All active Rostered Ministers or retired ministers serving as interim pastors are invited to the Bishop’s Fall Gathering to be held on October 18-20, 2021 in Phoenix. Bishop Eaton will be our guest for this event. More details are on the way.
Read MoreAs part of the Synod Council and Bishop Report of our 2021 Assembly, Bishop Deborah Hutterer shared some exciting news about our new appeal, Growing Generosity. We are already over halfway to our $500,000 goal, with $281,656 in gifts and pledges!
With a 100% participation rate from the Growing Generosity leadership team, Synod Council, and Office of the Bishop staff, we have already received leadership gifts from three congregations: New Promise Lutheran Church in St. George, UT; Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Tucson; and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley. Read her report and learn how you can join us in growing generosity in our synod.
Read MoreWe are pleased to share a video promoting our new Growing Generosity Appeal. The video premiered at our 2021 assembly.
Thanks to Pat Gary for all of his work producing this video. We also thank those who gave time to appear in the video: Pastor Mateo Chavez with San Juan Bautista in Tucson; Solomon Kuch with Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran in Glendale, Pastor Lars Hammar with Lord of Grace and Open Space in Tucson; Pastor Rebecca Boardman with University of Arizona Lutheran Campus Ministry; Mark Engel with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona; Terri Polk with American Lutheran in Sun City; and Pastor Jeremy Nausin with Holy Spirit Lutheran in Las Vegas.
Read MoreAs you explore opportunities to participate in our dedicated day of service, visit ELCA.org/DayOfService for helpful planning resources: Planning toolkit, “Service in the Time of COVID-19”, posters, postcards and social media graphics, promotional items, videos, special hymn text, music and recording.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Daniel Hoeger, Rev. Kristin Rice and the people of All Saints Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at allsaintsphoenix.org, and their social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Read MoreOur entire worship service is available for use by congregations and individuals. The service is provided by our assembly hosts at Community Lutheran in Las Vegas, including Rev. Benjamin Bergren, Rev. Brian Ward, and Bruce Ewing. Download on our Vimeo page.
Rev. Albert Starr's sermon is part of this worship service. His sermon is also available as a standalone file to download or view at bit.ly/starr-sermon.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. William Phillips and the people of Christ Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, part of the Colorado River Conference. Visit their site at christlasvegas.org, and their social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Read MoreA Zoom recording of our third tech check training for voting members at our 2021 assembly is available for review. We also present slides and other helpful information in this post to help prep for a smooth day on June 12, 2021.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Lowell Nelson, Rev. Judith Rainforth, Rev. Gary Ulrich, and the people of American Lutheran Church in Sun City, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at alcsuncity.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
Read MoreAfter a long assembly week, the Office of the Bishop will be closed on Monday, June 14, 2021. Enjoy your Flag Day as well.
Read MoreGiovana Oaxaca, program director for Migration Policy and Mary Campbel, program director for AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) share updates on the current situation and work being done by the ELCA to address change. Learn more and get involved at ELCA.org/AMMPARO.
Read MoreAs we gather for our 2021 assembly, it’s a good time to reflect our collective experience in a pandemic year. We’re proud to provide these updates from your synod and our many ministry and mission partners.
We’re adding reports as we receive and process them. Review them on our 2021 assembly report page and this collection of blog posts.
Read MoreAs our world fundamentally shifted this year, so did our campus ministry! Our U of A students completed about 95% of their classwork online—-which often left them isolated and exhausted by screen time.
Therefore, we shifted our programming to shorter discussion groups online about various faith topics AND added Thursday “take-out/patio” dinners. The beautiful Arizona weather allowed for socially-distanced outdoor meals the entire year and our new community to thrive.
Read MorePortico Benefit Services is a holistic benefits ministry serving those who serve — from rostered ministers and their families to staff at social ministry organizations.
View a video message from our regional representative, Andrea Arey, as well as a written update.
Read MoreThe ELCA’s Peace Not Walls campaign works for peace and justice in Israel and Palestine. How has COVID-19 impacted the local Lutheran church in the Holy Land? How has Augusta Victoria Hospital dealt with COVID-19? Watch this video to learn more.
Read MoreThank you for being a ministry partner! Your prayers, direct synod gifts, and encouraging your leaders to go to seminary are all ways you participate with us in the important mission of equipping future pastors, deacons, and non-rostered faith leaders for the work they are called to do in congregations, hospitals, schools, community organizations, and more.
Read MoreTo our friends and partners in the Grand Canyon Synod, where Mosaic provides services out of Phoenix, Prescott and Tucson:
During the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, we at Mosaic shared a consistent message with those we support, our workforce, donors and volunteers: Hope Beyond Measure.
Read MoreDuring the year-long pandemic, MIF provided assistance to investors who needed immediate access to their funds and to borrowers who needed flexibility with their loan payments. Their update is full of stories, videos, and investment information.
We collaborated with our ministry partner, the ELCA Federal Credit Union, to offer expedited loans for congregations, ministries and individuals, as well as Paycheck Protection Program loans for congregations and ministries to keep employees on the payroll and continue operations.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of the Southwest shares their 2021 update.
Read MoreMost of us have experienced tremendous hardships this year, and Las Vegas was also hit incredibly hard by the pandemic. However, at LSSN we didn’t step back we stepped up. Since March 2020, we have served nearly 70,000 Las Vegans through our food pantry distributions, and the need is increasing.
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