We give thanks to God for the many people and organizations who helped us reach our initial Growing Generosity goal. Together, in ways big and small, we fulfill our call to connect people, create possibilities, and communicate Jesus.
In this post, we gratefully list those who have given to our appeal.
Read MoreThrough the generosity of individuals and congregations, together, as Grand Canyon Synod, we raised more than $500,000 within the first year of our three-year appeal.
In gratitude for, and in light of this success, the Growing Generosity Task Force has challenged us to seek additional $250,000 by the end of 2023. The plans for these additional funds will benefit Lutheran Campus Ministries, new & emerging ministries, and our advocacy efforts.
If you have already made a gift or pledge, thank you. If you are able to make a second gift, or if you still considering a gift, please check out our website or contact any member of the Task Force.
Read MoreThrough the incredible generosity of our synod, we have reached our initial goal of $500,000 for our Growing Generosity Appeal, nearly two years ahead of 12/31/2023 schedule!
As of this post, we have $533,289 in pledges and gifts, with over 90% of gifts received. Our initial goal funded three initiatives:
Growing Financial Viability: $150,000 for a Lilly 3E dollar-for-dollar grant, providing a total of $300,000 for our synod.
Growing Future Ministries: $250,000 raised for Lutheran Campus Ministry ($100,000) and new & emerging ministries ($150,000).
Growing Fervent Voices: $100,000 raised for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA, $70,000) and Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN, $30,000).
After 106 years of searching, a ship lost miles below the icy water near Antartica was recently found! Explorer Ernest Shackelton’s ship, Endurance, was exploring these frigid waters when it became trapped by ice and could no longer move. Scientists say that because it sank in such cold water the ship is almost perfectly intact, as if it sunk yesterday! Such a discovery!
Read MoreThe Lutheran Church of Senegal elected Rev. Latyr Diouf as the new President. Église Luthérienne du Senegal is the accompanying church to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Gambia. Blessings to the outgoing leader, Rev. Adama Faye, for his leadership.
Read MoreWe share advocacy updates from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. as well as the UN and state edition, including U.N., Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In this post we feature and highlight the update from Solveig Muus, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA).
Read MoreYour church might already offer livestreaming, but this Lenten season you can take your virtual ministry up a notch with Vanco. During this important season, discover how to build on your existing online ministry to drive engagement and generosity (without breaking the bank).
Read MoreIn their most recent newsletter, Navajo Lutheran Mission 2022 Mission Board Chair Patty Charley shares remembrances of the Mission’s founding in 1953.
“God’s love has blessed the Diné with so much. My name is Patty. My community is Rock Point, Arizona, near the Four Corners in the Navajo Nation. This is who I am as a Navajo woman to the world.”
Read MoreEcumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) is an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists. Lutherans in attendance have denomination-specific opportunities to get to know one another and vision what we can do together!
#EAD2022 is a virtual gathering, held Wednesday through Friday, April 25-27, 2022. Scholarship opportunities are in this post and more info is at advocacydays.org.
Read MoreELCA World Hunger shares a five point blog post series on the many ways that violent conflict impacts hunger. Learn more how the war in Ukraine will affect food security, food production, food access, food utilization, and stability in the short and long term.
Read MoreAs Bishop Eaton calls us to learn more about the inhumane history of the transatlantic slave trade as part of International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, we share historian Dan Carlin’s recent podcast on the subject.
“The Atlantic Slave Trade mixes centuries of human bondage with violence, economics, commerce, geo-political competition, liberty, morality, injustice, revolution, tragedy and bloody reckonings. That sounds like a lot, yet this show merely scratches the surface of this enormous subject.” Available free for a limited time on the show page, Apple podcasts, or in this post.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. David Pavesic and the people of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson, part of the Santa Cruz Conference. Visit their site at beautifulsavior.net and their Facebook page.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in recognition of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, reaffirms its commitment to combat racism and white supremacy. This day is set as a recommitment in remembrance of the day police in South Africa killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960.
Read MoreOn March 25, 2022, we commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, declared by the United Nations in 2007. As we remember the victims of what has been called the “the worst violation of human rights in history,” Bishop Eaton calls us to “learn more about the inhumane history of the transatlantic slave trade and examine the paths that will lead us towards racial healing and justice.”
Read MoreThe Rev. Daniel Rift, Director for ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response Fund, talked live with the Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, Executive Director for Service and Justice, and the Rev. Rachel Eskesen, Area Desk Director for Europe. They discussed the situation in Eastern Europe and Rafael and Rachel shared about the ELCA’s response.
Read MoreRev. Lisa Kipp, Senior Manager of Congregational Engagement with Lutheran World Relief (LWR), visited the Office of the Bishop this week and updated us on the rapidly changing situation and response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Read more in this post about LWR’s pan-Lutheran work, Lent resources, mission quilts, the doubling of congregational gifts to the Ukraine crisis, and their hunger challenge as the war disrupts food distribution worldwide.
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod Women of the ELCA is participating in a quilt and kit ingathering for Lutheran World Relief on Saturday, 4/30/2022, 9am –2pm MST, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 4001 W. Beardsley Rd, Glendale AZ 85308.
Visit grandcanyonwomen.org/events and lwr.org/quilts/resources for more information. Or, contact our AZ LWR Ingathering Coordinator, Laura Krueger. Plan now for a Quilt & Kit Blessing Sunday to get your items on their way. Thank you!
Read MoreRegistration for ELCA World Hunger’s 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants opens March 18, 2022! ELCA World Hunger congratulates those partners in ministry awarded a 2022 Domestic Hunger Grant and all those continuing grants with us this year. Visit the Domestic Hunger Grants page and this FAQ page about applying.
Read MoreIn addition to Ukraine updates, the Lutheran World Federation’s weekly newsletters also includes stories on:
Do you tend see right and wrong as black and white or in shades of gray? Has this changed over your lifetime? If it has, how so?
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