Registration is now open for Ministry Partner Tables at the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly. Exhibitor space ($80, includes non-voting visitor access) is available to ELCA-related and approved ministries, with registration due by May 18, 2026. Learn more and register today to share your ministry’s story with voting members and leaders from across our synod.

Those wishing to submit a resolution for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly must do so by Monday, April 27, 2026, by sending an editable electronic file to Kathye Hamm (khamm@gcsynod.org). Resolutions must comply with the ELCA and Grand Canyon Synod governing documents, Robert’s Rules of Order, and the assembly’s rules and agenda. More info here.

The Reference and Counsel Committee will review submissions and publish a report—including recommendations—on the synod website by May 22, 2026. While all submitted resolutions will appear in the report, the assembly’s agenda and rules determine whether they are discussed or voted on during the gathering.

The 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.

Nominations are now open—and the deadline extended—for the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association’s annual awards recognizing outstanding leaders in ELCA schools and early childhood ministries. Awards include the Distinguished Educational Leader of the Year and the Distinguished Rostered Leader of the Year.

Take time to lift up those who have shaped your ministry, supported your community, and inspired students and families. Submit nominations and learn more.

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest has shared a recording of its recent refugee services webinar, highlighting how federal policy changes are affecting families in Arizona and outlining ongoing work to support those already here. While new arrivals have paused, efforts continue in housing stability, employment support, ESL programs, and youth services.

Watch the webinar and take action by advocating, volunteering, or giving. In a time of uncertainty, this is an opportunity for our synod’s congregations and leaders to live out our call to accompany our neighbors with compassion and hope.

In the latest Pivot podcast, why is Christian community so hard to cultivate right now? Dwight Zscheile continues his conversation with Dr. Jennifer Wojciechowski.

With a special needs trust, you can remember your loved one with a disability in your estate to secure their financial future and protect their ability to continue receiving the Medicaid-funded services they rely on.

The post Plan for Your Child with a Disability’s Financial Security When You’re Gone appeared first on Mosaic.

ELCA Worship’s April update gathers key opportunities for worship leaders, musicians, and planners across the church. Highlights include the  2026 conference at St. Olaf College, the  annual conference in Princeton (July 19–22), and Lutheran Summer Music’s ongoing formation through faith and music.

Additional opportunities include student awards from the , with deadlines of May 1 and June 1. These resources support the church’s shared calling to nurture worship that is rooted in Word, song, and community. Read more at ELCA.org.

• Poland: prioritizing ecumenical relations and rekindling faith

• South Sudan: empowering families to build resilience during crisis

• Indonesia: from isolation and dependency to inclusion and entrepreneurship

• India: Youth reimagine gender justice in daily life

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.

Every congregation has that one dish—the recipe that shows up at every potluck, from Jell-O salads to funeral potatoes and church basement favorites. The Grand Canyon Synod’s Rooted at the Table project invites you to share the recipe that defines your community.

Submit your potluck classic by May 1, 2026. All recipes will be published online, with a curated selection included in the Synod Assembly cookbook.

The Grand Canyon Synod will present its Proposed 2027–2028 Mission Plan in two Zoom sessions on May 30 (9 AM) and June 2 (5 PM, Arizona/Nevada time). Participants will receive an early overview, ask questions, and help shape the future direction of synod ministry. A PDF will be available soon, and a recording will be provided for those unable to attend live.

Voting members will also have the opportunity to practice voting ahead of assembly. All are encouraged to participate and engage in this shared work of discernment.

Early bird registration for the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly (June 11–13 in Mesa, AZ) ends April 13, with voting member rates increasing from $140 to $160 afterward. Congregations are encouraged to select voting members now, including two additional voices—a youth or young adult and a person from a diverse cultural or linguistic background.

Through the Bishop’s Leadership Fund, one young leader per congregation can attend for free using code YOUTH2026. Now is the time to expand participation and ensure your congregation is represented as we gather, rooted in God’s story, to shape the future of our synod.

Arizona Faith Network is offering a full slate of April opportunities—from poll chaplain training and immigration advocacy gatherings to interfaith dialogue and community health events. With both online and in-person options, these events equip faith communities to engage in justice, care, and public witness across Arizona.

LAMA’s latest newsletter highlights an urgent ELCA Action Alert opposing the SAVE America Act, along with upcoming events on immigration, voting rights, and public witness. Additional updates include legislative news, advocacy opportunities, and ways to stay engaged across Arizona.