The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically April 20, 2023. The council serves as the ELCA churchwide organization's board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly.
Read MoreOur team is excited to share that the application process for Domestic Hunger Grants will open May 1, 2023. For those who are familiar with the Domestic Hunger Grants, this year’s process will look a bit different, but we hope that the changes described below will improve the process in some important ways. To learn more about the updated process and how to apply, please visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants.
Read MoreThe Ordination and Installation of Tim Perlick will be Saturday, May 13, 2023, 3pm, at Mount of Olives Lutheran Church (3546 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018). Bishop Hutterer will be presiding. Rev. Stephen Talmage is preaching. A reception will follow.
Rostered Ministers are invited to robe and process. Color of the day is red. There will be a reception following the service.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop continues assembly planning, and travels to various congregations and ministries around our synod, including Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future, Apr 29, 2023, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, a Luther Seminary panel hosted by NE Valley Consortium.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Kevin Meyer, LSS-SW, Phoenix and Covenant, Quartzsite, who celebrates 28 years on April 30.
Deacon Sally Almen, who celebrates 36 years on April 30.
Rev. Melissa Harr, who celebrates 12 years on May 1.
Deacon Don Burgess, who celebrates 18 years on May 1.
All of our synod’s counties are at at low levels except Greenlee and Apache counties, which are at medium level.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
Read MoreRev. Dan Potaznick, Director of Generosity and Strategic Development, shares a note about his time with Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria.
“This weekend I visited Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria to give thanks, and it was a busy Sunday. Young members celebrated their first communion, the congregation kicked off their spring endowment drive, and members of both All Saints Lutheran (Phoenix) and Peace Lutheran joined together as a joint choir.
If that wasn't enough for one Sunday, after worship I joined members & visitors to pack 800 pounds, or 1200 bags, of rice and beans for the West Valley Community Food Pantry.”
Read MoreIn this blog post from the ELCA, you’ll find
The ELCA Church Council just adopted the church’s sixteenth social message, titled “Earth’s Climate Crisis“
Ecumenical Conference on Faith and Climate Justice in Puerto Rico
Equity is the Path to Sustainability
A Message from Anglican, Lutheran Leaders for Earth Day 2023
ReconcilingWorks continues to accompany Reconciling in Christ (RIC) partners in updating their Public Partner Commitments, and through regional RIC partner zoom calls, they are looking forward to providing another opportunity of support. Our Region 2 call is Tuesday, 5/2/2023, 12-2pm MST/PDT, 1-3pm MDT. Click here to register.
Read MoreThe Rocky Mountain Synod is providing a bread baking workshop on Saturday, 5/6/2023, from 8am-noon MST/PDT, 9am-1pm MDT. Breads being made include a gluten-free communion bread, and fougasse, a French bread. Get more info and register here.
Read MoreIs the Holy Spirit stirring within you to accept this call to be a Servant Coach or Companion at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans?
Applications to be a Servant Companion Coach are open through June 2. Apply Here!
Applications for Servant Companions will open on June 15. Get more information on Volunteering of the Gathering here.
Arizona Faith Network shares many upcoming events and news in their latest newsletter.
Read MoreJoin ELCA Coaching every Wednesday at 11am MST/PDT, 12pm MDT, as we practice Courageous Leadership. Log in info is on the ELCA Coaching website.
Join us Wednesday, April 26, 2023, as we hear from parent, author, and ELCA Coach Jamie Bruesehoff, who will share experience as a parent of a transgender young person and what it has taught her about boldly, loudly, and joyfully celebrating the young people in our midst and advocating for them in our ministry settings and beyond.
Read MoreArizona Faith Network provides a page full of Earth Day events, celebrations, resources, and ways to get involved. View the page here.
Read MoreDid you know that over 1,000 Arizonans have died in the past two years due to heat-related and heat-caused illnesses?
Arizona Faith Network has launched the 2023 Heat Relief Initiative to help establish faith-based hydration, cooling, and heat relief respite centers throughout the Phoenix Valley. Their web page offers many options for organizations and individuals to be involved. Multiple job openings are available for Heat Respite Site Lead and Heat Respite Site Assistant.
AFN is also holding an Extreme Heat Webinar, Tuesday, 4/25/2023, noon-1pm MST/PDT, via Zoom. Register for the webinar here.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod has the opportunity to provide 10 scholarships for Stewardship for All Seasons. This will be the last year that a $2,900 scholarship will be provided, making the costs to our congregations only $250 for a quality yearlong stewardship program. View a PDF flyer here.
The cohort begins May 27, 2023, so please notify Pr. Miguel Gomez-Acosta if you are interested in participating by May 4, 2023.
These scholarships are made possible because of our partnership with Rocky Mountain Synod and the Lilly Endowment, as well as your generous donations to the Growing Generosity Appeal.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop meets with the assembly planning team, and travel to various congregations and ministries around our synod, including to the Installation of Rev. Doug Moffat at Faith, Yuma, Apr 23, 2023, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Deacon Mary Jayne Baker, who celebrates 11 years on April 22.
Rev. Stephen J. Hammer, who celebrates 41 years on April 25.
Rev. Debra Slifer, who celebrates 36 years on April 25.
Rev. Diane Drach-Meinel, Christ the Servant, Henderson, who celebrates 36 years on April 26.
Rev. David Drach-Meinel, who celebrates 36 years on April 26.
All of our synod’s counties are at at low levels except Greenlee County, which is at medium level.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
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