This week the Office of the Bishop team visits congregations, Zooms it up, plans the 2021 Bishop’s Fall Gathering, and presents our Synod Grants Process Presentation (Tuesday, September 7 at 5:00 p.m.).
View all the details for each team member in this post.
Read MoreMany years ago, Linda Jacobson changed a tire on a rural road near Arusha, Tanzania. She wasn’t strong enough to turn the lug nuts, but she figured out what to do. “I jumped on the tire wrench to turn it,” she remembered. “The car was full of women, and my daughters recall that, as we drove away, I yelled out the window to the group of men watching, ‘Wanawake wanaweza!’ Women are able!”
Read MoreAre you interested in learning more about what it means to be a Reconciling in Christ congregation? Are you already an RIC congregation, and looking for partnership, or other ways to share our RIC commitments?
Join our Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 7 at 3:30pm MDT/PST! Contact Carly at info@faithalive.com to RSVP, and get the Zoom link!
Read MoreWhile tickets are sold out for Lutheran Social Services of Nevada’s 25th Anniversary Gala (Thursday, 9/92021), you can check out their mobile bidding site and place a bid for a great cause.
Read MoreAs we prepare for our upcoming “How Your Charitable Heart Can Leave a Legacy” Zoom presentation on 9/21/2021, we meet one of our two regional gift planners and presenters, Lisa Marie Higginbotham.
Working with the ELCA Foundation, Lisa serves our synod by helping individuals and organizations leave a legacy.
Read MoreThe first and second session of the new Beginning a Culture of Generosity fall stewardship program are available for review. It’s for those who missed it or are curious about the program.
Read MoreFrom AP and Religion News Service: “It was the millennials, not the boomers, who walked away from church. I think it’s entirely fair to say that Generation X represents the last generation raised with traditional American religion.”
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Mitchell Eickmann and the people of Pan de Vida Lutheran Church in Surprise, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their Facebook page.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod has several great upcoming opportunities for junior high and high school youth: Youth Ministry Summit, Campformation, synod high school retreats, scholarships, Lutheran Campus Ministry, and much more.
Make sure your congregation or organization stays informed by letting us know the youth director and youth-friendly folks for your group. Use the form in this post, or send your name, organization and contact info to Pastor Jacqui Pagel: 480-678-4406 or JPagel@gcsynod.org.
Read MorePlease pray for seminarians from across the Grand Canyon Synod.
Veronica Alvarez: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Kylee Bestenlehner: Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Wanda Frenchman: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Julie Gerrish: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Morgan Kaus: Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Gail Kenny: Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Wyatt Linde: Princeton Theological Seminary
Zachary Nance: Wartburg Theological Seminary
Luis Ochoa: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Glenn Schrader: Wartburg Theological Seminary
Jennie Smith: Luther Seminary
Cari States-Codding: United Lutheran Seminary
Judi Tyler: Luther Seminary
Daniel Volkmann: Wartburg Theological Seminary
Daniel Weichart: Luther Seminary
Judy Wold: Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Click here to register for a Grant Application Q&A Webinar, September 7, 2021, 5:00 pm MST/PDT.
Learn about our two categories of 2022 grant applications (Project Support Grants, and Adapting, Connecting, Transforming, and Sustaining (ACTS) Grants) and learn how to apply. More info at gcsynod.org/grants.
Read MoreGenerosity is not just about our money. It is an attitude. It is a way of viewing the world. I was sitting watching the news and bemoaning the fate of the Afghans who had supported the US and their possible fate. Like for most people it brought me memories of the fall of South Vietnam and the plight of those who had aided the US.
Read MoreThis 60-minute webinar serves as an overview of the Liturgies in All Creation Sings, the newly published supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Presenters Jennifer Baker-Trinity and Martin Seltz from Augsburg Fortress take you on a tour of the liturgical settings.
Read MoreKatie Langston has nearly completed her journey to becoming an ELCA pastor—but the path there was anything but linear. Her new book, Sealed: An Unexpected Journey Into the Heart of Grace (Thornbush Press, 2021), tells the story of her childhood and young adulthood in a devout Mormon family, and of her unexpected conversion to the Lutheran faith.
Read MoreFor nearly a century, Lutherans have been helping to resettle those fleeing harm. As we pray for Afghanistan, we are called to support those arriving in the U.S. by becoming a part of the long welcome for these families.
Support LIRS’ Neighbors in Need: Afghan Allies fund, which will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our Afghan friends as they await the official services available to them by visiting LIRS.org/HelpNow.
Read MoreFrom AP and Religion News Service: 'It seems a little strange, but (pet ministry) is mission, it's evangelism, it's education, it's hunger relief, it's pastoral care. All those things are part of the church.'
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Annemarie Burke, Deacon Connie Rose-Kamprath, and the people of Esperanza Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Fiesta Conference. Visit their site at myesperanza.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.
Read MoreIn this season of Labor Day and “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, our nation and the ELCA focuses on the nature of work. As the pandemic and natural disasters continue, our call to do God’s work becomes clearer, louder, and more urgent.
Read MoreThe 2021 Bishop’s Fall Gathering (October 18-19, 2021) will occur online via Zoom. This decision to gather online was difficult to make, as we were excited for the long-awaited chance of in-person camaraderie.
With Covid uncertainties, we made this choice out of an abundance of caution. We hope an online gathering brings in more people as it eliminates travel requirements and choices for our special guests and attendees (all active rostered ministers, retired ministers serving as interim pastors, and synod council.)
Read MoreThe Center of Addiction & Faith is hosting a webinar on harm reduction, featuring best-selling author Maia Szalavitz and her new book, Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction.
You'll learn more about the origins of Harm Reduction as a movement and how it has contributed to saving lives and promoting health. Thursday, 9/9/2021, 5-6pm MST/PDT, with follow-up 30 minute Zoom discussion. Register now.
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