2025 Synod Assembly Speaker David Scherer Invites Faith Leaders to Racial Justice Cohort

Continue the conversation with 2025 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly guest David Scherer of JUSTmove. David is offering an eight-week online Culture, Power, Race (CPR) Learning Cohort for faith leaders, meeting Tuesdays, September 8–October 27, 10–11:30 a.m. Arizona/Pacific time. Participants will gain practical, biblically grounded tools for navigating race, culture and power while leading meaningful change in their congregations and communities.

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August Good Green News: Creation Care Resources for Lutherans

Lutherans Restoring Creation’s August Good Green News features upcoming opportunities for worship, learning and action, including Nature, Spirituality & Church in the Wild on August 25, Season of Creation resources, the 2026–27 EcoPreacher cohort, an environmental spirituality summit with Bill McKibben, and an ELCA creation-care film series beginning September 2.

Explore these events, new resources and more ways for individuals and congregations to connect Lutheran faith with care for God’s creation.

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Called to Cultivate Something New? Apply for the Leadership Incubator

Applications are open for Faith+Lead’s New Christian Communities Leadership Incubator, a 12-month online program equipping leaders to listen, discern, experiment, and cultivate Jesus-centered communities among people not connected to a local church. The $249 program combines courses, workshops, monthly gatherings, coaching, and peer learning—and synod leaders are encouraged to personally invite emerging leaders who may be ready to take this next faithful step.

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Faith+Lead August Roundup: New Tools for Learning, Leadership, and Ministry

Faith+Lead’s August roundup offers new opportunities for rostered ministers, lay leaders, and congregations to learn and grow, including courses on purpose and money, a new Christian communities incubator, Susan Beaumont’s supervision training beginning August 18, and the fall School for Lay Ministry cohort.

The roundup also includes free resources for The Bible in a Year and the Narrative Lectionary’s upcoming Year of Matthew. Read the August 2026 Faith+Lead Monthly Roundup.

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Mosaic | Back-to-School: 3 Tips for Talking to Children about People with Disabilities

When a child sees someone with a disability, they are naturally curious and may have questions. With students heading back to school this fall, we connected with Author and Speaker Tasha Schuh to discuss how parents can talk to their children about interacting with people with disabilities.

The post Back-to-School: 3 Tips for Talking to Children about People with Disabilities appeared first on Mosaic.

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Mastering Money: Watch the Recording and Explore the Resources

The recording and resources from the Grand Canyon Synod Stewardship Team’s “Mastering Money: Budgeting, Planning, and Living Generously” webinar are now available. Watch Duane Gilson explore budgeting, financial planning, and generosity as practices of faithful stewardship, and find recommended tools for managing money, receiving financial guidance, and growing generosity.

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Watch: Campformation 2026 Brings Faith to Life

See Campformation 2026 through a new video shared by Pastor David Sivecz of Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix. From worship and friendship to outdoor adventures and faith formation, get a glimpse of a Grand Canyon Synod ministry that has been helping young people grow in faith and community for more than 60 years.

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Two Resources for Responding to Christian Nationalism: Read, Reflect and Engage

Two connected resources invite Grand Canyon Synod leaders to study and respond to Christian nationalism. Read the July 2026 issue of Currents in Theology and Mission, “Declaring Independence from Christian Nationalism,” then explore the separate Reclaiming the Heritage project and its “Democracy at Risk” declaration, which people of faith are invited to read and sign.

The Rev. Conrad Braaten, a Grand Canyon Synod pastor currently serving as Interim Pastor at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Clarkdale, helped develop the declaration and encourages synod leaders to engage these resources for theological study, discernment and faithful action.

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AFN News: Annual Gathering Registration Opens, Plus Upcoming Events

The latest Arizona Faith Network newsletter features registration for the October 20 AFN Annual Gathering, “From Conflict to Community,” plus upcoming opportunities focused on digital security, elder abuse, election protection, peacemaking and interfaith service.

Read the full AFN newsletter for event details, registration information and more opportunities to connect with Arizona’s interfaith community.

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LAMA Update: Put Advocacy Into “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday

The August 11 LAMA newsletter invites congregations to add advocacy to “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday on September 13 and features upcoming events, new ELCA advocacy resources, opportunities to comment on the church’s homelessness social message, and ways to engage faithfully in public life. Read the full LAMA newsletter and find ways to get involved.

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Office of the Bishop Updates

The Office of the Bishop is engaged across the synod and beyond this week through worship, pastoral leadership, ministry site review, innovation planning, generosity work, staff service at West Valley Lutheran Thrift Store, and preparations for upcoming events. Synod staff also continue the essential communications, administrative, financial, and stakeholder support that sustain our shared ministry.

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The Generosity Project Finds a New Home

The Generosity Project has a new online home! For several years, the Grand Canyon Synod Stewardship Team helped host this cross-generational ELCA stewardship resource. We celebrate its next chapter and give special thanks to Grand Canyon Synod member and longtime project champion Linda Staats for her passion and leadership.

Explore The Generosity Project and discover resources for cultivating generosity, discipleship, and faith from generation to generation.

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On a Wing and a Prayer: Hope and Hospitality at Spirit in the Desert

Spirit in the Desert Executive Director Rika Beckley reflects on her first month of leadership and the faith, hospitality and community sustaining the Carefree retreat center. The latest newsletter also features Wednesday Respite, an Aug. 14-15 Open House & Pop-Up Sale, daily and weekly prayer opportunities, fall retreats, the ThanksLiving Music Fest and ways to support Spirit’s ministry. Read the full Spirit in the Desert newsletter and explore upcoming opportunities.

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Lutheran Men in Mission Shares New Resources, Retreats and Fall Opportunities

Lutheran Men in Mission’s Summer 2026 Ambassador-Gram features newly revised men’s ministry resources, a new DIY half-day retreat series, fall One Year to Live retreats and Bold Gatherings, weekly online Bible and book studies, a discipleship course, and a Sept. 8 legacy giving webinar.

Explore the opportunities and resources available to help congregations strengthen men’s ministry and discipleship.

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Women of the ELCA Celebrate “I Am Worthy” Gathering and Look Ahead to 2029

Women of the ELCA welcomed 1,000 registered participants to the “I Am Worthy” Triennial Gathering, July 16-19 in Des Moines, following the Thirteenth Triennial Convention. Explore highlights and photos from the gathering—and look ahead to the 2029 Triennial Gathering in Louisville, Kentucky, with pre-registration savings available through September 1.

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Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley Seeks Director of Worship

Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, Arizona is excited to begin the search for our next Director of Worship. This key leadership position will work closely with our pastors, staff, musicians, and volunteers to help shape meaningful worship experiences that inspire faith, build community, and glorify God. View PDF job description here.

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