Pray for businesses that are struggling or reopening or have shut down, and for their owners, their employees and all the other people and businesses they impact. Ask God to help them make decisions and implement new health precautions that take into consideration the well-being and needs of their employees, the people they serve and their community.
Read MoreA new document from The Generosity Project provides valuable resources and ideas for rethinking the way we approach ministry. This resource document will help you create a lasting culture of effective financial stewardship and generosity, beginning with our households of every age and stage.
Read MoreAre 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 MoreGive praise to God, for God’s word is powerful, clear, true and trustworthy.
Read MoreWorship in the Home: Sunday, July 19, 2020. Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 15.
Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and compassion. By your Spirit nurture us who live in your kingdom, that we may be rooted in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Read MorePray for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, that God will sustain her faith and strength and guide her leadership and decisions, particularly during this difficult and uncertain time in our church and society when we are looking to her for guidance and vision.
Read MorePause 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 MorePray that we will sow the seeds of the good news of Jesus Christ without bias or judgment as to how people will receive it, and that we will trust the Spirit to accomplish what God intends through our witness and service in the world.
Read MoreRemember 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 MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and The Lutheran World Federation continue to respond to Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the West Bank. Here are the statements and actions taken so far in 2020.
Read MoreFor 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.
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 MoreInterested 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 MorePray for the 120 ELCA companion synods that connect our congregations with Lutherans and ministries worldwide. Give thanks that together we participate in God’s mission, support each other, share our joys and sorrow, and use our gifts and resources to respond to human needs and grow the church.
Read MoreRev. 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 MoreMountain View Lutheran Church, Ahwatukee, is looking for a part-time A/V Technician with existing experience, technical expertise and a strong desire to learn and train others who can oversee our live streaming for worship services. $12/hour. Please go to www.mvlutheran.org or view this Word doc for full job description.
Read MoreHappy 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 MoreErvin 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 MoreGive 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 MoreMarcie Gest, a nurse and member of University Lutheran in Tempe, was recently featured on ABC 15’s news in an item entitled Lessons learned from COVID-19 hotspots, where she discusses working in New York and New Jersey during their peak infections.
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