We pray for Rev. Andrew Schlecht and the people of Maricopa Lutheran Church in Maricopa, part of the Fiesta Conference. Visit their site at maricopalutherans.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.
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The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically April 20, 2023. The council serves as the ELCA churchwide organization's board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly.
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Our team is excited to share that the application process for Domestic Hunger Grants will open May 1, 2023. For those who are familiar with the Domestic Hunger Grants, this year’s process will look a bit different, but we hope that the changes described below will improve the process in some important ways. To learn more about the updated process and how to apply, please visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants.
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The Ordination and Installation of Tim Perlick will be Saturday, May 13, 2023, 3pm, at Mount of Olives Lutheran Church (3546 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018). Bishop Hutterer will be presiding. Rev. Stephen Talmage is preaching. A reception will follow.
Rostered Ministers are invited to robe and process. Color of the day is red. There will be a reception following the service.
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The Office of the Bishop continues assembly planning, and travels to various congregations and ministries around our synod, including Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future, Apr 29, 2023, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, a Luther Seminary panel hosted by NE Valley Consortium.
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This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Kevin Meyer, LSS-SW, Phoenix and Covenant, Quartzsite, who celebrates 28 years on April 30.
Deacon Sally Almen, who celebrates 36 years on April 30.
Rev. Melissa Harr, who celebrates 12 years on May 1.
Deacon Don Burgess, who celebrates 18 years on May 1.
All of our synod’s counties are at at low levels except Greenlee and Apache counties, which are at medium level.
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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For an end to ongoing violence in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Israel, and Haiti…
For places in the world grieving mass deaths, including Kenya and Burkina Faso…
For Australia and New Zealand as they remember their fallen on Anzac Day…
For an end to gun violence in our nation…
That faith-based narratives of love, humility, and service would rise above dangerous rhetoric of Christian nationalism…
For those harmed by legislative restrictions on healthcare access, especially for transgender siblings and women…
For an expansion of affordable housing, and for all who are unhoused or housing insecure…
The use of cannabis (marijuana) and whether it should be legal remains a hotly debated issue in our country, with different states reaching different conclusions. One persistent fear is that cannabis is a “gateway drug” leading its consumers to use harder drugs. In an article for Forbes, Dario Sabaghi traces the dubious history of this concern, noting that several studies not only challenge this idea but also suggest that cannabis may also lead users away from opioids.
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Rev. Dan Potaznick, Director of Generosity and Strategic Development, shares a note about his time with Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria.
“This weekend I visited Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria to give thanks, and it was a busy Sunday. Young members celebrated their first communion, the congregation kicked off their spring endowment drive, and members of both All Saints Lutheran (Phoenix) and Peace Lutheran joined together as a joint choir.
If that wasn't enough for one Sunday, after worship I joined members & visitors to pack 800 pounds, or 1200 bags, of rice and beans for the West Valley Community Food Pantry.”
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ELCA Worship shares their news for March, 2023.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The ELCA churchwide organization is hiring a part-time Worship intern for the remainder of 2023. Learn more about the position here.
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In observance of Earth Day 2023, Bishop Eaton lifts up the ELCA’s new social message, “Earth’s Climate Crisis,” underscoring that this is a “moment of Kairos, a critical moment in time when God is calling for decisive action in history.”
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In this blog post from the ELCA, you’ll find
The ELCA Church Council just adopted the church’s sixteenth social message, titled “Earth’s Climate Crisis“
Ecumenical Conference on Faith and Climate Justice in Puerto Rico
Equity is the Path to Sustainability
A Message from Anglican, Lutheran Leaders for Earth Day 2023
ReconcilingWorks continues to accompany Reconciling in Christ (RIC) partners in updating their Public Partner Commitments, and through regional RIC partner zoom calls, they are looking forward to providing another opportunity of support. Our Region 2 call is Tuesday, 5/2/2023, 12-2pm MST/PDT, 1-3pm MDT. Click here to register.
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The Rocky Mountain Synod is providing a bread baking workshop on Saturday, 5/6/2023, from 8am-noon MST/PDT, 9am-1pm MDT. Breads being made include a gluten-free communion bread, and fougasse, a French bread. Get more info and register here.
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Is the Holy Spirit stirring within you to accept this call to be a Servant Coach or Companion at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans?
Applications to be a Servant Companion Coach are open through June 2. Apply Here!
Applications for Servant Companions will open on June 15. Get more information on Volunteering of the Gathering here.
Arizona Faith Network shares many upcoming events and news in their latest newsletter.
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Join ELCA Coaching every Wednesday at 11am MST/PDT, 12pm MDT, as we practice Courageous Leadership. Log in info is on the ELCA Coaching website.
Join us Wednesday, April 26, 2023, as we hear from parent, author, and ELCA Coach Jamie Bruesehoff, who will share experience as a parent of a transgender young person and what it has taught her about boldly, loudly, and joyfully celebrating the young people in our midst and advocating for them in our ministry settings and beyond.
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Arizona Faith Network provides a page full of Earth Day events, celebrations, resources, and ways to get involved. View the page here.
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