In her weekly message, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares what she finds extraordinary about the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
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For those affected in our synod, Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 2:00 A.M.
On Saturday night, set your clocks forward one hour (i.e., losing one hour) to “spring ahead.” Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 14, 2021 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening.
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Vaccination hopes, fears and falsehoods are around us in this time of heightened anxiety. A new resource, ‘All in’ Against COVID-19: FAQ and Guide to Supporting Vaccine Confidence for Faith and Community Leaders, released March 1, 2021, is examined in this post from ELCA Advocacy. Get and share the facts here.
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We have watched with horror recent news reports of attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – fueled by racist rhetoric which has attempted to lay blame for the cause of the Coronavirus on Asian Peoples. The Conference of Bishops, meeting on March 4th, voted to affirm the “Statement on Anti-Asian Racism,” and to encourage the congregations and leaders of our synods to take action. A Day of Lament has been set for Sunday, March 21, 2021.
Please consider the points of encouragement in the statement as ways your congregation or ministry can stand in solidarity with our Asian and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters.
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Louise N. Johnson, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has been elected by the ELCA Church Council as the executive for administration, a position that is coterminous with the term of the presiding bishop. She begins in this role on March 15, 2021.
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We pray for Rev. Scott Hackler, Rev. Gary Benson, and the people of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Surprise, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at spiritofgrace.com, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
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The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has joined more than 500 ELCA rostered ministers and the CEOs of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Lutheran Services in America (LSA) in calling on Congress to support the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. In a March 4 letter, the leaders urge lawmakers to work collaboratively to advance legislation "around a long overdue solution that reflects our shared values as a nation."
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On Saturday, March 13, Beth Gallen will be ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament of the ELCA. The service will be live streamed on Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 am through Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church's YouTube channel. Her son will also be baptized in the service. Join the celebration!
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As we approach the time last year when we ceased in-person gathering, we take time to lament: an opportunity to express deeply held grief and frustration. Through Scripture, music, and prayer, we invite you to allow yourself to lament our life under COVID.
This service premieres on March 14th, 5pm MST, and will be available on our Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo pages. Featuring Bishop Hutterer, Rev. Alan Field, Diakonia participants, and music from Tanque Verde Lutheran in Tucson as well as Pastor Sarah Stadler.
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A reminder to rostered ministers to use the quick and easy online form to send in your report to the bishop. She’s only received a few dozen so far.
These constitutionally required reports are a great way to connect, and Bishop Hutterer looks forward to your feedback.
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After years of exuberantly singing new songs to the Lord, Pastor David Drach-Meinel had surgery on Monday, March 1, 2021, to repair vocal cord damage. Healing is going well, and prayers are appreciated as he survives on soup and ice cream. He and his wife Diane are pastors at Christ the Servant, in Henderson.
O God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship: Pour out your Spirit on your servants who, with the gifts of music, enliven our praises and proclaim your word with power. Through this ministry give us new awareness of your beauty and grace, and join our voices with all the choirs of heaven, both now and forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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The Grand Canyon Synod is inviting you for an hour of conversation with Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Dr. Karen Kibler to review the year of Covid and where what might be in store for the coming months on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 6 pm.
This is open to congregation councils, pastors, and deacons. Please register here by March 21, 2021.
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Nine scholarships are available for California Lutheran University’s Executive Skills for Church Leaders program, which runs July 19-23, 2021. Our partnership with the Lilly Endowment and the Rocky Mountain Synod enables these scholarships.
Contact Pr. Miguel Gomez-Acosta for more details on eligibility. More info on Cal Lutheran's site.
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The Grand Canyon Synod is pleased to announce that the registration for the next cohort of Stewardship for All Seasons is now open. For more information and a brochure about the program, please visit gcsynod.org/stewardship-for-all-seasons.
If you have questions do not hesitate to contact Pr. Miguel Gomez-Acosta at miguel.gomez-acosta@elca.org. The deadline to sign up is April 5th, 2021. First meeting will be May 8th, 2021.
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In the spirit of accompaniment, ELCA companion church Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil (IECLB) sent a gift to Lutheran Disaster Response to support our response to the winter storms in Texas. The following excerpt is from a letter written by Mauro B. de Souza, the vice president of IECLB.
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As vaccines continue to become available, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton encourages us to continue to be vigilant, be safe, and to trust the science of the vaccines.
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As part of ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving, this post and accompanying video continue a series weekly reflections.
The direct service of providing filter pitchers and the organizing work of bringing demands to our alderpersons, health department and mayor all lead us back to the font, where we stand with people at the holy water that makes us God’s children and sends us out to serve God’s justice.
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We pray for Rev. David Brandfass and the people of Christ Lutheran Church in Sedona, part of the High Country Conference. Visit their site at christsedona.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Vimeo.
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We pray for Rev. Timothy Wright, Rev. Kathleen Lotz and the people of Community of Grace Lutheran Church in Peoria, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at boldrecklessgrace.org, and their social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
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We’ve added PDF resources from the Stewardship Team of the Grand Canyon Synod presentation, “Building an Effective, Productive and Faithful Stewardship Team." Access the resources and watch the video to learn the rationale and strategies for your congregational stewardship team to engage in effective year-round ministry.
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