The European Union is a world leader when it comes to replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy. But that won’t be enough to keep Europe warm this winter, as a fuel crisis the likes of which hasn’t been seen since World War II grips the continent.
Read MoreWe continue our series of weekly reflections on the 2022 Churchwide Assembly with thoughts from Pastor Matthew Metevelis of Living Hope Lutheran in Las Vegas.
“The ELCA stands right now between a storied past and an uncertain future. Voting members at the ELCA’s 2022 Churchwide Assembly gathered at a crossroads. We worshipped in the very room where our predecessor bodies merged in 1987.”
Read MoreRegister now for this Upcoming Connections Calls: Doctrine of Discovery's Roots in Climate Injustice, Tuesday, October 25th, 2022, 5pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT.
They will watch Are We There Yet? together. We are fortunate to screen the 30-minute film and hear directly from its creators. Don't miss this - it will not be recorded. See trailer and register here.
Read MoreJoin ELCA Coaching every Wednesday at 11am MST/PDT, noon MDT, as we practice Courageous Leadership. Log in info is on the ELCA Coaching website.
Join us next week on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 as we hear from Rev. Becca Ehrlich. Minimalism is a focus on the aspects of life that matter most and intentionally removing everything else. There is a direct connection between minimalism and the Christian life.
Read MoreThe Spirited Book Club discusses New York Times bestselling author Anne Lamott’s Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. The online club is FREE, register here for the Thursday, 11/3/2022 event from 2-3pm MST/PDT, 3-4pm MDT.
From Anne Lamott, the New York Times-bestselling author of Dusk, Night, Dawn and Help, Thanks, Wow, comes the book we need from her now: How to bring hope back into our lives.
Read MoreOpportunity to join Desert Cross Lutheran Church Staff in Tempe, Arizona, as our Church Office Administrator. If interested, please send your resume to councilpresident@desertcross.org. View job description as Word document or PDF.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop staff travels for meetings and worship, and facilitates upcoming grants. We also share photos from the Bishop’s Fall Gathering at the Franciscan Renewal Center.
Read MoreRev. David Swan, who celebrates 49 years on October 21.
Rev. Mitchell Eickmann, Pan de Vida, El Mirage, who celebrates 38 years on October 22.
Rev. Amalia Vagts, Our Saviour’s, Tucson, who celebrates 1 years on October 23.
Rev. Sarah Stadler, Grace, Phoenix, who celebrates 16 years on October 25.
Rev. John Lillie, who celebrates 42 years on October 26.
Rev. Daniel Valasakos, Mount Zion, Tucson, who celebrates 26 years on October 26.
Join ELCA World Hunger for this special World Food Day event hosted by Rick Steves to learn something new about the complex food crisis our world faces and see your generosity in action, funding creative and sustainable solutions in the work to end hunger. Learn more and give today by visiting: ELCA.org/WorldFoodDay
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is coordinating a response with the Florida-Bahamas Synod. The synod is providing small relief grants to impacted families and will continue to offer relief as additional needs are identified. LDR is sending a group of pastors to impacted areas to offer respite and emotional and spiritual care.
Read MoreWe continue our series of weekly reflections on the 2022 Churchwide Assembly with thoughts from Synod Vice President Barbara Carl.
“At Churchwide Assembly, I gained a deeper appreciation that we of this church, the ELCA, are deeply connected. We are truly church together.”
Read MoreWe share the video and resources from our Creating Communications Connections webinar on Tuesday, 10/11/2022. Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications, presented an overview of communications basics and strategy. Watch the webinar here with the passcode: 0mCcG5?g
View ELCA congregational communication tools and branding, view our synod’s communication guidelines, and this great principles of design article.
Read MoreThe Ordination and Installation of Verónica Alvarez as Associate Pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church/ Iglesia Evangélica Luterana La Fe (801 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014) will take place on Reformation Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 4pm with a reception following. Bishop Deborah Hutterer will preach and preside.
Alvarez is the first Grand Canyon Synod Diakonia graduate to be ordained. She graduated in May, 2022 from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
Rostered ministers are invited to vest and be part of a procession. The color of the day will be red. Rostered ministers can send RSVPs to worship@faithalive.com for further instruction around arrival time and where to meet.
Read MoreThanks to a gift from Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley honoring the legacy of member Orpha Hoganson, Manna Grants were awarded for new and continuing projects that work to alleviate hunger and address the root causes of hunger within the Grand Canyon Synod. A full list of recipients is in this post.
Read MoreThe Northeast Valley Consortium is hosting "Hope in a Troubled World," an interfaith prayer gathering, on Wednesday, 10/26/2022 at noon MST/PDT, 1pm MDT. Email HopeInOurWorldNow@gmail.com to register and receive the Zoom link.
Agnieszka Godfrejow-Tarnogorska, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, shares powerful stories from the war in Ukraine.
Ryan Cummings, Program Director, ELCA World Hunger, shares inspiring stories about our hunger crisis.
Rabbi Sara Mason-Barker, Executive Education, Congregation Beth Israel, shares hopeful stories of faith amidst troubled times.
Ron Bonnstetter shares Native American flute music.
The Inside Out Network (ION), a ministry birthed in an ELCA congregation and identified as a strategic ministry by the Grand Canyon Synod, is seeking input from congregations that intentionally minister with and to people leaving incarceration. Click here to take the Reentry Congregations Initiative Survey, which takes no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Read MoreSt. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oak Harbor, Ohio: Elementary general music teacher
“Attending church with my mom and grandparents is one of my earliest memories. My grandmother would hold me on her lap and rock me during the church service. Today I still hold this memory close to my heart, as I always felt safe and loved in her arms.”
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop focuses on the Bishop’s Fall Gathering at the Franciscan Renewal Center this week. We also share photos from the Installation of Rev. Jonathan Linman and other events.
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