Mountain View Lutheran Church is celebrating 50 years of ministry with a special anniversary weekend on April 5-6! Join the Anniversary Dinner and Worship Service on Saturday (tickets available through this weekend), followed by a special 9:00 AM worship service on Sunday, presided over by Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer. After worship, enjoy Sunday Funday with bounce houses, food trucks, games, and more! Visit www.mvlutheran.org/mvlc50th for full details.

Join Women of the ELCA for the 2025 Leadership Event on Saturday, April 5, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm MST/PDT(12:00–4:00 pm MDT), held on Zoom. Centered on the theme “Yes! What’s Next?” this virtual gathering invites servant leaders to reflect on calling and mission with dynamic speakers, small group discussion, and a digital toolbox. Registration is open—come be inspired, challenged, and renewed.

Join us for an uplifting Hymn Sing at Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Gilbert on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Featuring performances by the Desert Cross Chancel Choir, members of the Tempe Sanctuary Choir, the Junior Choir, and the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, this evening of music will renew your spirit this Lenten season. A free-will offering will support updates to the worship space, and homemade pie and ice cream will be served afterward. All are welcome! Read more at DesertCross.org or view this PDF flyer.

Join the National Faith + Climate Forum 2025 on March 27 to explore Seven Acts of Faith for Building Thriving Congregations. This free, live-streamed, and in-person event will offer practical insights on how to integrate creation care into your congregation’s mission. With sessions focused on youth leadership, climate justice, and community resilience, the forum will provide tools and inspiration to drive meaningful action. Register today to be part of this nationwide movement!

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.

Join the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association on March 25, 2025, for This Isn’t Kansas, Toto: Living in the New Digital World, a special session with Dr. Patricia Fosarelli, MD, DMin. Explore how to navigate online misinformation, protect vulnerable individuals, and apply digital tools to ministry. Open to all, including non-nurses. Earn 2.0 nursing contact hours. Register now: LFCNA Event Page.

The Women of the Cactus Conference Spring Gathering, scheduled for March 22 at Gloria de Cristo Lutheran Church in Yuma, AZ, has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. While we will not be gathering this year, we are grateful for the work of event organizers and encourage continued support for Hunter’s Army, the intended outreach recipient. Please reach out to conference leadership with any questions.

What if Christianity had a love story more radical than we imagined? This March, Spirit in the Desert’s Spirited Book Club explores Mary Magdalene Revealed, a rediscovered gospel that challenges traditional views on sin and shame, calling us instead to wholeness and transformation. Join the virtual discussion on March 6 & 20 at 3:00 p.m. AZ MST, Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.

Rev. Luis Ochoa will be installed at First Evangelical Lutheran (142 N Date, Mesa, AZ 85201) on Saturday, 3/15/2025 at 2pm. Pastor Chris Stoxen will preach, with Bishop Hutterer presiding. Rostered ministers are invited to attend; no robes. Color of the day is purple. Livestream on YouTube here.

After the service, we will celebrate! To assist us in planning food, please RSVP by calling (480-969-7221) or emailing the office: felc@firstevlutheran.com with the number of people in your group.

Lutheran guest preacher and National Parks record-setter Mikah Meyer is bringing his short film Canyon Chorus to Tempe on March 14 as part of the Banff World Tour. Meyer, who shared his story and music at Emmanuel Lutheran in Prescott Valley, visited 113 ELCA congregations while completing his 400+ National Park journey. Don’t miss the chance to see his inspiring film and meet him in person at Pollack Tempe Cinemas at 7 PM. Can’t attend? Watch Canyon Chorus for free on YouTube! Get tickets here.

Discover new ways to lead in changing times! The Missional Leadership Cohort is a nine-month journey beginning March 2025 to equip clergy with tools for transformative leadership. With retreats (including an in-person gathering at Spirit in the Desert), coaching, and peer support, this program offers practical insights and theological grounding to help you move from “fixing” to faithful discernment. Scholarships available! Learn more today!

Rev. Mari Larson will be installed Sunday, 3/9/2025, at 3 pm PST at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, (8901 Del Webb Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89134). Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer will preach and preside.

Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is purple. A light reception will follow. Livestream will be available on the church’s YouTube channel.

Join us on Sunday, March 9, at 10:00 a.m. at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona, to celebrate Pastor Stephen Talmage’s 40th anniversary of ordination! From his early ministry in Tucson to his time as Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod, and now as Senior Pastor at Love of Christ, Pastor Talmage has faithfully served with passion and dedication. This special gathering will honor his four decades of ministry. All are welcome! For more details, contact Pastor Nanette Christofferson at nanette@loclc.org.

Women of the Kino Conference are invited to the annual Spring Gathering on March 8, 2025, at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church in Tucson around the theme “Women on the Move” (Ruth 1:16). The event features a special program from Teen Challenge of Arizona’s Springboard Home for Girls, a fashion show, and a pop-up boutique from Blessingdales Boutique. Attendees are encouraged to bring in-kind gifts for Sister Jose Women’s Center. Registration ($20) is due by February 28—no walk-ins. View this flyer to learn more and use this PDF to register.

What if Christianity had a love story more radical than we imagined? This March, Spirit in the Desert’s Spirited Book Club explores Mary Magdalene Revealed, a rediscovered gospel that challenges traditional views on sin and shame, calling us instead to wholeness and transformation. Join the virtual discussion on March 6 & 20 at 3:00 p.m. AZ MST, Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.

Join us on March 5 at 12:00 p.m. MT for a special LDR Partner Spotlight featuring Solveig Muus as she shares how the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge supports the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. Learn how Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA World Hunger intersect to provide safe drinking water and vital resourcesfor our siblings in Christ. Register now to be part of the conversation! Sign up here.

The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is coming to Phoenix, and we need up to 100 volunteers to help make it a success! Join one of our Zoom info sessions on Feb. 26 or March 4 to learn how you can assist with registration, hospitality, worship support, and more. Hosted by Mary Beth Baron, these webinars will guide you through the volunteer opportunities and answer your questions.

Feb. 26 at 4:30 PM (AZ) | 3:30 PM (NV, PST) → Register Here
March 4 at 6:30 PM (AZ) | 5:30 PM (NV, PST) → Register Here

Hunger affects 10% of the world, and as people of faith, we are called to respond. On Monday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m. MT, Bread for the World President Rev. Eugene Cho joins travel writer and advocate Rick Steves for an online discussion about global hunger, the impact of U.S. foreign aid, and how we can advocate for change. Register now for this free event and learn how you can make a difference. Register here.

Join us February 26, 2025, at the Fountain Hills Community Center for a family-friendly food packing event hosted by New Journey Lutheran. From 5:30–7:30 PM, volunteers will pack thousands of meals for those in need locally and globally. Registration is required—sign up today at njlc-fh.org/food-4-kidz. View a PDF flyer here. Be the church in action!

The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is coming to Phoenix, and we need up to 100 volunteers to help make it a success! Join one of our Zoom info sessions on Feb. 26 or March 4 to learn how you can assist with registration, hospitality, worship support, and more. Hosted by Mary Beth Baron, these webinars will guide you through the volunteer opportunities and answer your questions.

Feb. 26 at 4:30 PM (AZ) | 3:30 PM (NV, PST) → Register Here
March 4 at 6:30 PM (AZ) | 5:30 PM (NV, PST) → Register Here

The Center of Addiction & Faith is hosting a free one-hour webinar on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM MST / 10:00 AM PST, exploring how churches can support substance use recovery. Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, an expert in addiction recovery, will present faith-based initiatives that help individuals and communities heal. Rev. George A. Wood will host the discussion, offering practical ways churches can be part of the solution. Register today to learn how your congregation can make a difference. Click here to sign up.

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.

Rev. Charles Newman will be installed at King of Glory Lutheran (2085 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282) on Sunday, 2/23/2025 at the 10:00 am worship service. Bishop Hutterer will preach and preside. The service will be live-streamed on YouTube.

There will be a reception lunch to follow, which coincides with the 55th anniversary Celebration of King of Glory. Please RSVP. Rostered Ministers are invited but will not process or robe.

Anxiety can be more than an obstacle—it can be an opportunity for growth. Join us on February 20, 2025, for a 90-minute webinar led by Kim Feld, MS, RN, Faith Community Nurse, exploring faith-based responses to anxiety, mindfulness practices, and insights from The Anxiety Opportunity by Curtis Chang. Hosted via Zoom and offering 1.5 ANCC contact hours for nursing professionals. Register today: https://lutheranfcna.org/event-5959385.

Join the Spirited Book Club this February to discuss Steven Charleston’s We Survived the End of the World, a compelling exploration of Native American resilience amid apocalyptic challenges. Learn from Indigenous prophets and sacred stories as we delve into strategies for courage and hope in times of crisis. Discussions are on February 6 and 20, from 3:00–4:00 PM AZ (MST). Register today to be part of this engaging conversation on faith, community, and survival.

After a synod council vote to affirm her call with Lutheran Campus Ministry, Wendi Van Beek will be ordained and installed Wednesday, 2/19/2025, at 6 pm, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, (1200 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719). Pastor Amalia Vagts will preach. Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer will preside.

Ordained and consecrated ministers of all affiliations, current seminary students and those awaiting first call, and former and current Lutheran Campus Ministry students are invited to process. The color of the day is red. A reception will follow. Email wendi.lcmuofa@gmail.com to RSVP.

Join New Spirit Lutheran Church in Tucson on February 16th to hear Shane Claiborne, renowned author, speaker, and activist. Worship begins at 10:00 AM, followed by fellowship, a bring-your-own lunch, and Shane’s presentation, “What to Do About Poverty,” at 1:00 PM. View PDF flyer here. Together, let’s explore how faith can inspire action against poverty.