After reflecting on the 10,000 Year Clock and speaking with a prominent Lutheran theologian, Elise Seyfriend anticipates the future with optimism.
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The Grand Canyon Synod Council meeting is this weekend, and our rostered staff continues to visit churches. Highlighted meetings are Bishop Hutterer’s visit with retiring pastor Al Cassel, Pastor Jacqui’s meeting with first call pastors, and Pastor Miguel’s meeting with other Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) deans.
View all the details for each team member in this post.
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Nationwide, the Delta variant continues to drive case and death numbers up across the country. Daily caseloads have increased tenfold since late June. Death reports, which can lag well behind case data, have doubled. More coronavirus patients are hospitalized than at any point since February.
Risk levels for unvaccinated people in the synod are either very high or extremely high.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Clark, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma and Washington counties.
Very high risk counties include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Pima, and Santa Cruz.
Sunday, August 8, 2021 launched an exciting new era at the Navajo Lutheran Mission, as local Navajo leadership is being developed at the Mission’s House of Prayer.
The new Hodza Yaa Ahalyani (Wisdom Keepers) are Rock Point residents Patty Charley, Patterson Yazzie, and Benedict Bedoni, who were affirmed in ceremonies by Bishop Hutterer, Reverend Jacqueline Pagel, and Mission Pastor Kate Adelman.
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Collin Hansen, editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition and co-author of Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential, writes in this essay:
“Christians need to hear the babies crying in church. They need to see the reddened eyes of a friend across the aisle. They need to chat with the recovering drug addict who shows up early but still sits in the back row. They need to taste the bread and wine.” Read more at New York Times.
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We pray for Rev. Steven Kruse and the people of New Covenant Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, part of the Northeast Valley Conference. Visit their site at newcovenantaz.church, and their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
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The Lutheran World Federation Council has elected Estonian theologian Anne Burghardt as the next general secretary of the global communion of Lutheran churches. We share her Living Lutheran profile in this post.
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Each year the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA) publishes a Devotional Guide. View/download as PDF here.
The weekly devotions follow the lectionary beginning in August. The devotions are for professional educators, pastors, and ALL who work with children and youth and their families in any capacity.
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A Time of Remembrance, Thanksgiving, and Reflections for the lives and faith and leadership of:
The Rev. David Walter Preus, Presiding Bishop of the American Lutheran Church, Parish Pastor, Author
The Rev. Dr. Peter Louis Steinke, Parish pastor, Educator, Author, Therapist, Congregational Systems Consultant
The Rev. Walter Martin Wangerin, Jr., Author, Parish Pastor, Professor, Educator, Radio Announcer
Thursday, August 12, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Click here to attend the Zoom.
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The next meeting of the Grand Canyon Synod Hunger Leaders Network is Tuesday, 8/24/2021, 6:00pm MST/PDT.
If you have any questions please contact Melanie Hobden, Pastor Karn Carroll or Pastor Jacqui Pagel.
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Rally in the Valley was an annual event that engaged seniors through speakers, discussion groups, fellowship, and worship. Their treasurer, Dennis Haugan, recently presented the Bishop a $6,842.42 check towards our Growing Generosity Appeal.
This amount represents the entire balance of the funds in their treasury, as their organization will no longer be active. Their planning team voted unanimously to give the funds to the Synod for the appeal designated toward LAMA with the focus of advocating on behalf of seniors.
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Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. View the slideshow here.
This week’s photo selection includes the first anniversary of a deadly blast in Beirut, Lebanon, Olympic moments and more.
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We pray for Rev. Sarah Stadler and the people of Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at graceinthecity.com, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
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Anita Fete Crews, Director of Blessed Tomorrow, shares this letter, which includes recently released action sheets.
Join the discussion on the next Connections Call sponsored by Lutherans Restoring Creation, which will advocate for the reduction of greenhouse gases for the health of all. Tuesday, 8/17/2021, 5 pm MST/PDT.
Join them as they discuss the development of a Sample Memorial to go to Churchwide Assembly 2022 asking our ELCA Advocacy office to specifically advocate that government leaders and public servants prioritize a reduction of greenhouse gases by 50% no later than 2030. More info here.
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We share this article from Reuters: Global warming is dangerously close to spiralling out of control, a U.N. climate panel said in a landmark report Monday, warning the world is already certain to face further climate disruptions for decades, if not centuries, to come.
Humans are "unequivocally" to blame, the report from the scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said. Rapid action to cut greenhouse gas emissions could limit some impacts, but others are now locked in. Read the full article.
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Kelly Sherman-Conroy writes, “As the Team Leader of MYLE (Multicultural Youth Leadership Event) and group of amazing leaders of color who I am graciously working alongside, we want everyone to know what MYLE is so that this life changing opportunity for our youth of color can experience a Beloved Community like no other.”
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The Spirited Book Club discusses Kurt Struckmeyer's radical 'way' of Jesus in A Conspiracy of Love: Following Jesus in a Postmodern World. Thursday, 8/19/2021, 2 pm. Register at the bottom of our calendar listing.
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We pray for the family of Elijah Defassio, who died unexpectedly August 4, 2021. Elijah is the son of the Rev. Dr. Daniel Defassio, pastor at Shepherd of the Desert, Sun City, who entered the church triumphant on January 22, 2021.
We pray for Elijah’s mother Suzy, and Elijah’s family and friends. Read his obituary here, and contribute to a fundraiser here.
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Jeff Musfeldt recently became the Lutheran representative on the BeConnected Faith Network Advisory Committee. Encouraging faith communities to support service members, veterans and their families is a major focus of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (see www.arizonacoalition.org.) We thank Jeff for all of his service, both to country and our church.
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