The FY2027 State of Arizona Nonprofit Security Grant Program is now accepting applications from eligible nonprofits, including faith-based organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their beliefs, mission, or identity. Applications are due Friday, June 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Eligible organizations are encouraged to review application materials at azdohs.gov/az-nsgp and attend one of two information webinars on May 7 or May 12.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Don Lorfing, Good Samaritan, Las Vegas, Good Sam at The Lakes, Las Vegas, who celebrates 30 years on June 9.
Rev. John Serkland, who celebrates 63 years on June 9.
Rev. Philip Gustafson, who celebrates 47 years on June 9.
Rev. John Hackler, Lord of Life, Sun City West, who celebrates 41 years on June 9.
Rev. Lisa Hackler, American, Sun City, who celebrates 41 years on June 9.
Please note that the Office of the Bishop will be closed Monday, June 15, 2026, following Synod Assembly to allow staff time for rest after the gathering. The office will also be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
Read MoreVolunteers are needed to help prepare and reset spaces for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly. Opportunities include a Decorating Team on Wednesday, June 10 (11:00 AM–1:00 PM) and a Tear Down Team on Saturday, June 13 (12:00–1:00 PM). To volunteer, contact Kathye Hamm at khamm@gcsynod.org.
Read MoreThe 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly offering will support the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), a small but resilient Lutheran church serving congregations and schools in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and beyond. Congregations across the synod are invited to participate by collecting designated gifts before Assembly or contributing through the synod office.
The ELCJHL continues its witness of faith, education, and reconciliation in the region where Christianity began. Through this year’s Assembly offering, our synod will stand in solidarity with our global Lutheran partners, supporting ministries rooted in hope and steadfast faith in the Holy Land.
Read MoreJoin the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly online! Tune in live on June 12, 2026, via the Love of Christ Lutheran Church’s Facebook Page. This livestreaming opportunity ensures all our members, from across Arizona, southern Nevada, St. George, Utah, and the Navajo Nation, can partake in our assembly’s key moments. Don’t miss out on this chance to stay connected and involved in our community’s important decisions and celebrations. Watch here.
Read MoreFor the upcoming Assembly week, the Grand Canyon Synod homepage will transform into a comprehensive digital hub. Just visit gcsynod.org and you’re there! This enhanced homepage will feature quick access links and real-time updates to keep you informed throughout the event. Accessible on any device, our goal is to make your Assembly experience as seamless and engaging as possible. Stay connected with us and check back regularly for the latest news!
Read MoreThe 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly is almost here! Find everything you need to prepare for June 11–13 in Mesa, including schedule highlights, voting information, workshops, livestreaming, the service project, special guest Rev. Tim Brown, and how our homepage will serve as your Assembly information hub throughout the week.
Read MoreThe ELCA has released a playlist of short videos for synods and congregations to use during synod assemblies and beyond. Explore stories of ministry, justice, disaster response, Navajo mission, youth ministry, Mission Support, and more—and see how God is at work through our wider church. View the playlist here.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Donald Liles, who celebrates 40 years on June 8.
Rev. Bennett Henrikson, who celebrates 57 years on June 8.
Rev. Melinda Gapen, Noble Hospice, Mesa, who celebrates 12 years on June 8.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stoney Bowen-Weiszmann, Banner Del E Webb Medical Center, Sun City West, who celebrates 18 years on June 7.
Rev. Tim Eighmy, Community, Bullhead City, who celebrates 34 years on June 7.
Rev. John Lundering, who celebrates 67 years on June 7.
Rev. David Miller, who celebrates 56 years on June 7.
Rev. Donald Legacie, who celebrates 39 years on June 7.
Rev. Ronald Hedwall, who celebrates 62 years on June 7.
Rev. Jarrod Iversen, Central, Arizona City, who celebrates 1 year on June 7.
Rev. Debra Hippen Schultz, who celebrates 39 years on June 7.
Nearly a year after Congress approved Medicaid funding cuts, questions remain about whether Medicaid should pay for home- and community-based services. In Mosaic’s latest blog, President and CEO Linda Timmons shares why that investment matters: Long-term care is too expensive for most families to afford on their own, and people with disabilities, like anyone else, deserve a say in what their lives look like.
Read MoreThe Rev. Lisa Lewton of Dickinson, N.D., has been elected bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod, following action at the synod assembly held May 29–31 in Watford City. Lewton, pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church since 2015, was elected on the fourth ballot and will begin a six-year term.
She will be installed Aug. 29 as the synod prepares for a leadership transition following Bishop Craig Schweitzer’s move into a new churchwide role this fall. Read the full ELCA news release.
Read MoreHow might disability theology reshape how we imagine ministry and belonging in the body of Christ? At this summer’s Rostered Ministers Gathering, ELCA Disability Ministries will lead a workshop exploring how the gifts, leadership, and lived experiences of people with disabilities are central to God’s inclusive vision for the church. The session takes place July 7 in Indianapolis during the first workshop block.
The workshop invites participants into faithful reflection grounded in both theology and action, offering practical ways to embody a more inclusive and life-giving ministry. Read more from ELCA Disability Ministries.
Read MoreOn June 11, the ELCA churchwide organization will host a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Learning Day focused on strengthening relationships with historically underrepresented communities and deepening practices of belonging across ministry settings. ELCA Disability Ministries Coordinator Rev. Lisa Heffernan will present a workshop on inclusive language, disability models, and building more equitable relationships among colleagues.
The event reflects ongoing efforts to help the church live more fully into inclusion, accessibility, and shared ministry. Read more about the learning day.
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, Wesley Ellis makes a case that will reframe the way you think about prayer.
Read MoreToday we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Arlyn Saathoff, who celebrates 61 years on June 6.
Rev. Vern Barlow, who celebrates 61 years on June 6.
Rev. Daniel Carlson, who celebrates 44 years on June 6.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stephen Beyer, who celebrates 45 years on June 5.
Rev. Jason Adams, Good Samaritan, Las Vegas, Good Sam at The Lakes, Las Vegas, who celebrates 12 years on June 5.
Rev. Ryan Marsh, Crossroads, San Tan Valley, who celebrates 10 years on June 5.
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Mali, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For the wounded and all who grieve those killed in major Russian assaults in Ukraine…
For the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire…
For all immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and travelers…
For peaceful engagement and resolution to protests in Albania and Mexico…
For elections and political transitions, domestic and global…
For all affected by tropical storm Jangmi in southern Japan…
For the work of climate scientists, ecology researchers, and meteorologists…
For children and their families struggling with food scarcity, especially in the absence of school lunches…
For all God’s beloveds in the LGBTQIA+ community during this Pride month…
For all impacted by the Ebola outbreak in central Africa…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies and for bishops and bishops-elect…
