O Light Unseen, O Love unknown, O Life unending, your Word came as one among us to draw us to your loving heart and give us your abundant life. Pour out upon your wounded world grace upon grace through your Beloved, Jesus Christ, our Light and our Salvation. Amen.
Read MoreWe are excited to bring in Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, to the Bishop’s Fall Gathering, October 21-22, 2019 in Chandler, Arizona.
Bolsinger will lead us in creating new possibilities of communicating Jesus and connecting people. Register by 8/30/19 to save $25.
Read MoreIn a key action, the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to approve a memorial that declares the ELCA a sanctuary church. This is the first North American denomination to declare itself a sanctuary church body. As a sanctuary church the ELCA is committed to serving and supporting migrant children and families in communities across the country.
Earlier in the day, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, joined more than 700 assembly members and others in a march and prayer vigil to the Milwaukee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office.
Read MoreThe August 2019 newsletter from Lutheran Social Services of Nevada brings the great news of a BOOM in employees ranging from Directors to Intake Coordinators and everyone in between!
Over the next few weeks we will be posting profiles on our new teammates every Monday on our Facebook page! Be sure to like our page and check it for updates to learn more about the newest members of the LSSN family.
Read MorePray that God will energize and sustain our ecumenical and inter religious work, advocacy and prayers to prevent gun violence, and to respond to people and communities affected by this violence with support, care and concern for as long as they are needed.
Read MoreAlmighty and all-merciful God, for freedom you have set us free from every power that would enslave us. Create in us the heart of a servant and bind us to our neighbors with the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read MoreOn August 6, 2019, at the ELCA’s 2019 Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee, the assembly approved four Assembly Actions related to Israel and Palestine.
The Assembly Actions deal with the human rights social investment screen, the detention of Palestinian children by Israel, funding for Augusta Victoria Hospital, and continuing to listen to various perspectives on the conflict. Read the full article »
Read MoreThe Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton was re-elected presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 6 at the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Eaton is the first ELCA presiding bishop to win re-election on the first ballot. She was elected to a first term as presiding bishop at the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh.
Read MoreAs we enter the 2020 GCS grant process (applications open 9/2/19), we share stories from our 2019 Grant recipients, which you can see on our Grant Dollars at Work page. This week we share Open Space, in Tucson. AZ.
“One positive result has been some our new people taking the initiative to invite people and do evangelism themselves. They are not finding unchurched, urban, young adults a whole lot easier to invite to church than I do as a pastor, but they do get a better response. One member goes to raves and invites people there. And, believe it or not, had brought several totally non-Christian people to Open Space this way.”
Read MoreWe uplift in prayers the congregation of Alleluia Lutheran Church in Phoenix.
Read MorePray for all those engaged in the ELCA Churchwide Assembly as they work together, with the Holy Spirit in their midst, to make decisions that will help guide the work and mission of our church now and in the future.
Read MoreGlorious God, through the waters of the sea you led your people from slavery to freedom. Through the waters of baptism you bring us with Christ from death into life. Roll away the stone of our fear and doubt that we may sing your praise and dance to your glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Song. Amen.
Read MoreGloria de Cristo Lutheran Church, Yuma, AZ, now has a Mental Health Ministry Team that has received a $10,000 grant from the ELCA Division of Disability Ministries.
This new Mental Health Ministry will foster greater awareness and understanding within our congregation, and facilitate our work in reaching out to those with mental illnesses and their families.
Read MoreOur common witness. In her August column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the Lutheran movement. As we move forward as a church, she wonders: “What will our Lutheran identity be in the ELCA?” Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/2GQBVYV and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/2ZDcrFs.
Read MoreDiakonia is a program of theology intended to deepen, strengthen and stretch lay people. A new cohort begins this September in the Phoenix area.
Curious? Attend an informational night on Monday, August 19, hosted at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (1212 E Glendale Ave) at 7:00 pm. More info at www.diakoniaaz.org.
Read MoreELCA Young Adults and the Peace Not Walls Campaign are excited to announce the dates of SIX trips for young adults of color who are interested in visiting the Holy Land. These trips are a part of the Peace Not Walls Young Adult Engagement Strategy – Phase Two. Each trip is led by a pair or trio of young adults of color who applied to be trip leaders in 2016.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy gives an update on work done at the United Nations as well as: California | Colorado | Florida | Kansas | Minnesota | New Mexico | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Southeastern Synod | Texas | Washington | Wisconsin
Read MoreAsk the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and to inspire us as people of faith, transformed by the love of God we experience in Jesus Christ; ask that we might rid ourselves of greed, impurity, anger, hatred, lies and abusive language and instead reflect the image of our creator.
Read MoreO God, the giver of every good gift, you set before us the feast of gladness. Gather your fractured human family, welcome us in our weakness, feed us with your mercy, and clothe us with life itself: Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read MoreElectrical-related fires are occurring more often and causing more severe losses. Like the country’s aging and overburdened electrical infrastructure, buildings and electrical systems are aging and may not be designed to handle the load most businesses need as they add more equipment.
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