Grand Canyon Synod Youth represent at the ELCA Youth Summit
Grand Canyon Synod Youth represent at the ELCA Youth Summit

“Beloved – No Matter What” the theme for the ELCA Youth Leadership Summit at the Carol Joy Holling Camp in Ashland, Nebraska. Three youth from across the Grand Canyon Synod traveled with Pr. Jacqui Pagel to meet up with 100 other youth, young adults, and leaders to practice better ways to communicate God’s love to all in and out of our churches.

Please contact Pr. Jacqui if you are a youth or have a youth that would like to represent the Grand Canyon Synod at The Summit, November 2 – 5, 2023, in New Orleans, LA.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardYouth and Young AdultComment
Be Connected Faith Network: A Conversation with Pastor Brett Everett
Be Connected Faith Network: A Conversation with Pastor Brett Everett

In this video for the Be Connected Faith Network, Pastor Brett Everett shares the power the faith community has to deal with issues facing combat veterans and active duty service members, including dealing with forgiveness, guilt, anger, estranged relationships, depression, and PTSD.

A combat healing group is someplace where veterans can feel safe, share their stories, and find a healing of the soul.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardVeterans, Military, Be Connected Faith NetworkComment
Be Connected Faith Network provides faith-based support for veterans
Be Connected Faith Network provides faith-based support for veterans

Our synod is home to more than 500,000 service members, veterans and their families. If you need help or would like to help, we invite you to learn more about the Be Connected Faith Network which provides support and healing to our service members, veterans and their families through faith. Visit ConnectVeterans.org/Faith, read this PDF, or call their confidential support line at 866-4AZ-VETS (866-429-8387).

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News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMilitary, Be Connected Faith Network, Arizona Coalition for Military Families, VeteransComment
Faith Lens: Apocalypse Now?
Faith Lens: Apocalypse Now?

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all have sections where Jesus makes dramatic predictions about things that will happen in the future. Because these things seem to be hidden from general knowledge and are being revealed as special information to Jesus’ followers, they are called “apocalyptic” sayings. These terms “apocalypse” and “apocalyptic” are Greek words meaning “uncovering” or “revealing.”

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardYouth and Young Adult, Faith LensComment
A prayer for Veterans Day
A prayer for Veterans Day

Almighty and ever-living God, we give you thanks for the men and women who have served and defended our country and the values of freedom and justice we hold so dear. Help us be mindful of the sacrifices they made and the hardship endured by their families and friends, so that we never take for granted the privileges they have secured for us. Hear us, we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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Grand Canyon Synod, PrayersBrian FlatgardVeteransComment
Comment on the ELCA Earth’s Climate Crisis social message by 12/2/2022
Comment on the ELCA Earth’s Climate Crisis social message by 12/2/2022

In line with standard ELCA protocol, the project to create a new social message on Climate Care is being shepherded by the ELCA Director for Theological Ethics, working with a lead writer in collaboration with a group of reviewers.

The draft social message is now available for public feedback! Read the social message draft here and then use this survey to share your input by Friday, December 2, 2022.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardClimate ChangeComment
Rostered ministers invited to participate in PRRI survey on U.S. religious leadership
Rostered ministers invited to participate in PRRI survey on U.S. religious leadership

Rev. Louise Johnson, Executive for Administration with the ELCA, invites rostered ministers to participate in a survey being conducted by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Duke Endowment. The survey, open through November 2022, is part of a major national study on the health and future flourishing of mainline Protestant clergy and churches.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
Welcome to “Where Your Heart Is,” ELCA's new stewardship newsletter
Welcome to “Where Your Heart Is,” ELCA's new stewardship newsletter

Welcome to the first issue of “Where Your Heart Is,” the new stewardship newsletter of the ELCA (subscribe here).

In the coming months and years, I hope we not only dig into some of the things valued in our lives, both personal and collective, but also highlight the important and honest fact that all of life is an act of stewardship, from our first breath to our last. How do we use our days?

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ELCA, News, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardWhere Your Heart Is, StewardshipComment
Western States Youth Gathering is July 6-9, 2023
Western States Youth Gathering is July 6-9, 2023

The Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) and Western States Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (WYLE) is back! Coming to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA from July 4-9, 2023. The event is open to high schoolers in our synod and ELCA Regions 1-4. The Western States Multicultural Youth Leadership Pre-Event (WYLE) will be held July 4-6, 2023.

Early-Bird registration for the Western States Youth Gathering is now OPEN! Learn more and register your group for the lowest possible prices at wsyg.com/registration!

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, Region 2Brian FlatgardWestern States Youth Gathering, 2023 Western States Youth Gathering, Youth and Young Adult, California Lutheran UniversityComment
YAGM applications are now open
YAGM applications are now open

The ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is ready for new volunteers! Applications are now open, and you can invite young adults on this journey abroad for the 2023-2024 program year.

If you know young adults aged 21 to 29, this is the time to reach out. Encourage them to apply for YAGM by the deadline of Feb.1, 2023. (Priority deadline is Jan. 15, 2023.) YAGM volunteers will begin in August 2023. Learn more at ELCA.org/YAGM.

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ELCA, Global Church, NewsBrian FlatgardYoung Adults in Global Mission, Youth and Young Adult, Global MissionComment
"In Communion” presents LWF’s history through 75 photos
"In Communion” presents LWF’s history through 75 photos

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has launched an anniversary photo book as part of this year’s events to mark 75 years since the communion was founded. In Communion – The Lutheran World Federation 1947-2022 is the title of the book, which highlights moments from the communion’s rich history over seven and a half decades.

The 75th anniversary book can be downloaded here, and will be available in a printed format at the end of this year. LWF General Secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt presented the book on Reformation Day, 31 October, at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva.

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Global Church, NewsBrian FlatgardLutheran World FederationComment
Wartburg College scholarships and alumni referrals available
Wartburg College scholarships and alumni referrals available

At Wartburg College, incoming students are guaranteed $30,000 in scholarships, and a referral from alumni can create a $4,000 award as well. If you know a high school senior looking for an ELCA college, encourage them to apply to Wartburg. (The application is free!)

You can also contact Jacqui Pagel who can help arrange a referral scholarship through synod alumni.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardWartburg Seminary, ELCA Colleges and UniversitiesComment
Tri-Faith discussion: Is it gossip or concern?
Tri-Faith discussion: Is it gossip or concern?

Join Rabbi Bonnie Koppel, Pastor Daniel Weichart, Imam Anas Hlayhel for a free virtual Tri-Faith Discussion: Is it Gossip or Concern? Register at isb-az.org/trifaith for this Tuesday, 11/15/2022 event at 6pm MST, 5pm PST.

The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA) is a non-profit, apolitical, educational organization founded in 1999. ISBA is an outreach institution that provides education about Islam and Muslims, and promotes interfaith dialogue.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardIslamic Speakers Bureau, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsComment