As we look to the future of the ELCA and invite new people to know Jesus, Bishop Eaton asks, “how would you describe what it means to be a Lutheran Christian?”
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Bishop Hutterer encourages you to join in this series as we consider the future of the church. Forced to scramble to go online in just a few weeks during the COVID pandemic, the church has discovered the online world is a place where genuine community and real ministry happens.
Hosted by the Southwestern Texas Synod, all congregations (rostered and lay leaders) are invited to this 5-week FREE series on Monday evenings beginning July 26, 2021. Get more info and register here.
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The summer 2021 issue of Mosaic’s premiere, national magazine, Promise, is now online and ready to read. Read the latest issue by clicking here.
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We pray for Rev. Kim Taylor and the people of American Lutheran Church in Tucson, part of the Santa Cruz Conference. Visit their site at godsplaceforgrace.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
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The Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA) is collecting information from all ELCA Schools and Learning Centers that will become a powerful resource tool. Through this survey, ELEA will gather accurate student, administration and staff demographics, budgetary and general information. Take the survey here.
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Theresa Thornburgh, the Director of Administration and Events for the Grand Canyon Synod, will be on vacation 7/16-7/23/2021. During that time our office hours continue to be Monday–Thursday, 9am-5pm, with visits by necessity or appointment only. Our office phone, 602-957-3223, will continue to be monitored.
The office@gcsynod.org email will not be monitored, and processing of checks will be on hold until Theresa’s return. You can find contact information for the full staff at www.gcsynod.org/contact.
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With more and more Covid-19 cases being spread by the vastly more contagious Delta variant, it’s good to know vaccination rates in your area. Learn more about Delta in this podcast, and check vaccination rates by county and age group here.
Only four counties in the Grand Canyon Synod have half their residents vaccinated. The percentage of residents age 12+ that are fully vaccinated in each county are:
Over half: Santa Cruz 75%; Apache 58%; Coconino 55%; Pima 51%
Half to 1/3: Navajo 48%; Yuma 47%; Cochise 45%; Gila 45%; Graham 44%; Maricopa 41%; Clark 39%; Pinal 37%; La Paz 36%; Yavapai 35%
Under 1/3: Greenlee 31%; Mohave 30%; Washington 28%
We pray for Rev. Mateo Chavez and the people of San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson, part of the Santa Cruz Conference. Visit their site at sjblc.org, and their Facebook page.
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After selling out in May, Luther Seminary brings back one of their most talked-about courses: Hybrid Ministry in a Post-Pandemic Church, from Ryan Panzer. Click here for all the details (including a course breakdown) and a chance to register before it fills up again.
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Several years ago in my last congregation someone came to me with the question of whether Jesus advocated wealth redistribution. They had read something written by Jim Wallis and wanted me to confirm their mistrust of anything he had to say as he was much more liberal than they.
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Spiritual PopUp: Creating Your Own Memorial Service Leader's Guide and Participant's Guide are now available on Amazon. Published by New Song Anthem in Henderson, Nevada, by authors Sheila Choate Siino, Elizabeth Baldizan, and Patricia Rusch Duffey.
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You are invited to join ELCA Coaching at 11 am MST/PDT on the third Wednesday of July and the first and third Wednesday of August to learn some possibly surprising, and some definitely humorous, things about Courageous Leadership.
The schedule (starting July 21) and login information can be found on the ELCA Coaching website.
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The Congregations Lead Initiative is a new, two-year program that will gather a cohort of 50 congregations from across the ELCA to unleash and harness their collective genius and discover new and useful ministry innovations. Beginning on July 8, 2021, your congregation is invited to apply to join the Congregations Lead Initiative. Learn more at ELCA.org/CongregationsLead or this PDF flyer.
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This week, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton introduces us to some of our Lutheran family from across the globe.
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The second meeting of the Grand Canyon Synod Hunger Leaders Network is Tuesday, July 27, 2021, 6:30pm MST/PDT. Click here to join the Zoom meeting when it's in progress.
Petra Rickertsen, Networks Manager from ELCA World Hunger will share how other synod networks work and will also update us on Hunger Grants.
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Our office will be closed Monday, July 5, 2021, for Independence Day. May we, who came from many nations with many languages, delight as a united people in our many different gifts.
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Liberating God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honesty in the workplace, truth in education, and honor in daily life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance; and from every evil course of action. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Beginning a Culture of Generosity (BCG) is a new and timely program to help guide congregations and provide the necessary tools to run a successful fall appeal. Congregations will receive training online in 6 sessions and 1:1 guidance on an easily implemented program.
Registration is open through August with the first session scheduled for August 14 ,2021: "Building Blocks for Generosity". View the info page on gcsynod.org, or download the information and registration PDF. Register online here.
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For two evenings in July, the Phoenix Fusion Racial Justice Team will host, and Pastor Kristin Rice will facilitate discussion on the book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration” written by Isabel Wilkerson. Thursdays, July 8th and 29th at 6:30 pm MST/PDT on Zoom. Click here to join.
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Cal Lutheran is hosting a virtual Mid-Summer lecture series between sessions. For details on their Mid-Summer Lectures & Summer II Session, visit their website: www.callutheran.edu/fab
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