsider the denomination’s organizational structure and its statements of purpose.
Read MoreELCA Disability Ministries shares their September, 2022 newsletter featuring:
Worship Designed for All: A Deep-rooted History of Lutheran Accessibility
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Updated ELCA Find a Congregation page with accessibility options
Lutherans Restoring Creation shares their September, 2022 Good Green News, which contains follows up on the Churchwide Assembly vote to take dedicated action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, promising the infrastructure to help us all work for a Just Transition to less harmful energy production and consumption.
View the newsletter here, as well as stories and resources that are shared in their variety of events and local ministries.
Read More
