We welcome Dan Potaznick to the Office of the Bishop team. This week he begins as Director of Generosity and Strategic Development.
Dan is called to the Grand Canyon Synod to help congregations & leaders across the desert in their mission to share the Good News of Jesus. In addition to serving the Grand Canyon Synod, Dan has been called as Associate Pastor for Outreach to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Glendale, AZ. Bishop Hutterer will ordain Dan as a Minister of Word and Sacrament on March 18th, 2023.
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This week, a good number of the Office of the Bishop attends Walking Wet: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church's Discipleship Journey Seminar, Feb 17, 2023 – Feb 18, 2023, and the Spring Gathering for Cactus, Capital, Fiesta, Northeast Valley & Rio Salado Conferences, Feb 19, 2023, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM. We also share photos from Bishop Hutterer’s visit to Lord of Life Lutheran, Sun City West.
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Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all down in recent weeks, though a slight uptick in test positivity suggests that this progress could soon end.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
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This week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:
Rev. Barbara Bengtson, who celebrates 29 years on February 20.
Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta, Director for Evangelical Mission and Bishop’s Associate for Congregational Vitality, who celebrates 14 years on February 22.
Rev. Peter Perry, St. John’s, Glendale, who celebrates 26 years on February 23.
Pastor Doug Moffat has chasubles for use. They are exceptionally well made, dry-cleaned and in excellent condition. Pastor Moffat will be glad to give them to someone interested for the cost of the postage/courier to get them sent. Email doug@casamoffat.com if you are interested.
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Welcome to Episode 3 of Talks at the Desk, season 2. We are again in he U.S. Virgin Islands and visiting several of the oldest Lutheran churches in the Western hemisphere.
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The ELCA Worship blog has complied a set of Prayer Resources in Time of Earthquakes. Intercession prompts:
For continued relief and recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria…
For families and communities experiencing grief, anger, and despair at the tens of thousands of deaths following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria…
For the victims of the shooting at Michigan State, for their loved ones, and for campus ministries that are supporting students…
For all hearts longing to see a day when tools of rage are not seen as more important than the lives they take…
For those who will revel in the unfettered joy of carnival celebrations this week in every corner of our world…
For contrite hearts and hopeful spirits as we end the season of Epiphany and prepare for Lent…
For stability and civility amidst leadership transitions in world governments…
In lament over all lives lost in the past year of war between Russia and Ukraine…
For resolve and power for those fighting for climate justice, especially in another year of Antarctic ice decline…
We pray for Rev. Wallace Cole’s family and friends after he passed away on January 16, 2023 in Prescott, Arizona of natural causes.
He was ordained in 1958, then served churches in Minnesota (1958-65), House of Prayer Lutheran Church at Rock Point, AZ (1965-90) and American Lutheran Church in Prescott, AZ.
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Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest Family Resource Centers are now providing the GED, ESL classes and Financial literacy programs. The programs will be 100% free for neighbors in need. The GED program will be online, ESL classes and financial literacy programs will be in person. Read more in this post or in this PDF flyer.
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We pray for Rev. Jeremy Nausin and the people of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, part of the Colorado River Conference. Visit their site at holyspiritlasvegas.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
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Have you ever considered seminary? Join others in discernment at Signs Along the Way, a visit weekend at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley. Learn more and register at Learn more and register by clicking here for this 2/25-2/27/2023 event. Many costs, including travel, are covered by PLTS.
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Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was a celebrated poet, author, teacher, filmmaker, and civil rights activist, among other roles and accomplishments. When interviewed upon being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, Angelou reflected: “I’m always amazed when people walk up to me and say, “‘I’m a Christian.’ I think, ‘Already? You’ve already got it?’ I’m working at it…”
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Each year the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) asks congregations to provide information about their people and activities. This year’s deadline to do so is March 1, 2023.
Find all the resources you need at the ELCA’s Annual Congregation Report page, including FAQs, online Form A & C Parochial Reports as well as ways to update your ELCA Congregational Leadership Directory.
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We pray for Rev. Beth Gallen and the people of New Journey Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills, part of the Northeast Valley Conference. Visit their site at njlc-fh.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and YouTube.
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The Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association is sponsoring an online educational event “Trauma & Its Healing, with Dr. Pat Fosarelli” on Feb 21, 2023, 5-7pm MST, 4-6pm PST, via Zoom. Non-members and non-nurses are welcome to attend. To register, please go to: https://elpna.org/event-5115478.
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The Healing of Memories workshop is FREE for healthcare workers who have experienced emotional, psychological and spiritual distress – in their personal or professional lives – during the COVID pandemic. This workshop provides a safe, confidential environment, the ideal setting to help participants take the necessary steps toward healing. Register here for this February 19 – 21, 2023 event at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.
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The Grand Canyon Synod and the Southeastern Iowa Synod are partner synods. For Lent 2023, the two synods are challenging one another to participate in some spiritual and physical practices during the 40 days of Lent, raise awareness of hunger issues, and raise some money for ELCA World Hunger.
The synod with the most participants wins! Click here to sign up for the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge. Just signing up counts as participation!
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These conversations offer an opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics about congregational engagement in advocacy. The LAMA Roundtable meets the third Monday of the month at 6:30p via Zoom.
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