GCS Diakonia believes that through the proper formation and with the right education, lay ministry is an invaluable asset to your congregation, and the church as a whole. If you are interested in finding out how your involvement in Diakonia can help your church do God's work with our hands, check out our website for more information: diakoniaaz.org.
Read MoreWe pray for the family of Reverend Dick E. Hamlin, who died Monday morning, May 3, 2021. We especially pray for his wife Jayne.
A service will be held Thursday, May 13, 2021, 2 pm at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church (6300 E Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254). Masks will be required indoors. No reception is planned. Livestream available at live.lacasadecristo.com/.
Clergy who wish to robe and process will gather at 1:30 pm in the choir room. The color of the day (Ascension Day) is white.
Read MoreAll members of the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in the Diakonia Graduation, June 11, 2021, 5 pm MST/PDT. Congratulations to our 12 graduates!
Register for the Diakonia graduation here, and learn more about this great program at diakoniaaz.org.
Read MoreAll members of the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in a Q-&-A Zoom presentation of the 2022-2023 Mission Spending Plan, hosted by Erik Rehms, the Synod Treasurer. Each session is the same, with two dates to choose from.
Saturday, May 22 at 10:00 am MST/PDT. Register for this meeting here.
Monday, May 24 at 6:00 pm MST/PDT. Register for this meeting here.
We pray for Rev. William Rindy, Rev. Tina Mills and the people of Our Savior’s of East Mesa Lutheran Church in Mesa, part of the Rio Salado Conference. Visit their site at oslcaz.org, and their Facebook page.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Phillip Shuart and the people of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, part of the Colorado River Conference. Visit their site at standrewlv.org/, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares updates in their UN & State Edition and Connections updates from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C.
Read MoreThe ELCA is a founding organization and sponsor of Ecumenical Advocacy Days, attended annually by many Lutherans for skill building and experience. Rev. Paul Benz, co-director of Faith Action Network in Seattle, WA, highlights central learnings for him about effective and meaningful faith-centered advocacy.
Read MoreBishop Eaton encourages us to take time to reflect on this comforting passage from Psalm 46: Be still and know that I am God.
Read MoreSierra Evangelical Lutheran Church Intern Pastor, Annela Rova, and husband, Reese Hunter, had a healthy baby girl born Sunday, April 25, 2021, at 5:17 am, in, Sierra Vista, AZ. She was 5 lbs, 14 oz., 19.5 inches long. All went well and mother and baby are fine.
O Lord our God, creator of all that exists, we thank you for the joy of watching new life begin and for the privilege of sharing with you in your continuing creation. In your mercy grant that these blessings may continue to us and even to our children’s children, that generations yet unborn may bless your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read MoreUnaccompanied minors are coming to the United States alone, fleeing dangerous situations, in search of asylum. You can provide a loving welcome to these asylum-seekers with the gift of a Comfort Bag.
Comfort Bags include hygiene supplies, school supplies, a comforting item, and a backpack or duffle bag. Find out how to donate here: www.lss-sw.org/comfort-bags.
Read MoreWorld Labyrinth Day is an annual event sponsored by the Labyrinth Society as a worldwide action to “walk as one at 1” local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy across the globe.
On Saturday, May 1, 2021, Spirit in the Desert’s Sue Palmer will offer a 15-minute guided meditation on the hour at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm (creating the worldwide rolling wave of peace), 2:00 pm, and again at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm to capture that sunset, evening in the desert vibe. Learn more here.
Read MoreOpen Doors, the new grant opportunity to support congregations, has a “Support Crew” site on Sway for colleagues who are assisting with emails and calls.
The ELCA is also offering Padlet as an idea-sharing platform for people to add their comments, photos and videos.
Read MoreThe Stewardship Team of the Grand Canyon Synod invites you to join our next webinar presentation on "Electronic Giving for Congregations,” May 25, 2021 from 7pm to 8:15pm MST/PDT. Please register here.
We will have as our guest Keith Mundy, former Program Director for Stewardship for the ELCA, who now works for Vanco. Info on Tithe.ly and giving patterns during Covid-19 will also be shared.
Read MorePacific Lutheran Theological Seminary hosts a book launch for “United States of Grace” by Pr. Lenny Duncan, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 5pm MST/PDT. RSVP here.
Read More“Providing transparent, real time information about what people’s risks are is empowering. You want to know how hard it’s raining Covid.”
Medium risk counties in our synod are Gila and Greenlee.
High risk counties include Apache, Cochise, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma.
Very high risk counties are Clark , Coconino, Navajo, and Pinal.
Read MoreJust one week before the May 7, 2021 deadline to register for synod assembly. Click here to register today!
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 MoreThe Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically April 14-17. The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, took action on a variety of matters intended to advance this church's mission and ministry.
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response provides updates on supporting a response to the fires breaking out in Rohingya refugee settlements in Bangladesh.
Read MoreMark your calendar for Sunday, Sept. 12, when congregations of the ELCA will come together for “God’s work. Our hands.” We’re not sure what the impact of this pandemic will look like in September, but we continue to be church together.
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