Pastors Shari Bernau and Mark Rossman with Living Water, Scottsdale, join us in this week’s Tech Lab for a quick conversation on their use of technology and adaptation during this time of change.
Use the link bit.ly/gcstechlab to access the Zoom meeting every Wednesday at 10 am, or email bflatgard@gcsynod.org to get an email invite. Visit gcsynod.org/tech-lab where we’ll archive resources from each week.
Read MoreWhen religious leaders stepped up to help the communities of Minneapolis and St. Paul following the murder of George Floyd, I don’t think they knew what they were in for.
As a Native American and an activist, I know first hand the harm that well intentioned people of faith can do when they come in to “help” communities that have been marginalized or minoritized.
Read MoreWe congratulate Hannah Manzanares, who graduated from Cactus High School recently. President of the National Honor Society, active in student council and music, she’s also the Grand Canyon Synod Council Student Representative.
KJZZ recently asked 2020 graduates to share their thoughts, and Hannah offered hers: “We will change the world because we are witnessing history on a personal level.” Listen to Hannah here.
Read MoreIn honor to the Emanuel Nine Martyrs and in light of all that is happening in our country around the issues of racial justice, Our Saviour’s, Phoenix, hosted a Day of Repentence, Reflection and Prayer, with a Service of Confession, Lament and Prayer (watch here), a discussion of the film Just Mercy (available free all of June), and a candlelight vigil in remembrance of George Floyd and other victims of racism.
Read MoreYou are invited to join this weekly gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church.
We welcome back Dr. Martin Lohrmann on June 24. He is the Associate Professor of Lutheran Confessions and Heritage at Wartburg Theological Seminary.
Using the 1966 documentary A Time for Burning as a starting point, participants will learn about and discuss the ways that racism has impacted the witness and ministry of white Lutheran congregations in the United States.
Read MoreFor those of you who have discovered this and are not familiar with the ELCA AMMPARO strategy, it the ELCA strategy to accompany migrant children and families with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunities. As a holistic, whole church response, AMMPARO accompanies migrants in countries of origin, transit, destination and return!
Read MoreVisit the Arizona World Refugee Day Facebook page on June 20 from 10-11 AM for the celebration.
Read MoreAs COVID-19 spreads around the world, refugee communities in Arizona and worldwide are among the most vulnerable. Many refugees that you serve at LSS-SW work in industries especially devastated by the crisis. Families with multiple children, still learning English, are thrust into homeschooling. Linguistic and cultural differences can heighten confusion and fear.
Read MoreThe latest June updates from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, directorate: National attention on police violence and racism | COVID-19 Legislative response | Compounded migrant concerns | Protecting voting rights during the pandemic
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response is supporting ELCA sent it around the United States in response to the pandemic with attention to vulnerable communities, e.g. homeless, senior, health unemployed populations. LDR is helping synods to support , hot meal delivery, and meal distribution. These ministries prioritize ethnic communities, underrepresented groups, and those whose livelihoods by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreLutheran Services in America is a network of Lutheran social ministry organizations that connects over 300 health and human services providers throughout the country. Pray that we will engage with and support their work in serving the diverse needs of our nation’s most vulnerable people, from infants to elders.
Read MoreThe ELCA’s document Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline describes the grounds for which discipline may be imposed according to the practice of this church. Through June 15, 2020, we encourage you to participate in a brief survey that will allow you to give written feedback.
Register today to offer feedback at two digital town halls, limited to 200 people: Thursday, 6/18/2020: 1 p.m. MST; Thursday, 6/25/2020, 6 p.m. MST.
Read MoreJuneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. While President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, Texas and Louisiana finally got the good news on June 19, 1865.
This resource may be used in whole or adapted based on your local traditions. Additional assembly song may reflect the theme and text of the day.
Read MoreThe Deaconess Community of the ELCA is using prophetic diakonia to do the work of justice with the Poor Peoples Campaign (PPC). This movement encourages us to be grounded in the thousands of scripture verses that call God’s people to the work of justice.
The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20, 2020 will be a digital gathering, marshalling collective voices to demonstrate the power of our communities, and you can register from this link.
Read MoreLiving Water in Scottsdale is kicking off a “virtual VBS” this week. While the registration has closed, the YouTube daily videos and the associated VBS Parent Pack with suggested supplies, etc. are available to access by anyone. Here’s our website’s link: https://www.lwlcaz.org/vbs/
Read MoreLori E. Varlotta, the president of Hiram College in Ohio, will become the eighth president of California Lutheran University on Sept. 30.
The first female president in Cal Lutheran’s 61-year history, Varlotta is an established leader with broad experience in academic affairs, enrollment management, budget and planning, student affairs and fundraising.
Read MoreThere is terror all around. Violence and destruction, too. Telling the truth about that condition of the world, however, has always been unpopular. Jeremiah experienced rejection. Even more, Jesus was killed.
And Jesus calls us to follow him, to be countercultural like Jeremiah, to value the gospel of Jesus Christ even more than what the world counts as family values, to tell the truth openly about human sin and God’s mercy.
Read MoreHonor moms and dads with ELCA Good Gifts, and send a special, limited-edition card to let them know.
Read MoreJune 17 marks the fifth anniversary of the shooting at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. The ELCA Prayer Service for Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine is available on the ELCA website or on YouTube. You can also download a version of the commemoration video.
To honor this day, the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution to establish June 17 as "Emanuel 9 Day of Repentance," commemorating the martyrdom of the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, the Rev. Daniel L. Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Myra Thompson by Dylann Roof, who grew up in the ELCA. Pinckney and Simmons were graduates of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.
Read MoreThe 2020 Diakonia Graduation will be celebrated June 20, 2020 at 5 pm, on Zoom using this link. Please join in honoring our graduates! If you’d like to send a card, please contact Mike Reed, mike@diakoniaaz.org, for addresses.
Rio Salado: Ms Margaret Roush-Meier, Mrs Tina Gilson, Mr Michael Snyder, Ms Roberta (Bobbi) Edwardson
Las Vegas: Mr Mark Williams, Mrs Glenna Graupmann, Mrs Holly Swanson
Tucson: Mrs Kimberle Kennedy, Mr Merrill Namock, Mrs Barbara Peterson, Mrs Cindy Stein, Ms Carol Paulsen
