Donna Campbell (wife of Pastor Paul Campbell at Ascension Lutheran, Paradise Valley) received the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2019 Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (AAGT) Annual Conference in February where 500 teachers, parents and advocates joined in the celebration.
Read MoreThe 2019 Theme is MOVEMENT: Mission, Body, and Justice.
Join other youth leaders, directors, and pastors April 23-26 on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary for a 4-day youth ministry conference. We believe that lives and communities will be transformed when theological reflection meets practical application. More information at iymforum.ptsem.edu.
Read MoreI’m an avid hiker. I’ve hiked many Arizona trails, as well as a portion of the Camino de Santiago and the Dales Way in England. I have a pretty good sense of direction. But sometimes, I do get lost.
Read MoreActive and Rostered Leaders, forms for your annual reports to the Bishop are available on the Grand Canyon Synod website. Bishop Hutterer looks forward to your responses. Please complete by March 8, 2019.
Read MoreFrom Pastor Lars Hammar comes Open Space’s first newsletter. Click here to view it in PDF.
An excerpt: “We did a special ‘encounter’ worship and it was awesome. Great ambient music from Rex Garcia while we built, created, drew, sculpted and prayed. Truly interactive worship.” Learn more at www.openspacetucson.com.
Read MoreThe ELCA has formed a preferred vendor agreement with Vanco, allowing congregations to accept gifts and payments through credit and debit cards, websites, card readers, text messages and a mobile app.
Read MoreRead the minutes from the synod council meeting on February 23, 2019, in PDF format or in a Word document.
Read MoreAll across America, churches are closing. Instead of focusing on solving the intractable problem of why churches are closing, forward-thinking leaders will try to learn from models that are thriving.
Read MoreThis ELCA statement on gender identity discrimination is an important reminder in light of the recent Supreme Court decision allowing the president’s restrictions on transgender individuals in the military.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer offered the opening prayer for the Nevada State Assembly on Thursday, February 7, 2019, then spoke at a luncheon for Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN).
Read MoreSeasonal times of the church year like Lent and Easter are perfect times to raise awareness for issues surrounding hunger and poverty. If your congregation plans to use any of the ELCA 40 Days of Giving materials for the Lenten Season, they need to be ordered now. Follow this link to place your order: https://www.elca.org/Resources/ELCA-World-Hunger
Read MoreCongregations can be vulnerable to legal issues and liabilities related to corporate status, taxes, property, insurance and abuse prevention. Many of these problems can be avoided by using an ELCA-prepared checklist of key issues for congregations to address.
In a free webinar at 11 a.m. (Mountain Time) on Thursday, Feb. 21, the ELCA legal staff will discuss this checklist and best legal practices for congregations. The webinar should be of particular interest to rostered ministers and lay congregational leaders and staff, including congregation council members and officers, church administrators, and pastors and deacons. Register by Feb. 15
Read MoreIn memory of Pastor Roger S. Johnson, February 19, 1931 – January 29, 2019
Pastor Johnson served in the Grand Canyon Synod at Good Samaritan Hospital from 1976 until his retirement in 1996.
Read MoreThis “Perspectives on the Border” webinar series on immigration is a partnership project with Rev. Dr. Jay Alanis, the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest (LSPS), and the following ELCA synods: Grand Canyon, Gulf Coast, Pacifica, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, Rocky Mountain, and Southwestern Texas. Register here.
Session I: Living in Third Spaces (March 7, 3pm Central)
Session II: Borderland Perspectives on Diverse Worldviews (March 21, 3pm Central)
Session III: Theological Perspectives from the U.S. – Mexico Borderlands (March 28, 3pm Central)
Back in 1994, before I attended seminary, I was working at a church in the Midwest as the parish life coordinator. In many ways, it was a dream job. I felt called to do this work.
Toward the end of my first year in the position, conflict began to brew. Some church leaders did not agree with how the pastor and staff (of which I was a part) were going about the work of the church and outreach efforts. It was ugly. It felt personal.
Read MoreYou are cordially invited to the dedication of La Sagrada Familia Lutheran Church.
February 10, 2019 at 4:00 pm, 2500 East Campo Bello Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85032.
Fellowship and Refreshments to follow.
Read MoreStories of Joy and Desert Cross, Tempe, went to the movie last weekend, and it was an afternoon of pure JOY! Through a generous grant, SOJ was able to treat families from the Kyrene Resource Center to a private screening of The Grinch. We provided tickets, popcorn, and drinks. The movie provided the laughs, smiles, and joy!
The Kyrene Resource Center is an amazing non-profit that supports families in the Kyrene School District in Tempe, AZ with food, clothing, hygiene products, and schools supplies. You can check them out at Kyrene Resource Center.
Read MoreIf 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.
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