Being Here is a podcast that explores real world issues and topics important to professionals in the faith community. Hosted by the Rev. Melissa Pohlman.
Check out three episodes so far: Protecting Yourself from Burnout, Overcoming Compassion Fatigue, and Personal Finances for Faith Professionals.
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We offer our prayers to the family of Pastor Nathan Bowman, Chaplain at Hospice of the West. His daughter Moriah is home from the hospital and in hospice care, surrounded by family.
Merciful God, you give us the grace that helps in time of need. Surround the Bowman family with your steadfast love and lighten their burdens. May the power of your Spirit be with them in this time of distress, and give them a new mind and heart made whole in the name of the risen Christ. Amen.
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Our Learn to Live mental health benefit partner has created these quick half-hour sessions for employers. Learn to recognize the signs of mental distress in others, and how to talk about mental health, create a culture of well-being, and lift the stigma about mental health in the workplace. View PDF.
Register and attend together as a leadership group. Access code: PORTICO.
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Fidelity has partnered with Portico to offer a virtual webinar series – exclusively for ELCA Retirement Plan members – that addresses the question: what does it take to be retirement ready?
Register for and view all the dates in the Retirement Readiness Series here. Sessions from June 21 through July 19, 2021. You’ll need to have your Portico login ready.
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Lutheran Thrift Shop in Sun City, AZ has been gifted many boxes of SATB Choral Arrangements, multiple copies, mostly 30 copies each, books, and sheet music included. Genres range from classical, contemporary, gospel, etc.
If you or a colleague are interested, please contact Karen Austad at karenaustad@gmail.com to arrange for a time to explore possibilities. We are hoping to avoid the landfill.
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At our 2021 Assembly, we elected synod council members and committee members, as well as voting members to attend the Churchwide Assembly in August, 2022.
We welcome these new members, and thank all of the many leaders who participated in these elections. We are grateful for your continued leadership in the Grand Canyon Synod.
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Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix is providing heat relief while practicing Covid safety. From June 7, 2021 until August 27, 2021, Monday through Friday, 9am–5pm, Grace will open the courtyard for our community. Read this post for how they are building community and for donation and volunteer opportunities.
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With so many lives in danger, we will continue to honor the Lutheran legacy of generous and compassionate welcome for those who seek refuge in our communities. How would we respond if the refugee on our doorstep were Jesus himself? As Jesus taught, “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
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In her June/July column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on what we’ve learned from the Apostle Paul about the deeply spiritual act of stewardship. Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/3gBIYFR and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3xqt8ER.
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On Wednesday, June 16 at 4:30 p.m. MST/PDT, the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments will host a webinar titled “Leading the Church in a Lingering Pandemic.”
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The Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments provides a comprehensive update to the guidance originally published in the summer of 2020. View/download the Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Lingering Pandemic PDF document.
The consultation included an ecumenical group of theologians, scientists, physicians, pastors, bishops, and practitioners from at least seven church bodies.
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Newly ordained Pastor Nanette Christofferson, serving at Love of Christ, Mesa, shares some gratitudes as part of our 2021 Assembly updates.
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Newly ordained Pastor Pam Reynolds, serving at Lord of Life, Sun City West, shares her some her joys as part of our 2021 Assembly.
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Pastor Don Lorfing, senior pastor at Good Samaritan Lutheran, Henderson, led us in a devotion and prayer based on our 2021 assembly’s theme and scripture: Freed in Christ.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Galatians 5:13-14
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Pastor Karn Carroll (Our Saviour’s Church in Phoenix) serves as our synod’s representative to the ELCA church council. At our 2021 Assembly, she and Pastor Jacqui Pagel shared specifics about our future church and ways to move forward.
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Congratulations on your role to bring a group from your congregation to the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering. This is an incredible opportunity for you and all who will be involved. Perhaps you feel excited and/or overwhelmed, wondering where to start, especially if you have never been to the Gathering before.
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Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta, Director for Evangelical Mission and Bishop’s Associate for Congregational Vitality, gives an update as part of our 2021 Synod Assembly.
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We opened our 2021 Assembly with greetings from Pastor Roberto Trejo Haager, president of the Mexican Lutheran Church, or Iglesia Luterana Mexicana.
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With numerous bishop elections, we’re using this page to keep a running list of newly-elected Bishops in the ELCA.
Brenda Bos elected bishop of ELCA Southwest California Synod
Megan Rohrer elected bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod
Kevin Jones elected bishop of ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod
Paula Schmitt elected bishop of ELCA Allegheny Synod
Timothy Smith reelected bishop of the ELCA North Carolina Synod
Lee Miller II elected bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod
Felix Malpica elected bishop of ELCA La Crosse Area Synod
Dee Pederson elected bishop of ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod