Ashes at the Beach, Communion by Firelight: How Campus Ministry Meets Students Where They Are
Ashes at the Beach, Communion by Firelight: How Campus Ministry Meets Students Where They Are

On a Southern California beach and around a campus firepit, Concordia College campus pastors David and Kim Adams witnessed the sacred emerge in the ordinary. In this moving reflection, they share stories of student encounters with God—through Ash Wednesday ashes in a parking lot, communion shared under autumn skies, and raw conversations sparked by tragedy and trust. These moments remind us that campus ministry continues to be a vital space for hospitality, spiritual exploration, and hope. Click here to read the full article on Living Lutheran.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardLutheran Campus Ministries, Living Lutheran, Youth and Young AdultComment
Calling All Youth: Leadership Lab Builds Lifelong Lutheran Leaders
Calling All Youth: Leadership Lab Builds Lifelong Lutheran Leaders

Youth from the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to Leadership Lab 2025, a weeklong Lutheran leadership experience for grades 8 through age 24, held June 23-28 at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. Rooted in faith and friendship, Leadership Lab helps young people grow as disciples and leaders. Register now at leadershiplab.net.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardYouth and Young Adult, Leadership LabComment
Ordination and Installation of Jarrod Iversen
Ordination and Installation of Jarrod Iversen

Pending a congregational vote, Vicar Jarrod Iversen will be ordained and installed Saturday, 6/7/2025, at 1pm at Central Lutheran Church, (12921 S. Sunland Gin Road., Arizona City, AZ 85123). Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer will preside. Service will be posted to YouTube afterwards.

Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. Reception will follow, please RSVP to RSVP@centrallutheranaz.org.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardOrdinations and Installations, Central Arizona City, Fiesta ConferenceComment
Book Study Amplifies Voices of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Book Study Amplifies Voices of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Join Region 2 Lutherans on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. MST for a powerful book study on Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R. Rendon. Hosted by Women of the ELCA, this conversation will focus on how we as church can accompany Indigenous communities and respond to the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW). Register now and be part of this faith-rooted call to action.

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Grand Canyon Synod, Region 2Brian FlatgardMMIW, American Indian and Alaska Native, Women of the ELCA (WELCA), Racial JusticeComment
From “I” to “We”: A New Vision for Church Leadership and Community
From “I” to “We”: A New Vision for Church Leadership and Community

How can we lead the church when old models no longer fit? Join Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile and Rev. Blair Pogue on June 2 for a free Faith+Lead webinar exploring how congregations can blend tradition and innovation in partnership with their neighbors. Learn practical ways to reimagine leadership, find encouragement, and embrace the mixed ecology of church today. Replay available for all registrants.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian Flatgardfaith+lead, Luther SeminaryComment
Julie E. Schneider-Thomas Elected Bishop of the ELCA North/West Lower Michigan Synod
Julie E. Schneider-Thomas Elected Bishop of the ELCA North/West Lower Michigan Synod

The Rev. Julie E. Schneider-Thomas has been elected bishop of the ELCA North/West Lower Michigan Synod during their synod assembly held May 18–20 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. She was elected on the fifth ballot and will begin her six-year term on September 1, succeeding Bishop Craig Satterlee. Schneider-Thomas currently serves as pastor of Zion Lutheran in Comstock Park and Hope Lutheran in Rockford, Mich. Installation details are forthcoming.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
Help Us Welcome the ELCA to Phoenix: Volunteer for Churchwide Assembly 2025
Help Us Welcome the ELCA to Phoenix: Volunteer for Churchwide Assembly 2025

The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held July 28–August 2 in Phoenix, and the Grand Canyon Synod is seeking up to 100 volunteers to help welcome the church! From greeters and registration support to worship ushers, tech help, and a special Prayer Vigil Support role on July 30, there’s a meaningful way for everyone to serve. Sign up, watch the volunteer info session, and help us extend warm hospitality to our ELCA siblings. Learn more at gcsynod.org/cwa.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian Flatgard2025 Churchwide AssemblyComment
Churchwide Assembly 2025: Congregation Observers Invited to Participate
Churchwide Assembly 2025: Congregation Observers Invited to Participate

Each ELCA congregation is invited to register one observer for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. Observers receive access to all assembly materials and reserved seating but do not vote. Registration is $125 and closes May 31. Learn more about lodging, travel, and how to be part of this unique gathering of our wider church.

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ELCA, News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian Flatgard2025 Churchwide AssemblyComment
Bishop Eaton Issues Statement on Fatal Shooting of Two Israeli Embassy Staff in Washington, D.C.
Bishop Eaton Issues Statement on Fatal Shooting of Two Israeli Embassy Staff in Washington, D.C.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a statement on behalf of the ELCA expressing deep sorrow over the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, D.C.—an act rooted in the deadly rise of anti-Semitism. The ELCA stands firmly against such hatred and calls for prayers for the victims’ families, the Jewish community, and the people of Gaza. The statement affirms the ELCA’s commitment to peace, dialogue, humanitarian aid, and a just resolution in the Holy Land.

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ELCA, Bishop Eaton, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton Letters, Israel and Palestine, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsComment
Tracey Breashears Schultz Elected Bishop of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
Tracey Breashears Schultz Elected Bishop of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

The Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz has been elected bishop of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. Elected on the third ballot at the May 16–17 synod assembly in New Orleans, Schultz currently serves as the synod’s associate for leadership and brings experience from congregations in Houston and San Antonio. Her installation is scheduled for Sept. 7 at Living Word Lutheran Church in Katy, Texas. Bishop Michael Rinehart, who has served since 2007, will transition to a role with GSB Fundraising.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
How Congregations Can Support a Healthy Creation This Summer
How Congregations Can Support a Healthy Creation This Summer

From mental health to sacred land, this month’s Blessed Tomorrow newsletter calls us into faithful creation care and public witness. Learn how your congregation can join the One Home One Future campaign, support youth resilience in a changing climate, and stand in solidarity with Native leaders defending Oak Flat. Plus, don’t miss the June 2 Global Heat Action Day event featuring Rev. Katie Sexton. Click here to read the full newsletter.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardClimate Change, Blessed TomorrowComment
Lutheran World Federation newsletter
Lutheran World Federation newsletter
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News, Global Church, SpotlightBrian FlatgardLutheran World FederationComment