Installation of The Rev. Debbie Royals

View photos from the installation of The Rev. Debbie Royals as Vicar of St Raphael’s, Benson. She is the only native priest in the Episcopal diocese. The parish is a joint Episcopal/Lutheran congregation, and this is the first time both bishops, Bishop Hutterer and Smith, have done such an installation together. Rev. Royals made Bishop Smith’s vestments for the occasion! 

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Choir risers available: Mt. Olive, Lake Havasu City, AZ

Pastor Craig Corbin from Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Lake Havasu City, writes that they have choir risers available. “Dimensions: 18-18.5 feet wide, 3.5-4 feet deep when recessed against the wall. When extended 18 ft wide by 11-12 feet. Like new, hardly used. The price is right, as in, give us an offer.” Contact, Rev. Craig M. Corbin,  928-855-2299 (O) or email revcmcorbin@gmail.com, text 715-338-2325.

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Brian FlatgardComment
Volunteer: coordinate exhibitor display tables at Synod Assembly

Exhibitor display tables are an important part of the Synod Assembly. They give our ministry partners an opportunity to tell people in our synod about their ministries. Would you be interested in helping coordinate the display tables? The coordinator would work in tandem with the synod office to contact the list of exhibitors, get them registered and provide our guidelines for tables. This would take place in February and March. The coordinator would also oversee the set-up of the display table space at the Synod Assembly in June. Please contact Norine Floyd at office@gcsynod.org or 602-957-3223 for more details.

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Bishop's Letter: Living Your Vocation

What is a vocation? I used to think that a vocation was some big thing. A one true grand calling in life with which we are somehow anointed.  But as I reflect on this quote from Martin Luther during this season of Epiphany, I am reminded that this is not the case. 

Any work done in faith can be a vocation. We are all made holy through baptism in Christ to do holy work. 

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Greater Phoenix Cancer Companions Luncheon
  • When: Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 – 12:00 – 1:00pm 

  • Where: Olive Garden – 1010 W. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 

  • Topic, Cancer & The Church: Cancer needs are more complex to minister to because of typical short hospital stays yet long term treatment. Karen Tripp, MS, LMFT will offer strategies for volunteers to develop successful cancer ministries to impact your church and community through the Cancer Companions Program.

  • Speaker: Karen Tripp MS LMFT  Christian Counselor, Author and President of Cancer Companions. 

  • Who:  For anyone interested in impacting cancer in their church and community. Lay members, Pastors, Parish nurses, Cancer survivors, Caregivers, Chaplains, Hospice workers,  Stephen Ministers, Care teams.

  • To Register and for more Informationhttps://www.cancer-companions.org/events/arizona/ or info@cancer-companions.org or 314-814-0044. Come join us for lunch and learn more about Cancer Companions.

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Brian FlatgardComment
StewardCast 2019

Saturday March 9th 9:30 am - 11:00 am MST. You are invited to participate webcast on stewardship topics to enhance vitality in your congregation. The webcast will introduce a new resource: Generosity 365. On the morning of March 9, simply go to https://www.elca.org/stewardship and click on the widget titled “stewardCast2019.” 

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Brian FlatgardComment
Bishop's Letter: What does Christmas really mean?

I was having coffee with a hiking friend the other morning and we were talking about Christmas. My friend recently joined an ELCA congregation after many years of questioning her faith in the Gospel.

She shared her joy at re-discovering Christ's birth this Christmas. In the midst of shopping, parties, and festivities, she has valued the quiet times and pausing to gaze upon the Christ-child in the manger.  

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