Take five minutes to learn how to boost your stewardship in times of coronavirus
Take five minutes to learn how to boost your stewardship in times of coronavirus

Are you wondering how to talk about generosity in these Covid times? Could your congregation use new stewardship perspectives this fall as you prepare for your appeal? Get professional, relevant help this year with Beginning a Culture of Generosity, a program from the consulting firm GSB Fundraising. Register by August 15, 2020.

GSB Fundraising has tutored scores of congregations, and in this five minute video, Mike Ward explains how you can access valuable and customized tools of a unique time.

Read More
StewardshipBrian FlatgardLilly 3E, 2020 Beginning a Culture of GenerosityComment
7/13/2020 Prayer: Give thanks for the leadership, ministry and gifts of women who have served the church throughout history
7/13/2020 Prayer: Give thanks for the leadership, ministry and gifts of women who have served the church throughout history

Pause to reflect on the significance of the 50th anniversary of a Lutheran church choosing to ordain women in the United States. Give thanks for the leadership, ministry and gifts of women who have served the church throughout history and for those women who endured the hardships and work leading to the ordination of women.

Read More
Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment
7/11/2020 Prayer: Remember in prayer refugees and immigrants throughout the world
7/11/2020 Prayer: Remember in prayer refugees and immigrants throughout the world

Remember in prayer refugees and immigrants throughout the world and at our borders who hope for and seek welcoming, safe communities where they can reestablish their lives and raise their families. Pray that they will have access to health services, food and resources to meet their daily needs during this time of heightened vulnerability and isolation.

Read More
Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment
Grand Canyon Synod coronavirus cases: 7/10/2020
Grand Canyon Synod coronavirus cases: 7/10/2020

For quick comparison, we are using New York Times 7-day average graphs for each state in our synod: Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

  • Arizona: This week: 112,783 cases, 2,047 deaths. Last week: 87,495 cases, 1,765 deaths.

  • Nevada: This week: 25,055 cases, 574 deaths. Last week: 19,861 cases, 525 deaths.

  • Utah: This week: 27,632 cases and 205 deaths. Last week: 23,466 cases, 176 deaths.

  • Navajo Nation: This week: 8,042 cases and 386 deaths. Last week: 7,613 cases, 369 deaths.

  • Hopi Nation: This week: 332 cases. Last week: 301 cases.

Read More
Z Covid-19Brian FlatgardComment
GCS Tech Lab featuring Vicar Beth Gallen
GCS Tech Lab featuring Vicar Beth Gallen

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 10 am, join Vicar Beth Gallen, seminary intern at Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, as she shares podcasting lessons while creating The GLOWSHOW Podcast with Pastor Sarah Stadler. Vicar Beth also shares musings as a candidate for Word and Sacrament ministry about the future of the church and the role of technology: the opportunities and pitfalls.

Use the link bit.ly/gcstechlab to access the Zoom meeting every Wednesday at 10 am.

Read More
Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardGCS Tech Lab, Grace Phoenix, Capital ConferenceComment
A New Being Academy course on Promoting Diversity, Creating Inclusion
A New Being Academy course on Promoting Diversity, Creating Inclusion

Interested in creating a community of equity and justice? A new Being Academy course Promoting Diversity, Creating Inclusion, featuring educator Aparna Rae, can help. Portico believes the tools and topics are of value for church leaders in this important time.

Portico members with ELCA-Primary health coverage can access the course here or via myPortico. The course available at no charge to everyone for a limited time to support learning and promote equity.

Read More
Read · Watch · Listen, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardRacial Justice, Being Academy, PortiComment
Rev. Dr. Carl E. Braaten: Faith Active In Love During This Deadly Pandemic
Rev. Dr. Carl E. Braaten: Faith Active In Love During This Deadly Pandemic

Rev. Dr. Carl E. Braaten shares this letter, Faith Active In Love During This Deadly Pandemic. Braaten also recently published a book, The Christian Faith: Ecumenical Dogmatics.

How should we as believers in Christ and members of his church act during this deadly pandemic? I have heard people say this pandemic is unprecedented; we’ve never encountered anything like this before. It’s true, we haven’t, those of us living here and now. But history tells us that plagues and epidemics have been around since time immemorial.

Read More
LettersBrian Flatgard Comments
Faith Lutheran, Phoenix, celebrates 75 years
Faith Lutheran, Phoenix, celebrates 75 years

Happy 75th Anniversary Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Phoenix! July 8th, 1945 - 2020.

The people of Faith pray that over the next year of their Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, they will have the opportunity to celebrate in person, reflect on their journey, and discern their future as Christ’s body in the community. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide them on our mission; called to love and serve their neighbors.

Read More
PrayersBrian FlatgardFaith Phoenix, Capital ConferenceComment
In Memoriam: Rev. Ervin P. Langholz
In Memoriam: Rev. Ervin P. Langholz

Ervin P. Langholz died on July 8, 2020 in Sun City, Arizona. A funeral service—for immediate family only—will be held at American Lutheran Church, where he was a member and had once served as Pastor of Care Ministry. A Celebration of Life for the extended congregation will occur at a later date. He recently celebrated 60 years of ordination.

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you our brother Ervin. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Read More
In Memoriam, PrayersBrian FlatgardAmerican Sun City, Cactus ConferenceComment
7/9/2020 Prayer: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
7/9/2020 Prayer: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Give thanks that “the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” Pray that our joy and thanksgiving will move us to be witnesses to God’s presence, grace and mercy in the world for the sake of all people.

Read More
Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment