Michael Osterholm on where we are now with the COVID-19 pandemic
Michael Osterholm on where we are now with the COVID-19 pandemic

Minnesota Public Radio provides an interview with Dr. Michael Osterholm. A message he’s been repeating lately is the importance of aerosol transmission and good circulation in buildings. Listen or read here.

We also encourage you to listen to his weekly podcasts. In the latest episode, "No Time to Rest," Dr. Osterholm highlights vaccine safety, face shields, and how to respond effectively to misinformation. His two-part series on reopening schools has resonance to reopening churches (parts one and two).

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Leader Resources, Z Covid-19Brian FlatgardDr. Michael T. OsterholmComment
Grand Canyon Synod coronavirus cases: 8/6/2020
Grand Canyon Synod coronavirus cases: 8/6/2020

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: 182,230 cases, 3,933 deaths. Last week: 170,905 cases, 3,628 deaths.

  • Nevada: This week: 53,569 cases, 900 deaths. Last week: 47,034 cases, 805 deaths.

  • Utah: This week: 42,478 cases and 330 deaths. Last week: 36,178 cases and 271 deaths.

  • Navajo Nation: This week: 9,195 cases and 467 deaths. Last week: 9,019 cases and 404 deaths.

  • Hopi Nation: This week: 425 cases. Last week: 415 cases.

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Z Covid-19Brian FlatgardComment
Prayers for Nan Nelson
Prayers for Nan Nelson

We offer prayers of health and renewal for Nan Nelson, wife of Pastor Paul Nelson, as she begins treatments for the early stages of breast cancer.

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

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PrayersBrian FlatgardComment
Worship in the Home: Sunday, August 9, 2020
Worship in the Home: Sunday, August 9, 2020

Worship in the Home: Sunday, August 9, 2020. Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 19.

“We and all our world also know the threat of death and chaos. But then, listen. God comes to Elijah not in wind, earthquake or fire, but in the sound of sheer silence and in a voice that gives him a mission. Those sounds may be little in the world, but they are the very presence of God.”

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Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardELCA WorshipComment
Bishop Murray Finck to serve as Interim Bishop of Southwest California Synod
Bishop Murray Finck to serve as Interim Bishop of Southwest California Synod

The Rev. Murray D. Finck, who previously served three full terms as bishop of the neighboring Pacifica Synod, has accepted appointment to become interim bishop of the Southwest California Synod. He takes over from the Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, who left office to assume the presidency of United Lutheran Seminary in Pennsylvania. Bishop Finck acted as Bishop Erwin’s official mentor when Erwin was elected bishop in 2013.

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Brian FlatgardRegion 2, Southwest California Synod Comment
Prayers for the friends, family and congregation of Kyle May
Prayers for the friends, family and congregation of Kyle May

Pastor Lars Hammar writes: Open Space Church is grieving the first death of one of our members, Kyle May, 30 years old. He died mid-July in his home town of New Jersey while there to attend his brother’s funeral. Kyle had a joyous and free-wheeling spirit about him, and his loss has been full of grief for the community at Open Space. Your prayers are appreciated.

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Prayers, LettersBrian FlatgardOpen Space, Kino ConferenceComment
ELCA and Lutheran World Relief partner to fight COVID-19 around the world
ELCA and Lutheran World Relief partner to fight COVID-19 around the world

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has worked with Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to repurpose $160,000 in project funding for emergency responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

"Thanks to the flexibility and rapid action of our ELCA partners, Lutheran World Relief has been able to quickly ramp up these emergency responses to COVID-19," said Daniel Speckhard, LWR president and CEO.

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Brian FlatgardLutheran World ReliefComment
8/5/2020 Prayer: Give thanks for young adults who have volunteered for global service
8/5/2020 Prayer: Give thanks for young adults who have volunteered for global service

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Young Adults in Global Mission program will not be sending out volunteers this year. Give thanks for young adults who have volunteered for global service over the years, and pray that the Spirit will guide the Young Adults in Global Mission program as it prepares to continue its work and ministry alongside our global companions.

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Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment