This section is dedicated to celebrating and lifting up the everyday work of our congregations, ministries, and partners at various levels—from local to global. Join us in gratitude and prayer for these people and organizations. View all our spotlight posts here.
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For an end to gun violence, and for all victims of gun violence, especially in the communities of Shreveport, Louisiana and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as tourists visiting the Teotihuacán site near Mexico City…
For healing, resilience, and rebuilding in Midwestern communities recovering from tornadoes, and for all living in areas facing wildfires and wildfire risk…
For the wellbeing of our planet as we celebrate Earth Week, and for human hearts, minds, and wills to work for its health…
For Christian unity as we celebrate the season Easter, and for an end to interreligious conflict and religious persecution…
For farmers and farm workers, and for all who work with the land to provide food…
Next week, the Office of the Bishop is engaged in worship leadership across Tucson and Phoenix, supporting congregations through preaching, installations, and vitality conversations, while also preparing reports and continuing mission support and leadership development work. At the same time, staff are advancing preparations for Synod Assembly—including communications, storytelling, logistics, and financial oversight—ensuring the synod is ready for the work ahead.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Stephen J. Hammer, who celebrates 44 years on April 25.
Rev. Debra Slifer, who celebrates 39 years on April 25.
Rev. Diane Drach-Meinel, Christ the Servant, Henderson, who celebrates 39 years on April 26.
Rev. David Drach-Meinel, who celebrates 39 years on April 26.
Rev. Kevin Meyer, LSS-SW, Phoenix, Covenant, Quartzsite, who celebrates 31 years on April 30.
Deacon Sally Almen, who celebrates 39 years on April 30.
Next week, synod staff will gather for an in-person staff meeting while continuing key leadership, ministry, and administrative work across the synod. Highlights include Deborah K. Hutterer and staff participating in the Ordination of Carly Chamberlain at Faith Lutheran, Phoenix, Apr 18, 2026, 10:30 AM, advancing assembly and audit preparations, collaborating with churchwide and conference leaders, and supporting congregations through preaching, stewardship conversations, and ongoing communications. We also share photos from the Region 2 First Call Accompaniment gathering at Franciscan Renewal Center.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Deacon Mary Jayne Baker, who celebrates 14 years on April 22.
Next week, synod staff will be engaged in the Colorado River Conference Spring Gathering in Las Vegas, alongside preaching, First Call Accompaniment, youth leadership, and key meetings with congregations and leaders. Additional work includes anniversary celebrations, stewardship planning, assembly and communications prep, audit and finance tasks, and ongoing administrative responsibilities.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Lowell Nelson, who celebrates 15 years on April 10.
Rev. Charles Newman, King of Glory, Tempe, who celebrates 21 years on April 15.
Next week, the Office of the Bishop staff will be engaged in candidacy work, preaching and leading worship, supporting conference gatherings and ministry conversations, and preparing for synod assembly and upcoming events. Alongside this, the team will continue core operations including communications, financial reporting and audit support, governance participation, and strategic planning for congregations and synod leadership.
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For the Artemis crew and all who are guiding the mission…
For protests in the West Bank against death penalty laws…
For victims of a Russian military plane crash in Crimea…
For casualties of a migrant boat capsize near Turkey…
For families of those killed in gang attacks in Haiti…
For Pope Leo XIV, the Dali Lama, and all faith leaders speaking hopes for peace in the world…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For all affected by rising fuel and food costs and access…
For support, visibility, and civil rights for transgender individuals…
For all who have experienced religious trauma and feel alienated from the church…
For the church in every place as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
For Jewish siblings during the observance of Passover…
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Rev. Adele Resmer, Ascension, Scottsdale, who celebrates 39 years on April 5.
For peace and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For Dame Sarah Mullally and her installation as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury…
For the families of those killed in hospital attack in Sudan…
For safe working conditions for all workers, especially in wake of car parts factory fire in South Korea…
For victims of the Air Canada runway crash at LaGuardia Airport…
For all who know the trauma and pain of sexual assault, abuse, or exploitation…
For elections and political transitions, local and global…
For those affected by flooding in Hawaii, and all impacted by natural disasters…
For travelers, especially those facing airport delays and uncertainties, and for TSA workers…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For ongoing energy crises and rising fuel costs…
For pastors, church musicians, and congregational leaders preparing for Holy Week…
The Office of the Bishop will be at the Kino Conference Spring Gathering: Our Saviour's Lutheran in Tucson, Mar 28, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM. We also continue to work on our annual audit.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. William Timm, who celebrates 45 years on March 29.
Deacon Glenda Blegen, who celebrates 20 years on April 2.
The Office of the Bishop staff will gather with leaders and congregations in Tucson for the Kino Conference Spring Gathering while continuing preaching, teaching, and relationship-building across the synod. Alongside these shared ministries, staff will advance key internal work—including assembly planning, financial and audit preparation, leadership development, and ongoing communications—supporting the synod’s mission in both public and behind-the-scenes ways.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Heriberto Prudencio, who celebrates 36 years on March 25.
The Rev. Kerry Neuhardt, Church of Our Saviour, Lakeside, who celebrates 43 years on March 25.
Lent Series Blog: Closer to creation
India: a passion for intergenerational justice and women’s empowerment
Joint ecumenical statement calls for immediate ceasefire in Middle East
Senegal: Literacy sets new goals for excluded children and women
Anglicans and Lutherans review progress towards full communion
Commission on the Status of Women shines spotlight on access to justice
The Office of the Bishop staff will gather for an in-person staff meeting while continuing key synod work, including participation in the High Country Conference Spring Gathering in Flagstaff, preaching and congregational visits, and meetings focused on congregational vitality and faith formation. Staff will also advance preparations for Synod Assembly, manage communications and upcoming events, and support the synod’s annual audit and financial close.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Peter Lai, who celebrates 41 years on March 16.
Rev. Martin Overson, who celebrates 47 years on March 18.
Rev. Daniel Potaznick, Office of the Bishop, Phoenix, St. John’s, Glendale, who celebrates 3 years on March 18.
Synod staff are preparing for the March Synod Council meeting, supporting Spring Gatherings, continuing assembly planning, and beginning the annual financial audit while carrying out the ongoing ministries and administrative work of the synod office.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Timothy Hansen, New Journey, Fountain Hills, who celebrates 39 years on March 8.
Rev. Stephen Talmage, Love of Christ, Mesa, who celebrates 41 years on March 10.
Rev. Patsy Koeneke, Epiphany of Christ, Apache Junction, who celebrates 19 years on March 11.
Rev. Bruce Ayers, who celebrates 64 years on March 11.
Rev. Steven Crittenden, who celebrates 17 years on March 12.
For an end to war, conflict, and uncertainty, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For escalating tensions in Iran and Lebanon and the safety of civilians and military personnel…
For partisan cooperation across divisions and elected leaders to seek the welfare and dignity of all…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those living with uncertainty and grieving loss of life in Jalisco, Mexico, and neighboring states in the wake of recent gang-related violence…
For those without adequate shelter during recent snowstorms in the northeast US…
For the recent shootings in Macon, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Virginia Beach, Virginia; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Kansas City, Missouri; and for an end to gun violence…
For those experiencing heavy rains and flooding in southern Peru…
This week, Bishop Hutterer will attend the Flourishing Communities conference in Tempe and the Conference of Bishops in Chicago, while synod staff continue preaching, hosting discussions, preparing for upcoming events, launching Assembly publicity and forms, and completing month-end financial and audit preparations.
Holy Land: We are peacemakers, that is our calling
Empowered to lead
Wittenberg: strengthening a shared commitment to gender justice
Lutheran youth explore lessons from South Africa’s peacebuilding history
Scholarship holders and alumni reflect on church leadership dimensions