We revisit A Prophetic Call the Church: The Letter from Birmingham Jail, presented last year by the Metro D.C. Synod. Rev. Dr. King’s prophetic call to action to the Church and fellow clergy is grievously and regrettably relevant over 50 years later.
As we honor Rev. Dr. King’s dedication to reforming the Church and American culture, you are invited to listen to 20 African-American voices of rostered leaders of the ELCA.
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The Southwest California Synod and the African Descent Lutheran Association, LA, present a Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Commemoration Worship Service, January 16, 2022, 4pm MST, 3pm MST, at adla-la.org. Guest preacher: The Rev. Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport, Bishop, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
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With gratitude to God and in the spirit of continuing education and adventure, a “Scholarship for International Travel” program has been established for Grand Canyon Synod pastors who have been ordained for 10 years or less. Six scholarships of $6,000 over three years is available.
This scholarship program is being made available by a synod pastor and spouse because they are grateful for such experiences in their own lives and ministries, and want to make similar opportunities available to others. The fund will be administered by the Grand Canyon Synod.
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Lutheran Campus Ministry, Arizona State University, is hiring a part-time Campus Ministry Associate to work with the Campus Pastor to oversee, implement, and lead the campus ministry program at the ASU Tempe (main) campus.
Position begins August 15, 2022. Interested? Contact Pastor Gary McCluskey, asulcm@gmail.com, 480.967.3543, www.ulctempe.org to apply. View job description as PDF. 75% discount on graduate school tuition can be arranged with this position along with a salary.
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Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix is seeking an administrative assistant, who provides office and clerical support to the pastor by ensuring efficient operation of the church office. View the job description here.
Send your cover letter, resume, and at least two references to Pastor Sarah Stadler at pastorsarah@graceinthecity.com. For questions, contact Pastor Sarah at the Grace office at 602-258-3787.
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Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix is filling an organist and choir director position. The organist and choir director leads music within traditional worship services, including leadership of the Chancel Choir and Bells of Grace. The organ is a 3-manual, 19-rank pipe organ rebuilt and enlarged by Pipe Organ Artisans of Tucson in 2003. View the job description here.
Send your cover letter, resume, and at least two references to Pastor Sarah Stadler at pastorsarah@graceinthecity.com. For questions, contact Pastor Sarah at the Grace office at 602-258-3787.
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We are officially in the season of Epiphany: a season of bringing light. This time was marked at first by the magi visiting Jesus during the first Christmas, but the whole season is set to bring to light the reign of God in our world. It might just be because it’s been a long and dark couple of years, but it seemed like in my area there were more Christmas lights than ever.
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The wave of Omicron infections that is overwhelming health care systems across America is now rapidly rising in our synod. All of us know more and more people affected by Covid-19.
No one is more affected by this most recent tide of cases those folk toiling in the health care fields. These people and systems—strained to their limit over the last two years—are at their breaking point.
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The Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program has been paused since early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the YAGM staff have remained hard at work over the past two years, deepening relationships with global partners and asking important questions that will shape the future of the program. In this video message, YAGM program director Dan Beirne shares some of what he and the staff learned during that process. Find out more about YAGM at ELCA.org/YAGM.
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Across the United States and over the years, places of worship and people of faith have been key partners in welcoming refugees, asylum seekers and others in need of hospitality. ELCA members and congregations have recently poured in their concern, prayers, and offers of assistance for uprooted Afghan neighbors following the end of the long war in Afghanistan.
We share a video and two posts from AMMPARO: an overview of the situation, and one on the Urgent Need for Congregational Accompaniment of Afghan refugees. An information session will be held February 8, 2022, at 6 p.m. Central time, and we’ll share the link when we receive it.
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Please join the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, and the Interchurch Center Committee on Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Community Concerns, for a live-streamed Ecumenical Service of the Word in observation of the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Wednesday, January 19th, 2022, 10am MST, 9am PST, online via Facebook: Join Here. Free and open to the public; the service will remain available online for later viewing.
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Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), Arizona Faith Network, All Voting Is Local and others host a webinar entitled “Where Do We Go from Here: Voting Rights in Arizona,” Tuesday, 1/11/2022, 6:30–8:00pm MST.
The webinar will walk people of faith through voting rights legislation that occurred in 2021 and what we can expect in the 2022 session. Register for 'Where Do We Go From Here' Webinar.
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Christians Against Christian Nationalism shares this letter and list of resources.
Today marks one year since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Christian symbols and imagery on display during the violent attack on American democracy highlighted some of the worst manifestations of Christian nationalism. Our need to respond to this dangerous ideology that threatens our faith and country is as pressing as ever.
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A year ago, I watched the storming of the U.S. Capitol with horror – outraged at the violence and assault on our democracy, fearful for the lives of public servants and appalled at the proliferation of Christian language and symbols used by the mob. I turned to the book of Isaiah that day, especially chapter 61 where the prophet promises comfort and restoration to those who mourn.
The prophet unveils a vision for rebuilding out of the rubble of national tragedy. The blog post “Actual Renewal and Repair After Capitol Breach” explored this vision and the work of the church after January 6, 2021.
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We introduce a new feature of our news system this year. Each week we’ll celebrate upcoming ordination celebrations, on a Friday-to-Friday basis. We hope you will enjoy getting to know the ordained leaders of the Grand Canyon Synod. And while our records should be up to date, please let us know if we’ve missed you or anyone else. We also want to feature photos, so please update us with your most recent portrait or selfie.
Up first is Rev. Stephen Springer, with Dove of Peace Lutheran in Tucson, who celebrates 25 years on January 12, 2022. Congratulations! And we appreciate all he does in helping us with our synod assemblies!
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All are welcome to this free event at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W Erie St., Chandler, AZ 85225. Sunday, 1/16/2022, 5pm MST.
Come for a faith-filled evening of song with pianist Raymond Forte, soloist Diana McCowan, and readings from Letter from Birmingham Jail. Optional children’s focused lesson available. View livestream at Youtube here.
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The number of reported daily cases has never been higher since the start of the pandemic for Nevada and Utah. Arizona is rapidly approaching record-breaking numbers of daily cases.
All but two counties in our synod continue to have extremely high levels of risk for unvaccinated people.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Apache, Clark, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Greenlee, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
2022 gains momentum as we celebrate ordinations and installations, welcome those new to the synod, and continue planning for the year, especially the 2022 assembly.
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Pending congregation vote on 1/30/2022, Bishop Deborah Hutterer will preside at the ordination and installation of Katie Langston at New Promise Lutheran in St. George, Utah.
Rev. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, will preach. Color of the day is red. Friday, February 4, 2022, 5pm MST. 244 S Valley View Dr, St. George, UT 84770.
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