Kristina Diaz: The Beauty and Tragedy of the Mestizaje Mindset

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! As we celebrate, I can’t help reflecting on what is being celebrated: independence, legacy and identity. As far as my own identity, I grew up, like many Puerto Ricans, hearing the poems and songs that claim we all have a Black grandma hidden away somewhere. There was this shared idea among the people in my life that, no matter how hard we try to hide it, somewhere in our DNA we are all Black.

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2022 Fund for Leaders Golf Classic registration is now open

The 2022 Fund for Leaders Golf Classic at the Arrowhead Golf Course in Glendale is Monday, November 14, 2022, beginning at 7 am.

Friends of golfers and the fund can also come out and enjoy the lunch program. Check out this registration form for more info.

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Excellence in Leadership registration deadline is 9/25/2022

“It’s not easy to be the church these days.” In response to this truth and the desire to raise up courageous, resilient, and faithful leaders, the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA offers Excellence in Leadership: an 18-month investment, with classes meeting 1-2 times per month, which will provide tools and resources to last a lifetime. Click here to get more info and register.

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Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: September 18, 2022
  • For those suffering and battling wildfires…

  • For peaceful transitions of power, especially in the United Kingdom…

  • For an end to violence between nations, especially Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, Eritrea/Ethiopia, and Armenia/Azerbaijan…

  • For those in the path of Typhoon Muifa…

  • For congregational council presidents and all church leaders…

  • For colleges & seminaries – their students, staff, faculty and boards…

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LAMA primer on Arizona voting laws

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona provides us with a brief overview of voting in Arizona, including the basics, registration rules, and key ID requirement sources. Share with friends and family!

Register and learn more here, download a one-page PDF of info, and remember to register no later than 10/10/2022 for the general election date of 11/8/2022.

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Stewardship resources and video from Generosity Across the Generations

The Grand Canyon Stewardship Team presents Generosity Across the Generations, a Zoom webinar for stewardship & finance teams, pastors, church councils & discipleship leaders. Watch the video in this post and download the resources as a PDF.

Broaden your view of generosity beyond a single age group. Each generation has gifts to offer, and approaches generosity differently.

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Faith Lens: Heavenly Mansions

Mackenzie Scott, novelist and former wife to Jeff Bezos, both of Amazon fame, is increasing her reputation for generosity with a significant donation to the California Community Foundation. This week she donated two mansions in Beverly Hills estimated at worth around $55 million. The foundation announced that 90% of the proceeds will go toward providing grants for affordable housing. The remaining 10% is slated to be used for programs for integration of immigrants.

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Prayers for the family of Pastor Tony Scheer

With the congregation of Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church in Mesa, we pray for the friends and family of Rev. Tony Scheer after the passing of his wife, Carol Scheer, due to heart complications on Monday, September 12, 2022. She was 56 years old.

Visitation is Sunday, 9/18/2022, 6-7 pm, at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 400 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206.

Funeral services are on Monday, 9/19/2022, 11 am, at Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church, 2605 South Signal Butte Road, Mesa, AZ 85209.

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