Prayers of thanksgiving for Rev. Dr. Gene Perry
Prayers of thanksgiving for Rev. Dr. Gene Perry

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for the successful surgery of Rev. Dr. Gene Perry (retired). The surgery, a heart procedure designed to help prevent strokes had been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

O Lord, your compassions never fail and your mercies are new every morning. We give you thanks for giving our brother Gene both relief from pain and hope of health renewed. Continue in him the good work you have begun; that he, daily increasing in bodily strength and rejoicing in your goodness, may so order his life and conduct that he may always think and do those things that please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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PrayersBrian FlatgardComment
Nevada Advocates Respond To Covid-19 Need
Nevada Advocates Respond To Covid-19 Need

LEAN board member Sheila Freed shares the good news of how a gift through Sierra Pacific Synod made its way throughout Region 2, helping Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (which straddles both Sierra Pacific and Grand Canyon Synods), Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, and Nye Communities Coalition.

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Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardLutheran Social Services of Nevada, Colorado River Conference, Region 2, Sierra Pacific Synod, Nye Communities Coalition, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN)Comment
Hiding in the Open: White Supremacy on the Great Plains
Hiding in the Open: White Supremacy on the Great Plains

The ELCA recognizes June, 17 as day of Commemoration of the Emanuel 9 and a Day of Repentance of Racism. This post by Kelly France is featured as part of a series to call the ELCA to address white supremacy and racism. To find additional worship materials for June 17, please visit elca.org/EmanuelNine.

I love living and serving as a pastor in rural communities on the Great Plains. I have spent most of my life in this environment, and my family has been part of this landscape for generations. My identity is tied to this place, and that comes with complex realities and shameful truths.

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LettersBrian FlatgardRacial Justice Ministries, Emanuel 9Comment
Prayers for the family of Pastor David Sivecz
Prayers for the family of Pastor David Sivecz

We pray for Pastor David Sivecz and his family as the grieve the loss of David’s grandmother after she contracted coronavirus.

Merciful God, you give us the grace that helps in time of need. Surround us your steadfast love and lighten our burden. By the power of your Spirit, free us from distress and give us a new mind and heart made whole in the name of the risen Christ. Amen.

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PrayersBrian FlatgardCelebration Peoria, Cactus Conference Comment
5/26/2020 Prayer: Value every generation for its faith, wisdom, gifts and experiences
5/26/2020 Prayer: Value every generation for its faith, wisdom, gifts and experiences

Pray that the Spirit of God working in us will help us value every generation for its faith, wisdom, gifts and diverse life experiences, and that we will not disparage or discount one another because of age, mistakes or differences of perspective but instead will give thanks and affirm and support one another as members of the body of Christ, which includes all generations.

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Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment
House of Prayer, Rock Point, pivots to warehousing foods
House of Prayer, Rock Point, pivots to warehousing foods

House of Prayer has become the 'warehouse' location for preparing food boxes for distribution to at-risk Rock Point residents. The Mission staff has made a list of more than 50 elderly and otherwise fragile community members. These boxes are delivered to the door, along with a check-in to ensure all is well in the household. Read more in the NELM newsletter »

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Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardNavajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission, House of Prayer Rock PointComment
Christ in Our Home: Email Edition free through June 30, 2020
Christ in Our Home: Email Edition free through June 30, 2020

With the outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 in North America and around the world many people may be without a physical copy of Christ in Our Home. To assist with devotional life during this time, Augsburg Fortress is offering a limited-time complementary email subscription. Sign up and we will deliver the daily devotional to your email at 4am Central Time through June 30, 2020.

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Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardELCA WorshipComment
Lord of Life Lutheran featured in the Arizona Republic
Lord of Life Lutheran featured in the Arizona Republic

Under the headline “Sun City West church preserves a vital lifeline during a pandemic, one worshipper at a time,” Lord of Life Lutheran, Sun City West, was featured prominently on a front page article of the Arizona Republic (subscription may be required), a well-produced video story on YouTube, and an AZ Central photo gallery.

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In the News, Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardLord of Life Sun City West, Cactus ConferenceComment
Finding Community Assistance Resources by State: Guides from ELCA World Hunger
Finding Community Assistance Resources by State: Guides from ELCA World Hunger

In an ELCA blog post, ELCA World Hunger provides one-page guides for each state to help families apply for benefits and access resources. Click to download PDFs of the guides for Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

Each one-page guide shares info for unemployment insurance, SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP, rental and housing resources from HUD, and child care assistance. In addition, each sheet has contact information for the National Suicide Hotline, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Farmer Crisis Hotline.

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Leader Resources, Z Covid-19Brian FlatgardELCA World HungerComment
Extended network provides refrigerator for ​Hózhó Café
Extended network provides refrigerator for ​Hózhó Café

Pastor David Brandfass, Christ Lutheran, Sedona, shares how during a pandemic, your community connections can come in handy.

Hearing Hózhó Café at the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission needed a new refrigerator, a grapevine of help sprouted to get the job done, involving the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, and a Sedona resident with a truck. “God’s Work,” quips Brandfass, “and sometimes ‘our hands’ might be beyond our congregation’s four walls.”

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Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardChrist Sedona, High Country Conference, Navajo Evangelical Lutheran MissionComment