Give thanks and take comfort in knowing that God is trustworthy and unwavering in remembering and accompanying us every moment of our lives — in our joy, suffering and complicated situations.
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14th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 23
O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with your perpetual mercy. Without your help, we mortals will fail; remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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Lutherans Restoring Creation is preparing a creation-focused worship service utilizing the lectionary texts for Pentecost 16 (September 20, 2020) that congregations can download and use however they wish.
Register here for free to receive the link by 9/14 to download and use for your worship service, or however you wish!
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Pray for synod leaders and committees as they carefully plan assemblies rescheduled for this fall or next year. Remember that our strength and unity in Christ transcend traditional places, methods or times of gathering — we are the church, the body of Christ, in every setting and circumstance.
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As we begin a month of Season of Creation devotions, we encourage you to visit the ELCA’s advocacy for the environment page, which highlights many ways to learn and take action.
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Give thanks that we have been transformed and made new through God’s love for us and our baptism in Jesus Christ. Pray that the living word of Jesus will guide our baptismal journeys so that we extend hospitality to strangers, love and serve our neighbor, overcome evil with good, accompany people who are suffering and in pain, and disavow vengeance and hate.
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In their August newsletter, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) bids farewell to Marisa Cervantes, who has been with LSSN for almost ten years and helped launch many of their cornerstone projects.
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In this presidential campaign year, pray that our leaders and candidates will serve all people, especially those in the greatest need; work to heal wounds and divisions in society; strive for justice and equality; and seek change for the well-being and prosperity of our communities. Pray that our faith, wisdom and concern for neighbors and global companions will guide our discernment and decisions in upcoming elections.
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In her weekly message, Bishop Eaton addresses the weariness of being church during pandemic amongst many storms around us, and offers a prayer.
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When I was 10 years old, I was in a community theater’s production of the musical Peter Pan. I was apart of the chorus, a lost boy who would run around the stage with twigs in my hair, a wooden sword in my hand, singing about flying to Neverland. This play gave me a taste for fantasy.
The author of A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle talks of fantasy being a guide to truth. She said; “Fantasy goes beyond easy possibilities to the possibilities that are much harder which open us and push us.”
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Each year the Grand Canyon Synod offers grant funds for new and renewing ministries, and other ministry outreach projects. Through the generosity of congregations and others, the total amount available for funding is approximately $100,000.
Priority funding this year will be given to projects that seek to mitigate the effects of the current pandemic. Please submit applications by October 23, 2020. More info at gcsynod.org/grants.
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Give thanks that, as a church, we listen to the needs of our neighbors, roll up our sleeves and get to work with partners and companions in our communities and the world, helping and serving where the needs are greatest.
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These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
Download a Word doc, or PDF for letter size printout or legal size printout, or view the ELCA resource page.
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In preparation for the online gathering on September 9 at 9 am, ELCA Coaching is excited and honored to offer you a FREE book, What If I Said Yes? The House That Love Built, by Sarah Jackson from Casa de Paz.
If you submit your request by Sunday, August 30, a book will be mailed out on Monday, August 31, thanks to the incredible generosity of our presenter, Sarah Jackson!
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Beginning a Culture of Generosity launched early August and continues with our next session: An Effective, Inspiring Stewardship Appeal, on Saturday, 9/5/2020, at 9 am.
Bummed your congregation isn’t participating in this one-of-a-kind stewardship program? It’s not too late! Contact Deb Elstad, 3E Associate Director, deb.elstad@gmail.com, and get on the train.
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Please join us for another open conversation about race, Tuesday, 9/8/2020, 6:30–7:45pm. These conversations are a safe and thoughtful space where you and others in the synod can wrestle with questions and talk with each other. Learn more at gcsynod.org/open-talks.
Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/gcs-98.
Videos and articles to review (on Youtube or embedded further in this post): 12 News Being Black in the Valley, A Time for Burning, You Can't Live There: A Long Struggle For Black Rights In Las Vegas, or Do Black Churches Matter in the ELCA? Please pick one and be ready to share your impressions.
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The Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders continues every Wednesday, 1 pm Central, 11am MST. Links to the meeting at elcacoaching.org as well as archives.
Pastora Irma Bañales leads us through Expressing and Mourning our Grief in this Wednesday’s online gathering, Wednesday, September 2, 2020. She is the DEM for the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, and will be with us the first Wednesday of each month through 2020.
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Give thanks and praise to God for hearing our words, loving us, sustaining us through times of trouble and strengthening our spirit and faith.
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Phoenix Fusion is in the midst of four sessions on advocacy, which can be seen as a series or on their own, Thursdays at 6:30 pm. Hosted by Pastor Sarah Stadler and friends, you can find more info and Zoom links on their Facebook event page.
8/27/2020 6:30 pm: What is LAMA (Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Arizona), and how can we participate in it?