On this page you’ll find the latest featured news from our blog.
Rostered ministers, it’s time to complete your annual Report to the Bishop! Reports are due by March 1, 2025 and are an opportunity to connect directly with Bishop Hutterer. All submissions will be carefully reviewed, and each minister will receive a personal response. Forms are available online or as downloadable Word documents. Visit gcsynod.org/rostered-minister-report for full details.
The Grand Canyon Synod invites your congregation to submit its 2025 Mission Support Statement of Intent by February 1, 2025. Your gifts empower local, national, and global ministries, equipping leaders, transforming lives, and advancing God’s mission. Visit gcsynod.org/intent for forms and details. Together, we live into God’s vision of abundance and equality.
Celebrate 75 years of ministry with American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tucson! Join the fiesta on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from noon to 3 PM at 115 N. Tucson Boulevard. The event features Parrita’s Mexican Food Truck, live flamenco music by Jon Banuelos, and family fun activities. Tickets are available until noon on January 19, 2025.
On Martin Luther King Day, faith leaders from Nevada, including Bishop Deborah Hutterer, called on political leaders to support humane immigration reform. Their published letters emphasize justice, compassion, and dignity for immigrants. Read the full messages and learn how you can support their advocacy efforts.
En el Día de Martin Luther King, líderes religiosos de Nevada, incluida la Obispa Deborah Hutterer, llamaron a los líderes políticos a apoyar una reforma migratoria humana. Sus cartas publicadas destacan la justicia, la compasión y la dignidad para los inmigrantes. Lea los mensajes completos y descubra cómo apoyar sus esfuerzos de abogacía.
The Grand Canyon Synod’s 2025 theme, “Build Up the Body”, inspired by Ephesians 4:12-13, will guide us throughout the year. This focus on unity, growth, and service will shape key events, including our spring gatherings, the Synod Assembly in Las Vegas, and the Bishop’s Fall Gathering. This year, let’s explore how we can grow together as the body of Christ, equipping one another for works of service and fostering resilience in our communities.
Join Lutherans from across Arizona on February 10, 2025, for Lutheran Day at the Legislature. From 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix, we’ll advocate for LAMA’s 2025 policy priorities. Prepare with training sessions on January 23, February 6, and February 20. Visit lamaz.org/lutheran-day-2025 to register today!
How healthy is your congregation? As you prepare for Annual Meetings and submit your reports to Churchwide, take time to reflect on your congregation’s vitality. The Grand Canyon Synod offers tools, including a 36-question survey, to help evaluate congregational health and guide future planning. Visit gcsynod.org/vitality to learn more, or contact Pr. David Pavesic at David.Pavesic@elca.org for support.
The Grand Canyon Synod invites your congregation to submit its 2025 Mission Support Statement of Intent by February 1, 2025. Your gifts empower local, national, and global ministries, equipping leaders, transforming lives, and advancing God’s mission. Visit gcsynod.org/intent for forms and details. Together, we live into God’s vision of abundance and equality.
The devastating fires in Los Angeles have deeply impacted the Southwest California Synod, including the loss of Bishop Brenda Bos’s home. Please join us in praying for all affected, the first responders, and the ministries offering relief.
For those who want to make donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is coordinating with the Southwest California Synod, Pacifica Synod, and other partners to assess the needs of people impacted by the wildfires. Gifts to "U.S. Wildfires" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires until the response is complete.
On February 10, 2025, join Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada for a day of faith and action at the Nevada State Capitol. The event begins with worship at St. Paul’s in Carson City and moves to the Capitol for legislative advocacy rooted in Lutheran values of justice and compassion. Registration is required. Click here to learn more and sign up.
The School for Lay Ministry equips lay leaders with the tools and confidence to serve their congregations faithfully. With live instruction, self-paced learning, and innovative digital ministry training, the year-long program begins January 18, 2025. Scholarships are available. Learn more and register today at faithlead.org.
Celebrate 75 years of ministry with American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tucson! Join the fiesta on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from noon to 3 PM at 115 N. Tucson Boulevard. The event features Parrita’s Mexican Food Truck, live flamenco music by Jon Banuelos, and family fun activities. Tickets are available until noon on January 19, 2025.
Join us on January 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity! Hosted at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, this statewide ecumenical service will feature Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger and Grand Canyon Synod Bishop Deborah Hutterer. Gather with Christians of all traditions to reflect on John 11:26 and pray for unity. Learn more and help spread the word! Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 resources are available from the World Council of Churches here.
Elect your voting members for the 2025 Synod Assembly! As congregations hold annual meetings, now is the time to choose those who will represent you at the June 12-13, 2025, assembly in Las Vegas, NV. Remember to include one youth or young adult and one person of color or whose primary language is not English to reflect the diversity of God’s people. Voting members are vital to shaping the ministry and mission of our synod—don’t miss this opportunity to prepare your congregation. View our page with all the info you need for determining voting members for your congregation.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the ELCA will host a free online event from 9am-1pm MST, 8am-noon PST, featuring worship, workshops, music, and guided reflection. Centering the voices of ELCA leaders of color, the event seeks to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and inspire collective action toward justice and equity. Open to all ELCA members and partners, this event aligns with the work of Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation. Visit ELCA.org/NDORH to learn more and register today!
Save the date for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Diversity on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 3-5 pm in each respective time zone. Hosted at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, with Bishop Yehiel Curry preaching (watch live on King of Glory’s YouTube channel or at kogaz.org/watch), and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas with a keynote from Elder Ender Austin, III (COGIC), this event invites us to come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy of justice, love, and unity. Join us as we celebrate our shared mission for equality and diversity within our faith community.
Amid heightened uncertainty, knowing your rights is vital for immigrants and their advocates. ELCA’s AMMPARO initiative and the Archdiocese of Dubuque offer multilingual tools like Red Cards, family safety plans, and legal support directories to help communities stay prepared. View these pages for a comprehensive list of resources and how to share them in your congregation.
Wildfires have devastated Los Angeles County, California, leaving tens of thousands displaced. Lutheran Disaster Response is actively working with synods and local partners to address immediate needs and plan long-term recovery efforts. Learn how you can pray, give, and share to support those affected. Visit ELCA.org/wildfires to donate and find resources.
The devastating California wildfires have displaced thousands and destroyed homes, businesses, and places of worship. Bishop Brenda Bos of the Southwest California Synod is among those personally impacted. Presiding Bishop Eaton calls for prayers, accompaniment, and action as Lutheran Disaster Response mobilizes to bring aid and hope to affected communities. Learn more about how you can help: Lutheran Disaster Response.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the ELCA will host a free online event from 9am-1pm MST, 8am-noon PST, featuring worship, workshops, music, and guided reflection. Centering the voices of ELCA leaders of color, the event seeks to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and inspire collective action toward justice and equity. Open to all ELCA members and partners, this event aligns with the work of Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation. Visit ELCA.org/NDORH to learn more and register today!
We pray for the family and friends of Donald R. Thompson, who died December 9, 2024
The Celebration of Life for Love of Christ Lutheran Church Founding Pastor, Donald R. Thompson, will be Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 10AM in the Center of Compassion (1525 N. Power Road Mesa, AZ 85205).
Join Lutherans and friends across Arizona for Lutheran Advocacy Day on February 10, 2025, at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix. From 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, engage in our call to justice as we meet legislators, pray for those who serve, and connect with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Arizona leaders. Register today to be part of this impactful day of faith and advocacy.
The Grand Canyon Synod welcomes Dorothy Anderson, a 2024 graduate of the Sustainable Faith Spiritual Direction program, to our list of spiritual directors. Drawing from decades of experience in ministry and counseling, Dorothy offers Spirit-led guidance and practices like contemplative prayer and Lectio Divina. Contact Dorothy to explore how she might support your spiritual journey or learn more about spiritual direction on our website.
In this Christmas message, the bishops and synod vice presidents of Region 2 reflect on Howard Thurman’s poem, “The Work of Christmas,” calling us to embrace God’s grace and live out Christ’s liberating love. Representing over 500 congregations, they invite us to join in justice, service, and joy, embodying the good news of Christ in our communities and the world.
Rev. Paul Larson, lead pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Family in Carson City, NV, has been appointed Advocacy Director for Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN). As the 83rd Nevada Legislative Session approaches, Rev. Larson will represent Lutheran voices on issues like immigration, food insecurity, and environmental care. His leadership promises to strengthen LEAN’s mission of justice and compassion. Learn more about his vision and upcoming initiatives, including February’s “Lobby Day” at the Capitol, at leanforjustice.org.
Kylee Bestenlehner, a member of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson, Nevada, shares her inspiring journey from leading ukulele lessons to attending seminary at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). Drawn by LSTC’s Public Church Curriculum and supported by scholarships, Kylee is following her call to ministry while creating lasting community impact. Learn how trust in God and encouragement from her church community guided her path in an article from LSTC’s Epistle magazine.
We are excited to announce the release of the updated 2025 Congregations in Transition Manual, designed to guide congregations through the four phases of the transition and call process with spiritual focus and practical tools. Now available for download, this resource includes templates, liturgies, and actionable steps to help congregations navigate change with grace. Visit gcsynod.org/transition to access the manual and learn more.
2024 was a year of remarkable advocacy through the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Arizona (LAMA), with record participation at Lutheran Day at the Legislature and impactful work in areas like hunger, housing, and international aid. As we celebrate Christmas, we reflect on the Nativity’s call to care for the vulnerable and recommit to advocacy in 2025. Read more for highlights from LAMA Director Solveig Muus and an inspiring message from Hunger Advocacy Fellow Autumn Byars.
Arizona’s Christian leaders have issued a powerful statement calling for immigration reform that upholds human dignity and family unity. They denounce unjust deportation practices, including raids on churches and other critical locations, and call on law enforcement to act with conscience. Grounded in Gospel values, the leaders urge us all to see the image of God in every human being and advocate for a fair and humane immigration system. Read the full statement to learn how our faith compels us to stand with the vulnerable.
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!