As a way to prepare your heart for Lent, Spirit in the Desert invites you to a Spirited Lenten Journey, including a Labyrinth Workshop, Wednesday Contemplative Services, a 6-week Sunday evening Lenten Examen, and one-on-one Spiritual Accompaniment.
Read MoreRick Radwick writes and shares that Sierra Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sierra Vista, assembled Lenten Gift Bags for all of their members.
In an attempt to help keep everyone connected during these isolating times, some members put together Lenten gift bags to be delivered the weekend before Ash Wednesday.
Read MoreEach Friday in February (and one in March), the African Descent pastors of the Southwest California Synod will be offering a podcast in honor of the Black History of the American Lutheran Church. Listen here.
Read MoreSaint Barnabas in Paradise Valley, is seeking a new Director of Operations & Finance. View the job description here, applications due February 26, 2021.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Adam Barnhart and the people of Shepherd of the Hills Evangelical Lutheran Church in Flagstaff, part of the High Country Conference. Visit their site at sothflagstaff.org.
Read MoreRegister today for our first-ever online assembly, June 11 and 12, 2021! Only voting members need to register. Visitors will be able to stream via Facebook live and other platforms at no cost.
Register by 3/31/2021 and save $20 on your registration. Registration closes 5/7/2021, with no exceptions. We are strictly enforcing our registration deadline this year because of the complexity of our online voting system, training, and sending of materials.
Read MoreThis week, Bishop Eaton shares some of the rich contributions of Black Lutheran history.
Read MoreKen Wheeler wrote a reflection concerning Black Lutheran saints on “whose shoulders I stand.” He identified three pioneers of this church—Nelson Trout, Will Herzfeld and Rudolph Featherstone—who greatly inspired him and his vocation. Here is a closer look at the contributions of these saints.
Read MoreThis sold-out devotional returns to stock at Augsburg Fortress today, February 10, 2021. Quantities are limited. Order today to ensure timely arrival.
A Story to Tell: Devotions for Lent 2021 is a beautiful, full-color Lenten devotional highlights readings from the gospel of Mark with 46 entries, one for each day from Ash Wednesday to Easter.
Read MoreThe prophet Isaiah provides a beautiful column of words from which to build a thoughtful sermon, but truly on this Ash Wednesday the sermon will not be built by words, but by the world that is still trying to stop the hemorrhaging of our much loved friends and family. Truly we sit upon an ash-heap of tears and unrealized hopes in this pandemic.
Read MoreBlack History Month was the idea of African American historian Carter G. Woodson in the absence of a thorough picture of the contributions of African Americans to the larger American story.
The significance of this month ought not just be embraced by those of us who are African American. The history should be important to all of us. As an African American Lutheran pastor, I think of those Black Lutheran saints on whose shoulders I stand.
Read MoreLutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) offers virtual events each week of Black History Month to touch the mind, body and spirit through worship, academic discussions, poetry, artwork, and song. All events are open to the public with registration to receive the Zoom links.
Read MoreBaltimore is home to Johns Hopkins University, renowned for its hospitals, clinics and research facilities. But despite their proximity, some of the city’s African American residents have struggled to fight the coronavirus pandemic, said Louis R. Tillman IV, pastor of St. Philip Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Baltimore.
Throughout the pandemic, the historic African-descent congregation has ensured that masks and other safety items reach anyone in need.
Read MoreEnergy Star for Congregations (energystar.gov/congregations) is a federal government initiative to help congregations cut their energy use, save money and protect the environment. Resources include an Energy Star guide for congregations.
Read MoreIn the first decades of the 20th century, African Americans faced grinding poverty and harsh racial restrictions. Many African American leaders fought against these evils and worked to bring justice to their communities.
One such leader was Rosa Young of Alabama, whose drive and determination enabled her to spearhead the development of Black Lutheranism in the South.
Read MoreThis year has been bittersweet as a youth director at Shepherd of the Hills in Flagstaff. As a youth director just starting out in my call in the last few years, in March of 2020 I felt as if I was just getting some traction under my feet when, like for all of us, it was yanked away.
Read MoreIn conjunction with the amazing audio/video technicians at Community Lutheran in Las Vegas, we are exploring the idea of a virtual choir as part of the 2021 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly.
Interested in sharing your voice with others around the synod? Visit our interest form page, or use the form in this post. Besides carrying a tune, you should be comfortable singing along to a track, filming yourself, and sending the video file.
Read MoreThe Arizona Faith Network invites all faith leaders to use their voices to help promote the vaccination in their communities. Faith leaders are critical and trusted voices throughout this state. All faith leaders are invited to sign the Arizona Faith Leaders’ Statement and Pledge Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine to help promote vaccinations throughout Arizona.
Read MoreArizona clergy are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination under Phase 1B. The vaccination process is currently in prioritized Phase 1B, with the full Phase 1B group (which would include clergy) opening towards the beginning of March. Info about vaccination can be found at azhealth.gov/findvaccine.
Read More“We’re good at talking about this, and good at doing small, one-time acts of service toward climate justice. There are awesome folks who want to push the church but they’re hesitant to take bold risks. We should be challenging our synods to be carbon neutral.”
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