Dear Grand Canyon Synod,

Before you review our year-end newsletter, I want to express my deep gratitude for all you have done through your actions and ministries to make our synod and our world a better place. As you scroll through each month’s highlights, I hope you’ll vividly see all the ways we are Church Together.

You will see the many faces of our synod in this special year-end newsletter. We give thanks to our new rostered ministers in our synod, and we remember the saints that have gone before us. We also celebrate the special events in a year in which we returned to gathering in person.

I also want to thank all of you for your generous giving and support to our synod through your benevolence dollars, half of which goes to our ELCA Churchwide organization. In your name, the three expressions of the ELCA acts around the world, as well as in your local ministries. Your generosity has allowed us to continue the important work of communicating Jesus, connecting people, and creating possibilities.

I am particularly grateful for your efforts in helping us toward the $750,000 Growing Generosity Appeal goal. Through your gifts and pledges, we are less than $100,000 from our stretch goal. We invite congregations, foundations, endowments, and individuals to consider a gift in 2023.

On behalf of the entire synod, I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your generosity and support. May God bless you and your families in the coming year.

Grateful for you and your gifts,

The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer
Bishop
Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA