If your congregation has a set of hand-chimes that are not being used, perhaps collecting dust in your music closet, we would be happy to discuss purchasing them! Please contact Pastor John Lillie, Lutheran Church of the Foothills, Tucson, AZ (520) 299-5631, or pastor@foothillslutheran.org.
Read MoreSend hogs ‘n’ kisses to your valentine! Give in ELCA Good Gifts honor of your valentine, and help support creative, sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty.
Read MoreSometimes the office of the Bishop looks like this.
View more great photos and follow Bishop Hutterer on Instagram @bishophutterer.
Read MorePastor Kristin Engstrom, the Country Coordinator for the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program in Senegal, shares her latest newsletter. Each year, six to seven young adults from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America join her in Senegal, where they serve for one year with our partners in the Lutheran Church of Senegal and Senegalese Lutheran Development Services.
You can support Pastor Kristin's work by giving through ELCA Global Church Sponsorship. To receive the newsletter, visit the YAGM website and ask to receive it via the contact page.
Read MoreFrom Rob Blezard: “Dear Colleagues, Attached is the monthly “Stewardship Toolkit” I prepare for congregations in my synod. It includes a newsletter article, RCL-based stewardship blurbs for each Sunday bulletin, as well as links to teach, preach, think and do stewardship. The theme of the newsletter article and links is “Holistic stewardship for Lent.” Please use or distribute as you see fit. Also, I’ve launched a blog of current and archival postings on stewardship: www.thestewardshipguy.com.
Blessings, The Rev. Robert C. Blezard, Assistant to the Bishop, Lower Susquehanna Synod”
Read MoreBless the ministry of La Sagrada Familia as they move into their new worship space.
Read MoreUplift the faith community of New Journey, Fountain Hills as they celebrate five years of ministry.
Read MoreRejoice with the congregation of Christ Lutheran, Las Vegas as they celebrate fifty-five years of ministry.
Read MorePrayers for Helen Hoffman (wife of Pastor Les Hoffman) as she recovers from complete shoulder replacement and a fractured kneecap after a fall.
Read MoreIn memory of Pastor Otto Wedul
December 19, 1928 – January 4, 2019
Eternal rest grant unto him , O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him .
May the soul of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Pastor Wedul served in the Grand Canyon Synod at American Lutheran Church in Sun City from 1986 until his retirement in 1998.
If you would like to send a condolence card to his wife Audrey, please contact the synod office for the address.
Read MoreWhat is to be done? Our congregations are growing older and smaller. At least 40 percent of our congregations have an average weekly worship attendance of 50 or less. ELCA membership decreases by 70,000 people a year, or roughly the loss of a synod per year. Clergy retirements outnumber new candidates for ministry. Financial pressures and building maintenance create stress. There is a dearth of people in their 20s and 30s in our pews. How do we change this? How do we reverse the trends?
These are anxious questions that come from anxious people across this church. We aren’t the only ones asking them—just about every mainline denomination, including the non-Latino population of the Roman Catholic Church, is in the same boat. Even some megachurches are showing signs of plateau or decline. And this is not exclusive to the Christian community. I once attended a national conference of Muslims where one workshop was titled “Un-Mosqued to Mosqued: How to Get the Young Muslim Back to the Masjid.”
Some now see the decline of the church in general, and the ELCA in particular, as inevitable. The response can be to turn our churches into bunkers with our congregations sheltering within the walls or to try every new program that breathlessly promises to attract people to our congregations. Neither is an effective or faithful long-term strategy.
I think we are asking the wrong questions.
The questions we are asking have to do about us: “What can we do?” They express loss and grief and fear—loss and grief for what we were and fear about what we will become. Not only do these questions not lead to productive answers, they also don’t point to hope. It’s as if the church’s one foundation rests on us and our efforts.
I think we need to ask: “What is God up to?”
Read MoreForm A & C Parochial Reports, which are due February 15, 2019, are available on the ELCA.org Office of the Secretary resource page. These reports as well as many types of other resources can be found the page, which provides a visual way to explore and download resources the ELCA has available. You may also use the ELCA’s powerful search engine to find other resources not listed here.
Read MoreOur Saviour’s Lutheran in Phoenix is looking for a part-time Property Maintenance Coordinator.View this PDF for the position description.To apply, candidates should send a resume to Pastor Karn Carroll at pastorkarn@oslconline.org.
Read MoreSierra Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC) is searching for a part-time Music/Choir director to lead the Congregation in worshipful music and singing at regular and special services. This position supervises the SELC organist and the Contemporary Worship team leader(s) as well. Hours will vary as required. If interested please contact the church office at 520-459-0444, admin@selcaz.org or go to our website.
Read MoreThis weekend’s spring gathering of Rio Salado, Fiesta and Northeast Valley Conferences at Bethlehem in Mesa will have the Phoenix Marathon being run to the east of Bethlehem. Entering the area from North 202 and Gilbert over to McDowell will ensure access to the spring gathering at Bethlehem. Please allow extra time and plan your travel accordingly.
Feb. 9: NE Valley, Rio Salado and Fiesta Conference: Bethlehem Lutheran, Mesa, 9 a.m. - noon
As we continue the strategic planning that began with the 2018 Synod Assembly, anyone from the Grand Canyon Synod is encouraged to join the conversation. The GCS Synod Council invites all people from congregations to participate in this conversation. Your voice helps to shape our future as church together, better together for the sake of the gospel.
Read MoreDick Beckman, Love of Christ Lutheran Church, writes that they have choir risers available. “There are four individual risers—each one is 5 feet wide so a total width of 20 feet. We would like to sell these as a set for $2,500.00. They are in good shape.” Contact Dick Beckman, Love of Christ Lutheran Church, 480-981-3550, dickbeckman@loclc.org.
Read MoreThe outreach coordinator will coordinate and oversee the summer heat respite program. Send your resume, cover letter, and at least two references to Pastor Sarah Stadler at pastorsarah@graceinthecity.com. For questions, you may reach Pastor Sarah at the Grace office at 602-258-3787.
Read MoreNew Song Lutheran Church in Henderson, Nevada is looking to fill a position for a Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries. Please submit cover letter and resume to info@newsonganthem.org or mail to: New Song Lutheran Church, 1291 Cornet Street, Henderson, Nevada 89052,
Read MorePhotos from Rev. Jacqueline Pagel, Bishop’s Associate for Candidacy and Faith Formation, at the Arizona Faith Network Service for Christian Unity at Shepherd of the Hills, UCC on January 23, 2018.
Read MoreView 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!
Read More
