Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places

It’s becoming increasingly apparent to civic leaders across America that many churches are shrinking and that their buildings are suffering from deferred maintenance. A new resource has been published that presents community-minded options and alternatives that can help you retain the civic value of sacred places even if they change use or ownership.

Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places is available in digital and print versions at sacredplaces.org/transitionguide.

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Register for 9/21/2021 planned legacy giving webinar

Our “How Your Charitable Heart Can Leave a Legacy” Zoom presentation is next week (September 21, 2021 at 6pm MST/PDT). This one-hour presentation will equip YOU as a congregational leader to educate your faithful members about best practices in navigating a pathway of charitable intent.

As a warmup we share some FAQs on planned giving in this post.

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Growing Future Ministries on Campus

As part of our Growing Generosity Appeal, we present this video on growing future ministries on campus in the Grand Canyon Synod: $50,000 for University of Arizona Campus ministry to sustain the Lutheran presence on the campus in collaboration with Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal partners, and $50,000 will be allocated to explore and potentially launch a Lutheran Campus Ministry program in the Las Vegas area.

Learn more at gcsynod.org/generosity/future-ministries.

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Bishop Eaton: Remembering Sept. 11, 2001

As we observe the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, tragedies, Bishop Eaton invites us to remember, reflect and pray. Let us never forget the many lives lost or that many still carry the burdens of grief, trauma, and illness. As we remember the trauma of 9/11 and its aftermath, may we reflect on and hold fast to the promise that God has given us a future of hope.

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Living Lutheran September series: Difficult conversations

In September, Living Lutheran is looking at some of the topics that may be hard to handle and how we engage with those we disagree with They start with one of our newest synod bishops, Megan Rohrer of the Sierra Pacific Synod, who says regarding the difficult topics they encounter, “All I have to do in the conversation is to be faithful.”

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Racial and religious profiling remains a legacy of 9/11 — one we must end

Americans from Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian and other communities were suddenly subject to a torrent of suspicion and hate after 9/11, and that suspicion has been institutionalized by discriminatory government profiling and policies. Read the opinion article from Religion News Service here.

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Grand Canyon Women's Ministries presents "Women of the Bible"

Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA is hosting a Bible Study via Zoom on Saturday morning, Oct. 2, 2021, 9am to noon MST/PDT, with Spanish closed captioning, also streamed on their Facebook page. More info on their events page, click here to register.

Rev. Dr. Marta Poling Schmitt presents a study on two women of the Bible, Lot's Wife and Mary Magdalene. We don't know much about Lot's Wife, and Mary Magdalene tends to get a bad rap. Join us to dig into their stories with Pr. Marta.

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Tap into your vocation

The Christian answer to the question “What shall I do with my life,” asserts Dorothy C. Bass, is vocation. In other words: “Respond to God’s call.”

This article from Living Lutheran provides great resources, insights into Martin Luther’s view of vocation, and the insight that “congregations are wonderful little laboratories of vocation.”

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POSITION FILLED: Mountain View Lutheran in Phoenix seeks hospitality manager

Mountain View Lutheran Church in Phoenix currently seeks a permanent, part-time Hospitality Manager. Oversees all aspects of hospitality for various church functions, including but not limited to Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and memorial and wedding receptions. For a more detailed job description, view this PDF and please visit www.mvlutheran.org/jobs.

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Office of the Bishop Updates: 9/10/2021

This week members the Office of the Bishop team are journeying: visiting congregations around the synod, heading to California for two Bishop installations, on the Camino de Santiago, or maybe just doing the daily commute on Lincoln Drive. View all the details for each team member in this post.

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