We pray for the family of Pastor John Cockram who passed away on May 23rd. Pastor John retired to Oregon, but served in the Grand Canyon Synod at Shepherd of the Desert in in Sun City and at Prince of Peace in Phoenix. May he rest in God’s eternal peace.
Read MoreWe uplift in prayer Church of Our Saviour, in Lakeside, AZ, a congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona in communion with the Grand Canyon Synod. We pray for Rector Kerry Neuhardt, Parish Secretary Marcia Allen, and Senior Warden Dick Hileman.
Read MorePrayers for Pastor Abel Arroyo Traverso, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mesa, as he recuperates and recovers from emergency back surgery.
Read MoreAt Grace Lutheran, Phoenix, we are called by God to be in the city for good! Our calling during the summer months is to provide a cool place for those seeking refuge from the heat, as well as a safe space for building community through the sharing of meals, water, activities, community resources and ourselves. To that end, Grace hosts a heat relief station June 10th-August 30th, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more info, visit our website , view a PDF of our volunteer orientation meeting, or contact Clottee Hammons at outreach@graceinthecity.com.
Read MoreThese petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church. Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
Read MoreI was officiating at the wedding of two of our Clemson University alumni. Their friends stood up to make remarks – all of which were glowing and emotional. Some of these had gone to Clemson, so they included a “Go Tigers!” in their comments. Then there was the admission from one that she attended a college in the SEC Conference rather than the ACC. (College football rivalries are important in the South.) These exchanges were good natured and humorous; some such exchanges are not. Our country seems to be in a phase were name-calling and belittling have ceased to be taboo.
Read MoreLutheran Engagement And Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) is providing monthly updates to synod offices. Welcome to their first newsletter, from Sheila Freed, LEAN Board Member & Publicist.
By the time you read this, the 2019 Nevada Legislature may well be over. When it ends, the presiding officer in each chamber adjourns the meeting “sine die.” This is a Latin phrase, universally mispronounced, that translates literally as “without a day.” It makes it sound terribly final, as if no one is ever coming back again. We all know that two years from now many of the same people will be back, often confronting the same issues.
Read MoreMay Update: Advocacy Connections from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director. This May wrap-up includes updates on Disaster Aid Bill, Central American Minors Program, Affordable Housing in the Federal Budget, Foreign Assistance to Northern Triangle, Global Conflict Prevention.
Read MorePlease hold the following Bishops and Synods in your prayers as they gather for their synod assemblies on the following dates:
Bishop David Zellmer, South Dakota Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop Brian Maas, Nebraska Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop John Macholz, Upstate New York Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop William Gohl, Delaware-Maryland Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop Timothy Smith, North Carolina Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop Herman Yoos, South Carolina Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop Julian Gordy, Southeastern Synod, May 30-June 1, 2019
Bishop Guy Erwin, Southwest California Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019
Bishop Steve Delzer, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019
Bishop Paul Erickson, Greater Milwaukee Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019
Bishop Matthew Riegel, West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, May 31-June 1, 2019
Bishop Jessica Crist, Montana Synod, May 31-June 2, 2019
Bishop Sue Briner, Southwestern Texas Synod, May 31-June 2, 2019
Bishop William Gafkjen, Indiana-Kentucky Synod, May 31-June 2, 2019
Bishop Sam Zeiser, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, June 1, 2019
Please pray for the South Dakota Synod, Southeastern Synod, Southwest California Synod, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, and Montana Synod as they elect a bishop.
Read MoreMost people have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada, the woman who’s arms and legs entered paralysis at 17 after breaking her neck in a diving accident. It is hard to imagine how a young athlete could deal with the fact that she was not going to be healed, but famously, Joni did. Rather than being physically healed, she learned to paint by holding the brush in her mouth. She founded “Joni and Friends,” a ministry that helps persons with disabilities and their families reach independence, physically, financially, and spiritually.
Read MoreThe 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening was held April 29–May 1 in Washington, D.C., gathering bishops (including Bishop Hutterer) and community leaders around the theme “Prepared to Care: Our Advocacy in Light of Disasters Intensified by Climate Change.” In her welcome letter to participants, Amy Reumann, ELCA Advocacy director, said this topic requires urgent action. Read the article in Living Lutheran »
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod Office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.
Read MoreThe May issue of Administration Matters contains information on ELCA Churchwide Assembly observers and volunteers, contingency planning for congregations, background checks, reducing legal liabilities, painting and working with chemicals, and the inherent risk of guest Wi-Fi access at your church.
Read MoreWe uplift in prayer Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona, as they meet the needs of their community and provide a place where people can worship, receive spiritual care, grow in their faith and enjoy Christian fellowship. One congregation worshiping at two campuses, they serve East Mesa and also Apache Junction and Gold Canyon. We pray for Pr. Bill Rindy; Pr. Tina Mills; Pr. Nancy Milleville; Pr. Don Auclair; Kim McCracken, Ministry Coordinator; Willie & Anne Langdji, Senegal Missionaries; John Weber, Minister of Music; Richard Wall, Minister of Music; Dwight Walth, Minister of Choral Music; Denise Carlson, Saturday Accompanis; Kayla, Secretary; Angela, Secretary; Stephanie, Secretary; Kim B, Business Manager; Sonya, Communications; Dave, Facilities Manager; Lee, Security and Hospitality.
Read MoreWe pray for St. Andrew Lutheran Church as they create opportunities for all people to become devoted followers of Christ. We pray for Pastor Phil Stuart, Children’s Ministries Director De Ann Martell, Financial Ministries Director Chandra Meyers, Office Assistant Robert Rodenbeck, Minister of Music Michelle Nunez, Sextons Antonio and Evangelinade Zambrano, Administrative Assistant for Financial Ministries Angela Danzik, and Director of Youth and Family Ministries and Pastoral Care Brian Neely.
Read MoreFrom Lutheran Disaster Response, we have a situation report on the 29 tornadoes that impacted Missouri, including one through Jefferson City. Read the full report here, including ways you can be part of the response through prayer, gifts, and connections.
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 MoreO God of life, you are older than time. You have seen generations who have died through sacrifice, war, courage and folly. You have comforted generations who mourned and grieved and sang solemn songs and laid flowers on graves. Gather us in your embrace and cradle us with your compassion. As we remember those who have died in past wars and conflicts, help us to remember that you were there when the mountains were formed. You were there to sooth our grief and breathe hope into the hopeless. You are with us still. We give you thanks for life in Jesus and pray that your lives may be reflections of his love. Amen.
Read MoreThe intricacies and diversity of creation are mind-boggling, a reflection and reminder of the power and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit expressed through the created order. The United Nations honors creation on May 22 through the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.” Marking the dayincreases our understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues in God’s good creation.
Read MoreRead the situation report and be a part of the response:
Pray: Please pray for the people who have been affected by wildfires in California.
Give: Gifts to “U.S. Wildfires” will be used to assist those affected by the wildfires until the response is complete.
Connect: Share a bulletin insert, receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts, like LDR on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter, view a PDF of the report.
