Pause each day to reflect prayerfully on the symbols, traditions and practices — ancient and new — that we see and experience throughout Advent and Christmas. Give thanks for everything that centers our attention on the good news of Jesus Christ, deepens our faith as loved and redeemed children of God, and inspires and guides our baptismal journey.
Read MoreLift up prayers of thanks and praise for this season of anticipation, remembrance and celebration of Jesus Christ — God’s awesome gift of love and redemption for all humanity.
Read MoreGive thanks to God for rescuing us from the power of darkness and bringing us into the light of new life in Jesus Christ — our Lord and savior, head of our church and the one who has reconciled us to God.
Read MoreOn “Black Friday” — a day of sales, buying and consumption — take time to reflect prayerfully on the difference between wants and needs, on generosity toward our neighbors, on stewardship of wealth and abundance, on everything God has entrusted to us, and on our true identity as children of God who are loved, forgiven and granted a new vision of life.
Read MoreThe circuit preacher was an idea of the frontier past. Now it’s the cutting-edge response to shrinking churches.
Read MoreAs the result of a fall stewardship emphasis “Always Be Generous – The Generosity Challenge," the households at All Saints Lutheran, over the course of three weeks, collected and donated 3,500 books to the Phoenix Public Library, one ton of food items to Desert Mission Food Bank and 2,600 pairs of socks and underwear to Lutheran Social Services outreach ministries!
Utilizing an ELCA Generosity Project resource called “Live It Out,” all ages were challenged to grow in generosity by counting the total number of the following items in their households: Week One - Books; Week Two - Canned & Boxed Food Items; Week Three - Socks & Undies.
Read MoreGive thanks for the abundant resources God has entrusted to us, and for family, friends and other people who bless and enrich our lives. Give thanks that the spirit of God is generous, compassionate and fair, and that our unique gifts and abilities are brought together in the body of Christ for the sake of the world, especially those in need who have been neglected.
Read MoreMichael Martin was serving as a Mennonite youth pastor when news of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School came as a “breaking news” story on his car radio. The news touched and troubled Pastor Martin deeply. As he went about his ministry he couldn’t shake the story and a feeling that he had to do something. A short time later Martin knew what he had to do.
Read MoreWhat boundless: God beyond measure means to me is such a powerful feeling that it’s difficult to put into words. To have a God that’s boundless is to have a God that accepts and loves us all, no matter what we look like, who we love, or what we’ve done.
Read More42 rostered leaders from ELCA’s Region 2 of the ELCA (the Southwestern United States) gathered in San Diego CA, for First Call Theological Education.
New pastors and deacons are encouraged to participate in additional education opportunities for up to 3 years after ordination/consecration in order to build collegiality, foster pastoral identity and increase skills specific to ministry.
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 MoreWe lift up in prayer the congregation of Queen Valley Lutheran Church, in Queen Valley, AZ. a gathering of Christians who have come together to worship God and to hear His Word.
Read MoreWe pray for the people of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, in Henderson, NV, a diverse, growing church where all people find an inviting, welcoming, safe place to explore and grow in spirituality, faith and discipleship. We lift up Pastors Dave and Diane Drach-Meinel, as well as Alicia Montague, Administrative Minister.
Read MorePray for people who suffer hunger, food insecurity or lack of access to the nutrition necessary for life and health. Ask that the Holy Spirit will move us to bring relief, instill hope and end hunger and poverty wherever it exists.
Read MoreAscension Lutheran in Paradise Valley has a Konica Minolta C203 copy machine available to any congregation who will be able to pick it up.
This machine makes color and black/white copies, and has finishing and stapling capabilities. For more info and to arrange a pickup, contact Parish Administrator Tom Mueller at ascensionoffice@aol.com or 480-948-6050.
Read MoreA number of ELCA congregations, as well as congregations of various denominations, have reported that their members are receiving scam emails claiming to be from bishops and other leaders, whose email addresses are publicly available, requesting gift card donations for a charitable cause. Please be aware that any such request has not been sent from the Office of the Bishop.
And as always, do not click on a link, send money or gift cards, or provide checking account or credit card information in response to any emailed solicitation without checking with a trusted source. Get more info with this FCC resource: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams - FCC
Read MoreGive thanks that — despite war, conflict, hunger, poverty, suffering, illness and injustice — “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Pray that we will be emboldened by this grace-filled promise and reality to help and strengthen our neighbors in every situation and corner of the world.
Read MoreThis Thanksgiving week, we give thanks for the gifts of Karl B. and Bette Johnson, who this year left a portion of their estate to the Grand Canyon Synod.
Their daughter, Kristi Haar, reflects on their faith path. “These Midwestern transplants were married at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Tucson in 1966 and raised four children in Lutheran churches in Colorado, Texas and Arizona, but spent the most time as members at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church in Tucson.”
Read MoreRemember in prayer our ELCA missionaries and young people serving as Young Adults in Global Mission as they support the programs and ministries of companion churches in Senegal, Eswatini, South Africa, South Sudan, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Read MoreWhile we profess our faith in Jesus Christ, we sometimes puzzle over who Jesus is and over his resurrection. Pray that our wisdom and faith will grow and mature as, together with our sisters and brothers in Christ, we pray, study, converse and give ourselves over to the Spirit’s inspiration.
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