A Good Friday worship service—premiering April 2, 2021, at 6pm MST/PDT—is available on the synod’s YouTube channel and in this post. It is a service of Tenebrae, with reading of the passion by leaders from the Colorado River Conference, a message from Bishop Hutterer, and special music. Download the order of worship in PDF or as a Word doc.
Our thanks to Pastor Jason Adams, (Reformation Lutheran, Las Vegas) for heading up this project.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) is soliciting items for recently released asylum-seekers. They travel for up to 3 days to their destination in the U.S. All items (see the full list in this post) are non-perishable and can be collected over time, individually/as a group.
Drop items off at their office: 2502 E. University Drive, Suite 125, Phoenix, AZ 85034. If interested, email cshurtz@lss-sw.org.
Read MoreAn increase in unaccompanied children and asylum-seekers arriving at the U.S. border with Mexico has given rise to claims of a crisis. Individuals, families and children seeking protection are no crisis — the crisis is the circumstances they are fleeing and the moral challenge of safe welcome.
To offer hope and hospitality to the sojourner in this season of Easter is to bear witness to the suffering that affects the lives of so many.
Read MoreAs we go through Holy Week, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land’s Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar shares his Easter message based on Mark 16:3 “Who will roll the stone away for us?”. View as PDF.
Read MoreTogether with God, we grieve with the families and communities impacted by gun violence — especially in communities where it is an everyday occurrence. These shootings are not isolated but rather a pattern of the gun violence crisis in the United States.
The numbers of victims tell only a part of the pain — the trauma caused by gun violence ripples across family members, friends, neighborhoods, communities and this country.
Read MoreAs we go through Holy Week, Presiding Bishop Eaton reminds us that Jesus is present in all of our suffering. The lives lost to gun violence and the suffering caused by the pandemic - Christ has journeyed this path and continues to journey with us.
Read MorePortico reminds us that if you’re literally feeling the effects of too many hours staring at a computer screen, members with ELCA-primary health benefits now have access to SWORD, a virtual therapy program for joint pain available at no out-of-pocket cost.
Read MoreThe Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is engaged in a global study of contemporary Lutheran identities as they are lived in local church contexts. Between now and June you are invited to take part in a larger conversation, with a discussion guide titled We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Welcome to a Global Conversation on Being Lutheran.
This guide will help lead your congregation’s Christian education and/or youth group on a journey of mutual discovery and learning. View/download the guide.
Read MoreA memorial service for Rev. Dr. Daniel R. Defassio was live-streamed on Facebook, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Pastor Phil Gustafson were among those who celebrated his life and ministry .
A copy of the service is available on the same Facebook page, Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Sun City, AZ. Feel free to share this link with all who would like to remember.
Read MoreEvangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Bishop Ibrahim Azar speaks to us from the Old City of Jerusalem about the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the inequitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Read MoreRegistration for the 2022 ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants is now open. Visit ELCA.org/domestichungergrants to learn more about the grants and how to apply.
Organizations applying for an ELCA grant for the first time must register by setting up an account in ELCA GrantMaker in order to access the Domestic Hunger Grant application once it opens on April 19, 2021.
Read MoreThis Lent, Bishop Eaton invites us to participate in the Global Survey on Being Lutheran (en Español: Encuesta Mundial Sobre lo Que Significa Ser Luteran). We also ask that you invite others in your churches to participate. The survey will be open through March 31, and responses gathered will help to shape the 13th LWF Assembly in 2023.
Read MoreLutherans Disaster Response gives an update on the region of Tigray, where conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Read MoreFor Earth Day April 25, 2021, Lutherans Restoring Creation is preparing a gorgeous program of liturgy, visual journeys, musical offerings, insights and inspiration. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will be delivering the sermon. More info here.
Be sure to register and receive a link to download the service a week prior to the live presentation on April 25th (Good Shepherd Sunday). The entire worship service will also be offered via our YouTube and Facebook channels live that day.
Read MoreDuring a multi-day warm-up in February 2020, melting snow and heavy rains caused the Umatilla River and its tributaries to overflow their banks. Damage was great and so was the need for a long-term recovery group (LTRG), a common structure in the disaster response community that allows for a holistic response. Read how Lutheran Disaster Response was a catalyst in the group.
Read MoreGrace Lutheran in Phoenix is seeking a full-time coordinator for their summer heat respite program, May 15-September 15, 2021. View the job description as a PDF or as a Word doc.
Send your resume, cover letter, and at least two references to Pastor Sarah Stadler at pastorsarah@graceinthecity.com. For questions, you may reach Pastor Sarah at the Grace office at 602-258-3787.
Read More200 good wooden and padded chairs are available for pennies on the dollar, as Good Samaritan Lutheran, Las Vegas, is getting new chairs for their sanctuary. Contact Pastor Don Lorfing if interested: 702-241-7392 or dlorfing@goodsamlv.com.
Read MorePastor Tim Nybroten, Resurrection Lutheran in Tucson, writes to tell us of the death of Rev. Wayne Viereck: “Pastor Wayne passed into the loving arms of God just before midnight on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. We hold Pat and the Viereck family in our prayers, and we thank God for Wayne’s many years of faithful service to Resurrection Lutheran and to the greater Church.”
A memorial service for Pastor Wayne is scheduled for Saturday, April 3rd at 1:00 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church. All CDC Covid-19 protocols will be followed.
Read MoreLutheran World Relief offers videos for congregational and personal use on Maundy Thursday and Easter, available for download or on YouTube.
Read MoreIn two posts at ELCA.org, we hear from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C., and get the U.N. and state edition, including news from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), who is tracking 37 bills of interest to people of faith in Arizona, organizing a second Advocacy 101 training workshop alongside Arizona Faith Network and Bread for the World, and celebrating its first birthday.
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