Grand Canyon Synod

News

Candidacy: Preparing leaders ready to serve the whole church

Candidacy: Preparing leaders ready to serve the whole church

Did you know we’ve increased the number of candidates in the Grand Canyon Synod nearly tenfold? With around 30 people in the candidacy process, we’re excited to build on this momentum.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a candidate, we’ve updated candidacy information on the synod site, with initial steps for candidates to follow, our candidacy committee roster, and news archive. Visit the updated page at gcsynod.org/candidacy.

You can also contact Pastor Jacqui Pagel, Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy at jpagel@gcsynod.or or (480) 678-4406.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 18, 2021CandidacyComment

Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: November 21, 2021

Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: November 21, 2021

For all affected by flooding in the Pacific Northwest…
For all who are lonely or grieving a first holiday without a loved one…
For those in power, whose decisions effect the well-being of others…
For all who are experiencing anxiety and worry…
For all who struggle with strained family relationships
For lament over injustices perpetuated against American Indian and and Alaska Native peoples…

ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 2021ELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment

ELCA Good Gifts do a lot of good

ELCA Good Gifts do a lot of good

Wondering how you can make a positive impact in the world right now? With ELCA Good Gifts, you can choose from more than 50 charitable gifts to give in honor of friends and loved ones.

Start your holiday shopping now and order free, customized cards for each gift you give. Print-at-home and online cards are also available instantly at any time. Shop now…

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 20212021 Advent and Christmas, ELCA Good Gifts, ELCA World Hunger, HungerComment

Hunger Grants still available for 2021

Hunger Grants still available for 2021

ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants fund projects that educate participants about hunger — and how to end it. The application for 2021 Education and Networking Grants is open until Dec. 1, 2021. Visit the ELCA World Hunger blog to learn more.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 2021Hunger, Grants, ELCA World HungerComment

Chaplain reflects on service onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

Chaplain reflects on service onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

A.J. Striffler, a Navy chaplain, served onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower last year. Because the ship avoided port to prevent spread of COVID-19, it set a record for the longest consecutive time at sea for any naval vessel. Read his letter in this post.

ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 2021Military, Living LutheranComment

Advent 2021 World Hunger Packet

Advent 2021 World Hunger Packet

Advent is just around the corner! Have you ordered ELCA World Hunger’s resources for your congregation yet? View online versions of the resources or order them on their website: ELCA.org/HungerAdvent.

ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 20212021 Advent and Christmas, Hunger, ELCA World HungerComment

ELCA Advocacy November 2021 updates

ELCA Advocacy November 2021 updates

ELCA Advocacy shares their November, 2021 updates. The first is from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., and the second is the UN and state edition, updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 2021Advocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment

This Thanksgiving, film your story of generosity

This Thanksgiving, film your story of generosity

In this season of giving thanks, celebrate the spirit of giving by creating a story for our second annual Generosity Film Festival. Making a film can be a fun project for the loved ones gathered for Thanksgiving.

Visit our film festival web page for tips and guidelines. The deadline for submission is December 8, 2021, with videos premiering Christmas week.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 17, 20212021 Generosity Film Festival, Generosity Film Festival, Stewardship, GCS Stewardship TeamComment

Prayers for Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe

Prayers for Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe

We pray for Rev. Andrea Cain, Rev. Thaddeus Book and the people of Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe, part of the Fiesta Conference. Visit their site at desertcross.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.

Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Desert Cross Tempe, Fiesta ConferenceComment

Climate Justice, Health and Wellbeing with Dr. Manoj Kurian

Climate Justice, Health and Wellbeing with Dr. Manoj Kurian

The 2021 Mohrenweiser Lecture Series, co-sponsored by PLTS Center for Climate Justice & Faith, presents "Climate Justice, Health and Wellbeing" with Dr. Manoj Kurian. Friday, 12/10/2021, 10am - 1pm MST, 9am - noon PST. Free to join, registration required here.

This lecture will discuss how climate change is threatening human health and well-being, and the ethical and moral imperative for action.

NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Region 2, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Climate ChangeComment

Lutherans Restoring Creation: Good Green News

Lutherans Restoring Creation: Good Green News

Lutherans Restoring Creation share their Good Green Newsletter for October, 2021.

Their upcoming Connections Call is Tuesday, 11/23/2021 at 6pm MST, 5pm PST. The topic is Gratitude. Come to the “table” with what and who you are grateful for as we ready ourselves for the work ahead. Zoom link to use on 11/23.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Lutherans Restoring Creation, Climate ChangeComment

Bishop Eaton: God has given us a mission

Bishop Eaton: God has given us a mission

In her November column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that God has given all of us a mission to invite more people into the way of Jesus. Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/3DrbK6p and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3os6PeU .

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Living LutheranComment

Faith Lens: Signs of the Kingdom

Faith Lens: Signs of the Kingdom

On Halloween night in the UK, three children stopped to trick or treat at the house of Brenda Burdon, 86. Brenda apologized because she did not have any treats ready to give out. The youth replied, “It’s OK, because sometimes making people happy and getting a nice big smile is reward enough.”

They returned the next day with muffins and chocolates, a card which they had decorated with pumpkins and doodles. Brenda Burdon’s grandson later said, “She was just lost in happiness that total strangers could leave such a wonderful impression” and that it was the best Halloween of her life.

ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Faith Lens, Youth and Young AdultComment

Camp ALOMA Family Camp Weekend

Camp ALOMA Family Camp Weekend

Friday, 12/3/2021 7pm through Sunday, 12/5/2021, 11am. All ages welcome!

We will have archery, hiking, crafting, devotions, and other camp activities sprinkled throughout the day Saturday. Everything we offer is optional. You are also allowed to nap all weekend if that is the refresher you need! Click here to register.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Camp ALOMAComment

$400,000 milestone surpassed in Growing Generosity Appeal

$400,000 milestone surpassed in Growing Generosity Appeal

With much gratitude, we share the good news of reaching $402,912 in gifts and pledges to our Growing Generosity Appeal.

Growing Generosity, launched at June’s 2021 Synod Assembly, has a $500,000 goal by the end of 2023. Please prayerfully consider how you’d like to be involved, and learn more about Growing Generosity here.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 16, 2021Growing Generosity AppealComment

Prayers for Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson

Prayers for Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson

We pray for Rev. David Drach-Meinel, Rev. Diane Drach-Meinel and the people of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson, part of the Colorado River Conference. Visit their site at cslconline.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Youtube.

Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 15, 2021Colorado River Conference, Christ the Servant HendersonComment

Itinerary for Grand Canyon Synod Holy Land Trip

Itinerary for Grand Canyon Synod Holy Land Trip

The itinerary for the Grand Canyon Synod Holy Land Trip is now available: January 2-11, 2023. The trip also includes an optional 3-days post-tour excursion to Jordan, January 11-14, 2023.

View information on the trip here and view a PDF here. Led by Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer and Rev. Mark Holman.

News, Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 15, 2021Bishop Deborah K. HuttererComment

Seismic Shifts: Where do we go from here? The 2022 Ignite The Church Conference

Seismic Shifts: Where do we go from here? The 2022 Ignite The Church Conference

Since February 2020, the Church has been enduring unprecedented seismic shifts. In response, a new Hybrid version of the grassroots Ignite the Church Conference will gather February 8-10, 2022—in-person in sunny Orlando AND Online—to reflect on the theme: SEISMIC SHIFTS: Where Do We Go From Here?

To register and learn more about the presenters, workshop options, and other details go to IgniteTheChurch.net. Register by November 30, 2021, to access the lowest $99 In-Person rate. Online option is free.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 15, 2021Ignite the Church Conference, Tod BolsingerComment

Jill Fabricius Keith: Building relationships in Indigenous communities

Jill Fabricius Keith: Building relationships in Indigenous communities

It’s a sunny day in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. A group of Indigenous people and I form a circle to burn tobacco and offer a prayer of thanks to the Creator for the plants we’re gathering today. Once we pray and provide an offering to Mother Earth, we scatter across the wide-open space to dig up roots and collect berries.

For five years I’ve been listening, learning, collecting plants and building relationships with the Restoring Shoshone Ancestral Food Gathering (RSAFG) group from the Wind River Indian Reservation.

ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardNovember 15, 2021Living Lutheran, American Indian and Alaska NativeComment

Administration Matters: November, 2021

Administration Matters: November, 2021

Over 13 years ago a group of staff at the ELCA churchwide organization got together with an idea. They wanted to offer church leaders a tool that would provide support in facilitating the management and administration of their congregations and ministries. So, Administration Matters was born. Read the November 2021 issue in this post.

ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 15, 2021Administration MattersComment