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Pastor James Dew will conclude his role as Interim Director for Evangelical Mission on July 31, 2024, marking the end of a significant tenure with the Grand Canyon Synod. Throughout his service, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing our ministry’s outreach, overseeing important tasks such as the Mission and Ministry Task Force, and supporting diverse Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities and Strategic Ministries.
As we thank him for his heartfelt service and leadership, we also look forward to the continued growth and impact of our ministries. Join us in celebrating his contributions and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Join Bishop Deborah Hutterer from October 21-23, 2024, at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center for the Bishop’s Fall Gathering. This event promises a blend of worship, fellowship, and insightful discussions under the theme “Embody the Word.” Registration is open until September 13, 2024, with options for both overnight and commuter participation. Featured speakers include Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe and Elder Perci Ami. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your spiritual journey and connect with fellow ministers. For registration details, visit our event page or contact the synod office.
This July, over a dozen congregations from the Grand Canyon Synod are sending their youth and young adults to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Joining 16,000 others, they will participate in a week of faith formation through interactive learning and fellowship. Events include MYLE and the tAble, focusing on youth of color and those with disabilities. Our community prays for their safe and enriching journey as they grow in faith and leadership.
Hunger Advocacy Fellow Autumn Byar visited Tucson to learn more about the partnership between Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Grace St Paul’s Episcopal Church as they find new ways to get involved in neighbor-love right in their own neighborhood.
“From food pantries to mobile showers, our ELCA churches have found many different ways to minister to the needs of their neighbors, each one tailored to the specific needs of the community. For Our Savior’s, it didn’t make sense to build a new ministry like this when a robust community partner exists just around the corner. Our Savior’s Lutheran sits right across the street from the University of Arizona and Banner University Hospital. It isn’t the only church to occupy this advantageous area; just a few blocks away sits Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal parish.” Read the full article on the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) website.
Bishop’s Fall Gathering
From Monday, October 21 to Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the Grand Canyon Synod invites you to join Bishop Deborah Hutterer at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, located at 7415 E Elbow Bend Road, Carefree, AZ, for a spiritually enriching Fall Gathering under the theme “Embody the Word.” View the full info here.
Featured
Join the 2024 Peanut Butter Wars to help fight food insecurity in Las Vegas! From July 1 to August 5, 2024, groups across the community are competing to donate the most peanut butter and raise funds. The event aims to collect $25,000 and 10,000 pounds of peanut butter for Lutheran Social Services of Nevada.
Participate or donate to make a significant impact—every jar counts towards battling hunger. Get involved by emailing martin@lssnv.org and help spread the word using #peanutbutterwars!
We are celebrating the expansion of our food pantry services, now open seven days a week with extended hours — making us the only pantry in the area operating all week long!
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with elected officials, members of the media, other business professionals, and the dedicated LSSN board and staff members.
Monday, July 15, 2024, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Ceremony starts at 11:45 am. LSSN, 4323 Boulder Hwy, Las Vegas, NV 89121. RSVP here.
What could we learn from Jesus as the master storyteller? His parables never carry a single meaning but reveal more about ourselves and God every time we revisit them. He told stories to bind his followers to those they never intended to care about, and to define their mission.
Isn’t this the kind of connection we need right now, with God and one another—especially as we confront crises of trust, loneliness, and divisions in our communities? This is why Faith+Lead is hosting Story Bridge: Using Story to Connect with God and Others.
Join the #ELCAElectionActivator network to support and equip ELCA members for nonpartisan participation in the electoral process through monthly virtual gatherings and regular updates. Participate in activities that foster civic engagement. Sign up now to join the next meeting and contribute to a just and peaceful society. Sign up here.
Join the #ELCAElectionActivator network to support and equip ELCA members for nonpartisan participation in the electoral process through monthly virtual gatherings and regular updates. Participate in activities that foster civic engagement. Sign up now to join the next meeting and contribute to a just and peaceful society. Sign up here.
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest provides services to a variety of needed community members, from children navigating the foster care system, families at risk of homelessness, to newly arrived refugees. We are able to take our support to our community a step further through the help of churches and other community members.
Our organization is in need of generous donors who wish to donate needed school supplies to our clients who receive services through us. Help your community receive school supplies so they can be successful in their upcoming school year! Visit lss-sw.org/backtoschool or view this PDF flyer for more info. Supplies are needed by 7/24/2024.
Calling all hunger champions: join this network of the Grand Canyon Synod! Meet to hear updates on national and local Hunger and Food Insecurity efforts and initiatives, to learn from one another, and to share with the group what's happening in our congregations. Anyone interested in alleviating hunger is welcome. Prepare to be encouraged and supported! Click here to access the meeting, at 6pm on the last Tuesday of every month.
Grace Lutheran Church invites you to the Campformation Reunion and Youth Gathering on July 31, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at 1124 N 3rd Street, Phoenix. Enjoy an evening filled with inspiring music, a brief message, and light meals, followed by games and prizes. Whether you’re a youth, parent, or adult from the Grand Canyon Synod, come for a night of faith, fun, and fellowship. View this PDF flyer for info.
Join Luther Seminary’s “Stepping Up to Supervision” course, led by Susan Beaumont, this August 2024. This three-session course offers comprehensive training in effective supervision within the church context, covering everything from performance management to progressive discipline. Sessions are on August 13, 20, and 27 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT. Equip yourself with the skills needed for effective church leadership. Enroll now for $195 with access to recorded sessions for a year. Visit faithlead.org for more details and registration.
Join Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria, AZ, for a comprehensive Godly Play Core Training from August 16-18, 2024. Perfect for educators, administrators, and parents involved in spiritual education, this training covers all aspects of the Godly Play method. Registration includes all materials and meals: Godly Play Core Training Registration.
Featured Events
Featured
Join the 2024 Peanut Butter Wars to help fight food insecurity in Las Vegas! From July 1 to August 5, 2024, groups across the community are competing to donate the most peanut butter and raise funds. The event aims to collect $25,000 and 10,000 pounds of peanut butter for Lutheran Social Services of Nevada.
Participate or donate to make a significant impact—every jar counts towards battling hunger. Get involved by emailing martin@lssnv.org and help spread the word using #peanutbutterwars!
At 6pm MST on Mondays, 5/6/2024 and again on 9/9/2024, Pastor Tim Brown, Director for Congregational Stewardship Support, will lead a webinar going step-by-step on how to create a Narrative Mission Plan hosted by our Grand Canyon Synod Stewardship Team.
May 6th Zoom Link: us02web.zoom.us/j/81979480200
September 9th Zoom Link: us02web.zoom.us/j/81769929305
Join Bishop Deborah Hutterer from October 21-23, 2024, at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center for the Bishop’s Fall Gathering. This event promises a blend of worship, fellowship, and insightful discussions under the theme “Embody the Word.” Registration is open until September 13, 2024, with options for both overnight and commuter participation. Featured speakers include Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe and Elder Perci Ami. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your spiritual journey and connect with fellow ministers. For registration details, visit our event page or contact the synod office.
Join the 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Retirees Retreat from October 28-30 at the Spirit in the Desert Retteat Center in Carefree, AZ. This year’s theme, “Signs of Hope in Turbulent Times,” features sessions with Rev. Mark Hanson. The retreat offers a rich program of fellowship, worship, and reflection. Secure your spot now and find renewal in the company of peers. View this PDF for registration and scholarship information, or contact Jan Fosen at (602-758-0875) or via email at fosen1215@gmail.com with questions.
We gather to connect people and do business at our annual synod assembly. We are pleased to be back at Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. The exact dates and time are subject to change.
The 2025 Churchwide Assembly will be held in Phoenix, Arizona. Mark your calendars! Times and dates may shift for this event. More info will be updated at ELCA.org.
Latest News
The Grand Canyon Synod is seeking a Director for Evangelical Mission, based in Phoenix, AZ. This vital role focuses on enhancing congregational vitality and leadership, aligning with our mission to nurture transformative relationships within communities. Responsibilities include educational strategy, team coordination, and leadership training. This full-time, contract position offers a competitive salary and benefits. Apply now and join us in shaping our spiritual and communal future. Apply here.
Pastor James Dew will conclude his role as Interim Director for Evangelical Mission on July 31, 2024, marking the end of a significant tenure with the Grand Canyon Synod. Throughout his service, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing our ministry’s outreach, overseeing important tasks such as the Mission and Ministry Task Force, and supporting diverse Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities and Strategic Ministries.
As we thank him for his heartfelt service and leadership, we also look forward to the continued growth and impact of our ministries. Join us in celebrating his contributions and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
In the July 2024 ELCA Mission Support Memo (view PDF here), Prince of Peace Evangelical August Lutheran Church in Bangor, Pa reminds us all that with dedicated leaders and faith, any congregation can reach out and meet community needs. Their POP's Treasures Thrift Boutique offers folks a place to share their treasures, shares these with those in need, opens a way to volunteer, plus donates profits to commuity needs. Treasures Abound! Don't miss out on participating in a free Grantwriting for Congregations webinar on August 19th - check it out in the memo. Finally, we share our deep gratitude for God's mighty creation. Find the memo online here too!
The 2024 Faith & Form International Awards Program for Religious Architecture & Art is now accepting submissions until October 11, 2024. This prestigious event, co-sponsored by Faith & Form and Interfaith Design, celebrates innovative and spiritually meaningful design in religious architecture and art.
Architects, artists, and designers from our Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to showcase their projects that enhance religious and community life. Winners will be recognized internationally, including features in Sacred Places magazine and a special acknowledgment at the AIA Conference in 2025.
From Denise Rector’s writings for Living Lutheran: “For better or worse, during my studies of Lutheran history—while earning a Master of Divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago—I longed for resonance with the situation of the generations of Lutherans who had come to faith before me. But I didn’t feel it. There was a yawning gap between what I understood as the history of African American life and the history and growth of Lutheranism in the United States. And it was a gap that my God-given embodiment couldn’t ignore. Maybe you have had a similar experience.” Read the full article at Living Lutheran here.
Volunteers at the Bargain Box in Beatrice, Nebraska have faithfully run the shop to raise money for Mosaic. They are a great example of Mosaic’s values: Belonging, Connection, Faithfulness and Grit.
The post Volunteer-Run Store Has 63-Year History Supporting Mosaicappeared first on Mosaic.
Bryan Penman sees the biggest challenge facing the ELCA as its greatest opportunity: offering a new, more resilient way of being church as congregations emerge from the post-pandemic era. “The older institutional structures of our church are hindering our mission,” he said. “The church that is emerging now will let our faith shine in everything we do.” Read the full article in Living Lutheran.
In this episode of the Pivot Podcast from faith+lead, Inés Velasquez-McBryde joins hosts Dr.Alicia Granholm and Rev. Dr. Terri Elton to explore the rich biblical foundations of pursuing justice in our churches and ministries.
Join Bishop Deborah Hutterer from October 21-23, 2024, at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center for the Bishop’s Fall Gathering. This event promises a blend of worship, fellowship, and insightful discussions under the theme “Embody the Word.” Registration is open until September 13, 2024, with options for both overnight and commuter participation. Featured speakers include Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe and Elder Perci Ami. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your spiritual journey and connect with fellow ministers. For registration details, visit our event page or contact the synod office.
We are celebrating the expansion of our food pantry services, now open seven days a week with extended hours — making us the only pantry in the area operating all week long!
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with elected officials, members of the media, other business professionals, and the dedicated LSSN board and staff members.
Monday, July 15, 2024, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Ceremony starts at 11:45 am. LSSN, 4323 Boulder Hwy, Las Vegas, NV 89121. RSVP here.
This July, over a dozen congregations from the Grand Canyon Synod are sending their youth and young adults to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Joining 16,000 others, they will participate in a week of faith formation through interactive learning and fellowship. Events include MYLE and the tAble, focusing on youth of color and those with disabilities. Our community prays for their safe and enriching journey as they grow in faith and leadership.
Do you love church music, working with a choir and musicians to lead worship, and blending classical and new approaches in ways that inspire congregations to grow spiritually? Do you have an innate ability to know what music and arrangements will make a service more meaningful? If yes, you may be the person to help take the St. Andrew Lutheran Church music program to new heights.
Join Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria, AZ, for a comprehensive Godly Play Core Training from August 16-18, 2024. Perfect for educators, administrators, and parents involved in spiritual education, this training covers all aspects of the Godly Play method. Registration includes all materials and meals: Godly Play Core Training Registration.
This July, engage with the Arizona Faith Network’s crucial initiatives, which you can find in full in their latest newsletter. Volunteer as a Poll Monitor to safeguard the election process, delve into the impact of Christian Nationalism in our democracy, advocate for hunger and housing, support heat relief efforts, and help build a stronger interfaith community. Each event offers a unique opportunity to act on our Lutheran values and make a significant impact.
Hunger Advocacy Fellow Autumn Byar visited Tucson to learn more about the partnership between Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Grace St Paul’s Episcopal Church as they find new ways to get involved in neighbor-love right in their own neighborhood.
“From food pantries to mobile showers, our ELCA churches have found many different ways to minister to the needs of their neighbors, each one tailored to the specific needs of the community. For Our Savior’s, it didn’t make sense to build a new ministry like this when a robust community partner exists just around the corner. Our Savior’s Lutheran sits right across the street from the University of Arizona and Banner University Hospital. It isn’t the only church to occupy this advantageous area; just a few blocks away sits Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal parish.” Read the full article on the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) website.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge and honor the original inhabitants of the various regions of our synod. The Grand Canyon Synod is spread across lands in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, which are currently home to over two dozen tribal nations.
We acknowledge and honor these communities, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. We give thanks to our Indigenous siblings who have cared and continue to care for this place — this land — and call it their home.
Learn more about ELCA Indigenous Ministries, land acknowledgments, and Native American and Indigenous education resources.
The Grand Canyon Synod is seeking a Director for Evangelical Mission, based in Phoenix, AZ. This vital role focuses on enhancing congregational vitality and leadership, aligning with our mission to nurture transformative relationships within communities. Responsibilities include educational strategy, team coordination, and leadership training. This full-time, contract position offers a competitive salary and benefits. Apply now and join us in shaping our spiritual and communal future. Apply here.