Cruzando Fronteras update
Cruzando Fronteras update

We share an update from Pastor Sarah Isakson, with Faith Lutheran in Phoenix, who along with many others in our synod are part of the Cruzando Fronteras network.

Thank you for your support and prayers! More than 250 asylum seeking residents of the shelter are now crossing legally into the United States. Most have been working as community residents for over a year.

Cruzando Fronteras has speakers who are available to do Zoom presentations to your congregations all summer! Please contact: Paztorsarah@gmail.com.

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News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardImmigration and Refugees, Cruzando FronterasComment
Sonoran shelter at Arizona border aids migrants with active MPP cases
Sonoran shelter at Arizona border aids migrants with active MPP cases

Arizona 360 provides this news video on shelters along the Arizona border for migrants with Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) cases. Cruzando Fronteras is part of that support network.

“Across Arizona’s southern border, nonprofits and religious organizations continue to support asylum seekers who have waited months to present their cases in the United States. Tony Paniagua traveled to Nogales, Sonora where he visited a shelter providing aid and spoke to migrants about their journeys.”

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News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardImmigration and Refugees, Cruzando FronterasComment
“River of Life” Vacation Bible School At-Home Guide
“River of Life” Vacation Bible School At-Home Guide

The at-home guide for ELCA World Hunger’s “River of Life” Vacation Bible School program for 2021 is now available for download.

This at-home guide is a supplemental resource for the full “River of Life VBS leader’s guide and includes modified activities, suggestions for online and at-home VBS, links to new videos and tips for parents, caregivers and other adults leading VBS with children at home!

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardHunger, ELCA World Hunger, Vacation Bible SchoolComment
Prayers for Linda Nausin
Prayers for Linda Nausin

We pray for healing and recovery after surgery for Linda Nausin. Linda is the wife of Pastor Frank Nausin and mother of Pastor Jeremy Nausin, Holy Spirit Lutheran, Las Vegas.

O Lord, your compassions never fail and your mercies are new every morning. We give you thanks for giving our sister Linda both relief from pain and hope of health renewed. Continue in her the good work you have begun; that she, daily increasing in bodily strength and rejoicing in your goodness, may so order her life and conduct that she may always think and do those things that please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardHoly Spirit Las Vegas, Colorado River ConferenceComment
Vital Congregations Training for Leaders beginning May 27, 2021
Vital Congregations Training for Leaders beginning May 27, 2021

The ELCA Christian Community and Leadership Congregational Vitality Team invites you to a series of webinars for pastors, lay leaders, and congregational teams. There is no cost for this training.

The first online webinar will begin on May 27th at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm MST/PDT. This is a four-part training. Additional dates are June 10, June 24, and July 8th at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm MST/PDT. Please register by May 24, 2021.

All courses will be led by Rev. Nancy Nyland, Rev. CeCee Mills and Rev. Jason Adams in partnership with the ELCA Christian Community and Leadership Congregational Vitality Team.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Christian Community and Leadership Congregational Vitality TeamComment
Take the congregation electronic giving survey
Take the congregation electronic giving survey

In preparation for the Electronic Giving for Congregations webinar on May 25, 2021, the Stewardship Team invites you to participate in a brief survey, which will help us to examine electronic giving at congregations in our synod.

Take the survey here, and complete by May 20, 2021. Results will be shared at the 5/25/2021 webinar. Please register here for the webinar.

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Stewardship, News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardStewardship, GCS Stewardship TeamComment
Submit your video for the 2021 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly choir
Submit your video for the 2021 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly choir

We thank all who signed up to participate in our first ever virtual choir, to be presented at our first ever online synod assembly!

Our song is “I Love To Tell The Story,” and director Bruce Ewing, with Community Lutheran in Las Vegas, has created some great resources to help you record your video by May 15, 2021. View our virtual choir page to submit your video.

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News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian Flatgard2021 AssemblyComment
Scammers are impersonating as bishops, again
Scammers are impersonating as bishops, again

Once again impersonators are sending emails purporting to be bishops, and asking for money and gift cards. Please be assured that Bishop Hutterer would not solicit donations in this fashion. Please contact the office if you ever have questions about an email.

Avoid being duped with this info from the FCC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams.

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Bishop Hutterer, News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Deborah K. HuttererComment
Want to offer your congregation a chance to deepen, strengthen, and stretch their faith?
Want to offer your congregation a chance to deepen, strengthen, and stretch their faith?

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.

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News, Grand Canyon Synod, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardDiakoniaComment
In memoriam: Rev. Dick E. Hamlin
In memoriam: Rev. Dick E. Hamlin

We 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.

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In Memoriam, Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardShepherd of the Valley Phoenix, Capital Conference Comments