Gerrish family update: One out, two to go!
Gerrish family update: One out, two to go!

We share this news from Paul Gerrish that his son, Stephen, is out of the hospital. We continue to pray for the Gerrish family. Read more in our initial post, visit their GoFundMe page, and get CaringBridge health updates for Justin and Katherine, who remain recovering in the hospital.

By your power, great God, our Lord Jesus healed the sick and gave new hope to the hopeless. Though we cannot command or possess your power, we pray for those who want to be healed. Mend their wounds, soothe fevered brows, and make broken people whole again. Help us to wel-come every healing as a sign that, though death is against us, you are for us, and have promised renewed and risen life in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, PrayersBrian FlatgardGerrish familyComment
A Prayer for Memorial Day
A Prayer for Memorial Day

O God of life, you are older than time. You have seen generations who have died through sacrifice, war, courage and folly. You have comforted generations who mourned and grieved and sang solemn songs and laid flowers on graves. Gather us in your embrace and cradle us with your compassion. As we remember those who have died in past wars and conflicts, help us to remember that you were there when the mountains were formed. You were there to sooth our grief and breathe hope into the hopeless. You are with us still. We give you thanks for life in Jesus and pray that your lives may be reflections of his love. Amen.

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Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardVeteransComment
Fund for Leaders scholar Wanda Frenchman: A Ministry That Empowers People
Fund for Leaders scholar Wanda Frenchman: A Ministry That Empowers People

We share a video highlighting Fund for Leaders scholar Wanda Frenchman, who helps lead the Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix, Ariz. which was founded by her mother, Mary Louise Frenchman.

Wanda is participating in the TEEM program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. This allows her to pursue rostered ministry while she continues to lead her community in Phoenix.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Fund for Leaders, Native American Urban Ministry Phoenix, American Indian and Alaska Native, Capital ConferenceComment
Sierra Pacific Synod: Bishop’s Report to the Church
Sierra Pacific Synod: Bishop’s Report to the Church

After listening to the concerns of this church, careful review of the report of the Listening Team and other accompanying documents, consultation with outside legal counsel, and prayerful reflection and discernment, I have decided not to bring disciplinary charges against Bishop Rohrer.

While I am not inaugurating formal disciplinary processes at this time, there remain enough serious concerns that influence Bishop Rohrer's ability to remain impactful in their role that I have asked Bishop Rohrer for their resignation, which I believe to be in the best interest of all parties involved. Leer también en español…

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardSierra Pacific Synod, Region 2, Bishop Rohrer Comment
COVID-19 community levels: 5/26/2022
COVID-19 community levels: 5/26/2022

According to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, Clark County is the first to be at medium level after months of low levels in our synod.

All of our synod’s remaining counties are low level: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma.

The United States is averaging more than 105,000 new cases each day, the most since February, when the first Omicron wave was subsiding. Cases are rising in most states, and since many cases go uncounted in official reports, the true toll is higher than these figures show.

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News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardCoronavirusComment
ELCA Foundation workshops
ELCA Foundation workshops

Lisa Marie Higginbotham, CFRE, one of our Regional Gift Planners with the ELCA Foundation is presenting virtual workshops on three related topics: planned giving, stewardship, and endowment. Use the links below to join the meetings.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardStewardship, ELCA FoundationComment
Devotional: Can’t Control the New
Devotional: Can’t Control the New

I grew up a Lutheran, having built a deep connection to God from a young age. However, like many of us I am sure, I have struggled with my faith over the last few years, especially these last two years. It seemed like the life I planned out was turned upside down and twisted without a moment’s notice. “New” things kept appearing everywhere I looked, and I felt incredibly lost, stuck in an uncontrollable void of questions and uncertainty

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ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment
Response to the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
Response to the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America grieves with the families of the 19 students and two teachers killed in Tuesday's mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Mass shootings in this country over the past two weeks have deepened the wounds of grief and sorrow. This follows the racially motivated shooting of 10 people in Buffalo, N.Y.; the shooting in Laguna Woods, Calif.; and the 27 other school shootings that have occurred in 2022. Many of the shooters have targeted children and older adults — some of the most vulnerable in our society.

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ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardGun ViolenceComment
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: May 29, 2022
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: May 29, 2022

  • For victims of the the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas and for their loved ones…

  • For all people, families, and communities affected by gun violence…

  • For local, state, and federal lawmakers, that justice, peace, and safety may prevail…

  • For students and graduates at the end of this school year (especially local institutions)…

  • For families searching for infant formula to feed their children, and for affordable access to safe, healthy nourishment for all people…

  • For families and friends remembering loved ones who died while serving in the United States armed forces on this Memorial Day weekend…

  • For peace between nations and an end to war across the globe…

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ELCA, PrayersBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
ELCA Worship: Responding to recent acts of violence
ELCA Worship: Responding to recent acts of violence

All Creation Sings includes several for lament including “Lamenting Gun Violence” (Leaders Edition, p. 107) and “Service after a Violent Event” (Pew Edition p. 64-66, Leaders p. 110-113) as well as several collect prayers including the one below. This content is also available on SundaysandSeasons.com in the Library. (All Creation Sings/Prayers, Thanksgivings, and Laments/Resources for Lament)

Lord Jesus Christ, your own mother looked on when your life ended in violence. Our hearts are pierced with grief and anger at the [death of / mass shooting in_________]. We commend the slain to your wounded hands, and their loved ones to your merciful heart, trusting only in the promise that your love is stronger than death, and that even now, you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. (ACS, p.49)

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, Gun ViolenceComment
Faith Lens: Unity not Uniformity
Faith Lens: Unity not Uniformity

Jesus repeatedly prays that “they may all be one,” that through the communion of God and Jesus, we all may be one. This oneness is rooted in God’s immense love which goes beyond all time and space.

Even in that upper room, the reality of this oneness rooted in love is hard to conceptualize. The folks who fill that room are far from perfect, they will mess up some in pretty significant ways in the days to come, as they struggled to understand and cope with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet, knowing all this, Jesus prays for them and, in that moment, Jesus prays for us too.

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardFaith Lens, Youth and Young Adult, 2022 Holy WeekComment