Members of the Office of the Bishop joined other Lutherans and partners at the Lutheran Advocacy Day at the Arizona Legislature this week.
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For Afghan refugees arriving in the United States…
For all affected by flooding and landslides in Brazil; for the displaced, the grieving, and all providing assistance and support…
For the work of the United Nations Security Council…
For the safety and wellbeing of all Olympic athletes; for the host city, Beijing…
For peace and security among HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) communities facing bomb threats this past week…
For the ELCA National Youth Gathering planning team and those who were registered to attend, at the recent difficult decision to cancel this summer’s Gathering…
For equitable distribution and effective use of N95 masks and COVID-19 home tests…
On the night of Dec. 10, a devastating outbreak of more than 30 tornadoes swept through six states. Kentucky was impacted the most, with more than 80 people reported dead and 1,300 homes destroyed.
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The first time I met Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in the lead up to COP 17. Archbishop Tutu, or simply the Arch as he was affectionately known in his native South Africa, stepped up to the podium with a warm smile, a smile that quickly turned into a steely gaze. “Do not remain quiet!” he implored, “Do not waste a single moment. This is a critical moment in human history, one that requires each and every one of you, of us, to be fully engaged – the clock is at zero!”
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I was intrigued by an article about a rare deep-ocean creature which had washed up on a California beach. As one who watched Disney’s Finding Nemo a lot when my children were little, I recognized the pictures as being the type of deep sea “monster” that is angling to turn Marlin and Dory into a meal. What I didn’t know was how rare a find such a specimen is.
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The ELCA has announced that the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering has been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, the recent COVID-19 surge and public health considerations. The Gathering pre-events — the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble, the ELCA gathering for youth with disabilities — have also been canceled. More information is available at elca.org/Gathering.
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We pray for Rev. Daniel Hoeger, Rev. Kristin Rice, and the people of All Saints Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at allsaintsphoenix.org, and their social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
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We pray for Rev. Sharon Brown and the people of Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Clarkdale, part of the High Country Conference. Visit their site at sojaz.net, and their social media pages on Facebook.com and YouTube.
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The application period for 2022 ELCA World Hunger Education and Networking Grants will open in early Spring. Get notified when the application opens by subscribing to the ELCA World Hunger blog.
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As we witness an increase in anti-Semitic actions in this country and around the world, Bishop Eaton reminds us of the words from A Declaration of the ELCA to the Jewish Community.
“We recognize in anti-Semitism a contradiction and an affront to the Gospel, a violation of our hope and calling, and we pledge this church to oppose the deadly working of such bigotry, both within our own circles and in the society around us.”
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Susan Palo Cherwien, Lutheran hymnwriter and poet, died December 28, 2021. Her hymns and meditations have been a gift to the church and world.
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I watch with grave concern as tensions continue between Russia and Ukraine, and I fervently pray that a peaceful resolution to the conflict will be reached. I affirm the statement of the Lutheran World Federation's general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt: "We urge all parties to de-escalate the situation and work for peace and stability. A peaceful solution must be found."
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The role of governance in the life of the congregation continues to evolve and can be challenging. Yet, it remains an essential component to ensure our mission, inspire generosity, and protect our organizations.
Congregation council members and rostered leaders are invited to a Zoom presentation on congregation governance, given by Evan Moilan, CFRE and organized by the Office of the Bishop. Tuesday, 2/8/2022, 6pm MST, 5pm PST. Register here.
Evan Moilan, CFRE brings more than 24 years of experience in leadership, and will share best practices in governance, along with practical and implementable steps for your ministry that you can begin to use immediately.
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This week we celebrate the ordination of Rev. Jose Valenzuela, who marks 13 years of ordination on January 31.
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Reports of new coronavirus cases in the United States are declining, though they remain well above the levels seen in any prior surge. Deaths continue to increase, with more being announced each day than at any time since last winter. Hospitalizations appear to be reaching a national peak.
All counties are at extremely high levels of risk for unvaccinated people.
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Most of the Office of the Bishop will be at the very first Lutheran Advocacy Day at the Arizona Legislature, as well as traveling the synod to preach and worship with synod members.
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The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2022 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and charitable, medical or moving purposes.
The business mileage rate increased 1 cent for business travel and 1 cent for medical and certain moving expenses from 2021. The charitable rate is set by statute and remains unchanged. For more information, visit the IRS website.
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Lutherans from across the state will gather at the Arizona Capitol Rose Garden for a day of advocacy this Tuesday, 2/1/2022, to learn, to witness, and voice our common needs in the public square, activating our faith in love.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 @ 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM + Legislative Appointments
Arizona State Capitol Rose Garden (map)
For ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Tongo…
For the work of the Coast Guard and other search and rescue personnel, and for family members of those missing following a ship capsize off the coast of Florida
For peacemaking and deescalation efforts between Russia and the Ukraine…
For severe and extreme winter weather events across the United States…
For access to shelter, heat, and food for those without homes or reliable incomes…
For schools, businesses, hospitals, and other services strained by increased Covid case counts…
For law enforcement, social workers, advocates, and all who work to rescue and support victims of human trafficking…
As we work on our 2021 Congregational Report forms, and continue to engage people online, we present two resources on counting online worship attendance.
In this post, we share thoughts from Rev. Kent Mueller, Assistant to the Bishop for Administration and Communication at the Rocky Mountain Synod.
We also share Pacifica Synod’s “Tracking Online Worship Attendance,” which is ELCA Churchwide is offering as the guidance on calculating online attendance for Form A.
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