12/22/2020 Prayer: Remember in prayer the approximately 26 million refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers around the world and at our borders
12/22/2020 Prayer: Remember in prayer the approximately 26 million refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers around the world and at our borders

Remember in prayer the approximately 26 million refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers around the world and at our borders, awaiting entry into safe, welcoming countries and communities so that they can rebuild their lives without threats of conflict, persecution, violence or economic crisis. Pray for their safety, that their spiritual, physical and emotional needs will be met, that they will find caring advocates, and that their faith and hope will be strengthened and sustained by siblings in Christ and our faith communities.

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Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment
Service of the Longest Night available
Service of the Longest Night available

In this difficult year, please join us in a Service of the Longest Night, which will be available for viewing Monday, December 21, 2020, at 5pm MST, 4pm PST, on our Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo, and gcsynod.org/longest-night.

Worship will be enhanced if you have four candles that you can light along the way as you will be invited. The order of worship is below, or view/download as PDF.

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Grand Canyon Synod, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardAdvent and ChristmasComment
12/21/2020 Prayer: Pray that we will be drawn to the eternal light of Christ born into the world
12/21/2020 Prayer: Pray that we will be drawn to the eternal light of Christ born into the world

Winter solstice On this day with the least amount of daylight, observed as the beginning of winter, pray that we will be drawn to the eternal light of Christ born into the world — a gift for all people and all generations that illuminates God’s redemptive love for us and God’s desire and intent for how we might live together.

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Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment
Let's Talk Faith and Climate
Let's Talk Faith and Climate

This PDF resource, Let's Talk Faith and Climate: Communication Guidance for Faith Leaders, is designed to be useful to both experienced and novice climate change and faith communicators.

From the ELCA and ecoAmerica, this guide synthesizes the latest academic research and message testing on climate communications into a practical guide to support meaningful discussions on climate change and faith among individuals and groups.

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Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardClimate ChangeComment
12/20/2020 Prayer: Pray that we will be receptive to angels sent by God to guide us and bring us good news
12/20/2020 Prayer: Pray that we will be receptive to angels sent by God to guide us and bring us good news

Pray that we will be receptive to angels and divine beings sent by God to guide us and bring us good news, as the angel Gabriel did to Mary and Elizabeth. Pray that we will hear God’s assurance that “nothing will be impossible with God” and that our response will echo Mary’s: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

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Prayers, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDaily PrayerComment
SOFIA: Courage to be who we are
SOFIA: Courage to be who we are

In this week’s Story of Faith in Action (SOFIA), we follow Ed Ramirez’s journey to find a church, filled with disappointments. Ramirez, who uses the pronouns they/them, wanted a place where they could feel at ease and fully accepted, but nothing they’d encountered in the Los Angeles area fit.

Ramirez’s search led them to Hollywood Lutheran Church, where Joseph Castañeda-Carrera served as pastor.

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Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardStories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)Comment
Epiphany of Our Lord worship service
Epiphany of Our Lord worship service

The 13 bishops of the class of 2019 will be leading a joint synodical Epiphany of Our Lord service on Jan. 6, 2020, 6pm MST, 5pm PST. This worship service will air via the Southeastern Synod’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and website.

Join in as we confess, lament, lean into the light of God shining brightly in Holy Scripture, proclamation of the Word, and musical offerings from across the church.

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Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardAdvent and ChristmasComment
Discipleship in a Democracy
Discipleship in a Democracy

In June, 2020, the ELCA adopted a social message on government and civic engagement titled “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” As we go through a transition in power, the next few weeks are a good time to review it.

To help dig into the text, there is a Study Guide, along with a Leader's Guide for those facilitating groups. A Spanish translation can be downloaded here.

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Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
POSITION FILLED: Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley seeks office manager assistant
POSITION FILLED: Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley seeks office manager assistant

Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley, AZ has an opening for a part-time office support position to assist the office manager.

Applications will be accepted until January 15 with a target start date of February 1. This part-time position is 12 hours a week at $18.00 per hour. Scheduling is flexible. Click here for a copy of the job description.

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News, Help WantedBrian FlatgardHelp Wanted, Ascension Paradise Valley, Northeast Valley ConferenceComment
Sunday After Christmas worship service available
Sunday After Christmas worship service available

Concordia College in Moorhead is offering congregations a worship service recording for Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The service includes lessons, carols, poetic readings and music performed by Concordia students and alumni.

On December 21, 2020, the service may be viewed on the Concordia website or downloaded to share on your congregation's website. Participants are encouraged to have a candle available for the service.

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Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardConcordia College, Advent and ChristmasComment