ELCA Church Council Welcomes 19 New Members and Takes Key Actions
ELCA Church Council Welcomes 19 New Members and Takes Key Actions

At its October 2–3 meeting in Minneapolis, the ELCA Church Council welcomed 19 new members elected at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly and took significant actions on several memorials. These included authorizing work on a social policy resolution related to abortion, reviewing a proposal for a social message on rural and tribal communities, and reaffirming the church’s commitment to justice for Palestinians and Israelis.

The council also conferred the title presiding bishop emerita on the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, appointed the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock as interim executive for administration, and approved an issue paper on artificial intelligence. Read the full summary from ELCA News & Events at elca.org/news-and-events/elca-church-council-welcomes-new-members »

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ELCABrian FlatgardELCA Church CouncilComment
Oktoberfest Spirit Fuels Lutheran Social Services of Nevada’s Mission
Oktoberfest Spirit Fuels Lutheran Social Services of Nevada’s Mission

As food pantry lines grow longer in Las Vegas, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada continues to meet the rising need through partnership, generosity, and faith in action. Their recent Oktoberfest celebration raised more than $30,000 and launched the new 1985 Society honoring 40 years of ministry. Upcoming efforts include the Warm Wishes Project (Oct. 22) and the expanding She Cares hygiene initiative. Learn how you can help at LSSNV.org.

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Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardLutheran Social Services of Nevada, Colorado River ConferenceComment
Little Lutherans Hold Their Own Annual Meeting
Little Lutherans Hold Their Own Annual Meeting

At Calvary Lutheran Church in Richland Hills, Texas, children are learning what it means to lead and serve through their own “Little Lutherans” congregational meetings. The gatherings teach stewardship, worship, and service while giving kids a sense of ownership in church life—complete with budget discussions, art projects, and joyful learning. Read more at Living Lutheran ».

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLiving LutheranComment
Shared Strength: Eight North Dakota Congregations Unite in Ministry
Shared Strength: Eight North Dakota Congregations Unite in Ministry

Across the wide plains of North Dakota, eight ELCA congregations have joined together in an innovative shared ministry called Christians in Action. By pooling resources, training lay leaders, and supporting one another in worship and mission, these rural congregations are expanding their reach and deepening their connections in Christ. Read the full story at Living Lutheran ».

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLiving LutheranComment
Walking Through History: Our Saviour’s Tucson Marks 80 Years of Ministry
Walking Through History: Our Saviour’s Tucson Marks 80 Years of Ministry

Celebrate 80 years of ministry with Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Tucson during a History Walk on Saturday, October 25, at 10:00 a.m. Walk through key spaces on campus as congregation members reenact moments from the church’s story, followed by a celebratory luncheon. Free and open to the public. For details or luncheon RSVPs, contact 520-327-6521 or oslc@lutherantucson.org.

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Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardOur Saviour's Tucson, Kino ConferenceComment
New Leadership, Same Call: Bishop Yehiel Curry Installed as Presiding Bishop
New Leadership, Same Call: Bishop Yehiel Curry Installed as Presiding Bishop

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America celebrated the installation of Bishop Yehiel Curry as its new presiding bishop on October 5, 2025, at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. The service—led by former Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton—featured a diverse assembly of leaders, choirs, and guests from across the ELCA and beyond. Rooted in joy and call, the celebration emphasized God’s invitation to serve in every context. Curry, formerly bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, succeeds Bishop Eaton in a six-year term.

Read the full story and watch highlights of the installation on Living Lutheran: Answering the Call.

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Bishop Curry, ELCABrian FlatgardBishop Curry Comment
For What Shall We Pray?
For What Shall We Pray?

  • For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine…

  • For lasting peace forged by shared commitment to the common good…

  • For an end to psychological warfare, torture, and genodice…

  • For safety and rescue for hikers stranded by severe snowstorms in western China and Nepal…

  • For victims of the Yom Kippur attack in Manchester, UK…

  • For federal workers facing uncertainty…

  • For safety and protection for all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…

  • For access to affordable and reliable health care…

  • For ongoing advances in scientific and medical research…

  • For the health and wholeness of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities…

  • For the flourishing of indigenous nations and communities…

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ELCA, Prayers, SpotlightBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, For What Shall We PrayComment
Register Now: Celebrate Bridge Builders at the 2025 Arizona Faith Network Annual Gathering
Register Now: Celebrate Bridge Builders at the 2025 Arizona Faith Network Annual Gathering

Celebrate faith leaders who build bridges across Arizona at the 2025 AFN Annual Gathering – “United We Rise”, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the Baháʼí Faith Community Center in Scottsdale. Honoring Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr., this year’s event will unite faith communities for a morning of storytelling and celebration. Plus, explore AFN’s fall lineup of virtual and in-person gatherings and subscribe to the AFN newsletter for weekly updates: arizonafaithnetwork.org/newsletter.

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Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardArizona Faith Network, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsComment
Faith Lens: Thriving in Exile
Faith Lens: Thriving in Exile

Even in exile, God calls us to thrive. In Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7, the Israelites longed for deliverance, but God’s message through Jeremiah urged them to build homes, plant gardens, and seek the good of the city where they lived. This same call echoes today in communities facing exclusion and oppression, including the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride and National Coming Out Day. Thriving in difficult times is not surrender—it is faithful resistance, rooted in trust that God’s promises endure beyond empire and circumstance.

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ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardFaith LensComment
Celebrating Latino Heritage: Many Peoples, One Spirit
Celebrating Latino Heritage: Many Peoples, One Spirit

The Association of Latino Ministries of the ELCA invites all to celebrate Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) as a time to honor the diversity of Latino identity and culture across the church. This reflection reminds us that while Latino communities face challenges and discrimination, they continue to walk in faith, unity, and love under God’s grace. Read the full reflection at ELCA Racial Justice Blog ».

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ELCABrian FlatgardLatino, Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la ELCAComment
Ordination celebrations: October 10-16, 2025
Ordination celebrations: October 10-16, 2025

This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:

  • Rev. Thomas Morrison, who celebrates 47 years on October 10.

  • Rev. John Biggs, Saved By Grace, Pahrump, who celebrates 12 years on October 13.

  • Rev. Steven Kruse, New Covenant, Scottsdale, who celebrates 40 years on October 13.

  • Deacon Gloria Owens, who celebrates 38 years on October 13.

  • Rev. Daniel Hoeger, All Saints, Phoenix, who celebrates 36 years on October 15.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, SpotlightBrian FlatgardOrdination AnniversariesComment
Bishop Hutterer: Stepping into Sabbath
Bishop Hutterer: Stepping into Sabbath

Bishop Deborah Hutterer shares her gratitude for the people and ministries of the Grand Canyon Synod as she prepares for a sabbatical in November and continuing through January 2026. During this time of prayer and renewal, Rev. Mike Girlinghouse will serve as Acting Bishop, working closely with synod staff to ensure continuity. Bishop Hutterer invites prayers for renewal and guidance as our synod enters this season of reflection and preparation for the work ahead.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer LettersComment
When Contractors Disappear: Lessons from Recent Congregational Projects
When Contractors Disappear: Lessons from Recent Congregational Projects

Several congregations in our synod have recently lost funds to contractors who took payment upfront and disappeared before completing work. To help others avoid similar losses, we share practical steps for contracting wisely—such as limiting deposits, verifying licenses, and ensuring written agreements. Learn how to protect your congregation’s resources and practice faithful stewardship when hiring contractors.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
Finding Faith in the Great Turning: Spirited Book Club Reads Active Hope
Finding Faith in the Great Turning: Spirited Book Club Reads Active Hope

Join the Spirited Book Club at Spirit in the Desert on Thursday, October 23 (3:00–4:00 p.m. AZ/PDT) for a discussion of Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. The book invites readers to face global challenges with courage and creativity, offering a framework for resilience rooted in faith, gratitude, and community action. Facilitated by Sheri Brown, this conversation explores how Christians can live out “active hope” amid uncertainty. Register here: spiritinthedesert.org/events/spirited-book-club-active-hope.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardSpirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Spirited Book ClubComment