2023 BiAnnual Convention and Gathering of the Grand Canyon Synod Women of the ELCA
The board of directors of the Grand Canyon Synod Women of the ELCA invite you to join us at our BiAnnual Convention and Gathering. It will be held November 10-12, 2023 at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Mesa.
Your board had been busy planning arrangements for our convention. We are pleased to announce that Bishop Deborah Hutterer will be joining us and schedule permitting will offer our service on Sunday morning, November 12 with communion and our Thankoffering.
Our Convention opens on Friday afternoon, conducting the business of our mission and electing our new board officers and board members. Each congregational unit will be represented by a previously elected voting member. The voting member’s will also be selected for the coming Triennial and Gathering. Location and dates to be determined at the Triennial in September.
Our Grand Canyon Synod representative at churchwide, Laura Krueger, will update us on happenings at churchwide. A reminder that the Churchwide Triennial and Gathering are planned for September 17-21 in Phoenix. Laura has also been instrumental in organizing the Diaper project in southwest Phoenix for families in need. An announcement from Maricopa County this week advised that the county has obtained funding to provide approximately 5000 diapers per month from their Diaper Bank to eligible families. This demonstrates the power of offering a service out of love. A few years ago, Alleluia Lutheran Church identified a community need and with assistance of community partners pioneered the diaper bank in southwest Phoenix.
Speakers will include Solveig Muus, LAMA (Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona), Pastor (rtd) Resmer, Pastor Alvarez, LaCasa de Misericordia, Nogales, UMOM serving homeless and unemployed, StreetLight USA assisting victims of sex trafficking, Gail Turner, Social Justice ministries, ELCA. Kristin Sager will lead us in some stretch activities to keep us moving.
Also planned are craft projects, an evening Taize service with Cyndy Warnier. Cyndy will also conduct our choir. (looking for volunteers). Cards will be available to sign and will be delivered to the VA hospital thanking our vets for their service this Veterans Day weekend.
Our schedule also includes a happy hour (wine, soda and cold hors d’oeuvres) Friday evening before dinner, dinner Friday evening, breakfast in the Holiday Inn café for all on Saturday and Sunday mornings, box lunches on Saturday. All in all a convention and program that be are confident you will find inspirational and informative.
