An Evening of Faith and Music: Hymn Sing at Desert Cross Lutheran in Gilbert

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.

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardMarch 24, 2025Desert Cross Tempe, 2025 LentComment

A Watered Garden: How Our Lenten Challenge Aligns with World Water Day

Water is a sacred gift, essential for life, yet 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water. This World Water Day (March 22), we reflect on our Lenten Challenge theme, A Watered Garden (Isaiah 58:11), and how we can celebrate, protect, and advocate for water justice. Join us in honoring this precious resource by exploring activities from the Lenten Challenge and participating in the Northeast Valley Consortium’s Walk for Water Fundraiser. To learn more and access the 2025 World Water Day Toolkit, click here.

Lenten Challenge: Explore Water, Hunger, and Faith with Region 2

This Lent, the five synods of Region 2 invite you to join the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge, inspired by Isaiah 58:11, to reflect on the intersection of hunger and water. Through prayer, action, and learning, we explore Lutheran Disaster Response efforts, the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement, and the 70-year ministry of Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. Click here to explore water-themed activity ideas and learn how you can participate.

Grand Canyon Synod, News, Region 2Brian FlatgardMarch 12, 20252025 Lent, 2025 Lenten ChallengeComment

The True Meaning of Lent: A Reality Check for Pastors

In this Pivot Podcast, Blair Pogue shares a Lenten reflection for church leaders.

Grand Canyon Synod, Leadership ResourcesBrian FlatgardMarch 7, 2025Pivot Podcast, faith+lead, Luther Seminary, 2025 LentComment

ELCA Signs Ecumenical Declaration Defending Refuge—Now It’s Your Turn

The ELCA has joined faith leaders in signing The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge, reaffirming our commitment to welcoming immigrants and refugees. Rooted in Scripture and our call to love our neighbors, this declaration challenges harmful policies and advocates for justice. Now, individuals and congregations across the country are invited to add their voices by signing the declaration throughout Lent. Click here to read more and sign the declaration.

ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardMarch 6, 2025Immigration and Refugees, 2025 Lent, Church and SocietyComment

Dismantle: An Anti-White Supremacy Lenten Devotional

ELCA Racial Justice share this devotional, created in response to the call of the 2019 Churchwide Assembly to condemn white supremacy and racist rhetoric. As you journey through Lent, this resource will challenge you and bring you closer to the radical neighbor-love that Christ demands in the Gospels.

Bishop Hutterer: Becoming Easter People

We are called not only to personal reflection but also to communal action—to live as people of grace, serving our neighbors and embodying Christ’s love. This Lent, let us consider how our thoughts, words, and deeds shape the world around us. In a time when political and social divisions run deep, may we be mindful of how we use our voices—not to cut each other down, but to build up, to witness to the hope we share in Christ.

Let us be bold and courageous in speaking for justice, compassionate in amplifying voices often unheard, and steadfast in proclaiming God’s grace through actions that heal and reconcile.

Join the Region 2 Lenten Challenge: Strengthen Faith, Support Clean Water

Join the 2025 Lenten Challenge and support the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ, where many households lack access to clean water. This friendly competition among ELCA Region 2 synods challenges participants to commit to three Lenten practices while raising awareness and funds for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and its water projects at NELM. The synod with the most sign-ups wins—so let’s make Grand Canyon Synod proud! Sign up today:lentenchallenge.org.

Faith Lens: Fasting for Others

Lent is more than personal sacrifice—it’s an opportunity to refocus our attention on God and others. Inspired by Jesus’ time in the wilderness, fasting can be a practice that transforms not just our habits, but our relationships. This Lent, consider choosing a fast that serves others: share food, spend intentional time with loved ones, or give generously. Read more about how fasting can deepen your faith and community engagement in this week’s Faith Lens. Click here to read more.

Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardMarch 4, 2025Faith Lens, Youth and Young Adult, 2025 LentComment

Ash Wednesday and Flood Waters: Becoming Human Again

As we enter the solemn season of Lent, Reverend Deacon Mary Sanders reflects on the connection between the ashes of Ash Wednesday and the mud left behind after a flood. In both, we are reminded of our mortality—and of God’s presence in the physical world. The Kingdom of God is found not only in Heaven but in acts of service, in neighbor helping neighbor, in the messiness of disaster response. Click here to read her full reflection on how we become truly human when we step into the work of love, service, and community.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardMarch 4, 2025Lutheran Disaster Response, 2025 LentComment

Deepen Your Lenten Journey with the 2025 ELCA Sumud Lenten Series

Looking for a meaningful way to engage in Lent this year? The 2025 ELCA Sumud Lenten Series Resource Guide offers six weeks of devotions, prayers, and theological reflections from ELCJHL pastors, Bethlehem Bible College students, and an ELCA bishop. This collaborative resource invites you to journey through Lent with voices from the Holy Land, reflecting on themes of faith, justice, and steadfast hope. Download the guide today and share it with your congregation or study group. Read more.

Join the 2025 Lenten Challenge: Be a Watered Garden This Lent

Ash Wednesday is March 5! Join the Region 2 synods for the 2025 Lenten Challenge, focusing on hunger and water justice through daily devotions, water conservation, community engagement, and donations to support the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM). Sign up your family and congregation today at lentenchallenge.org!

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardFebruary 26, 20252025 Lent, 2025 Lenten Challenge, Navajo Evangelical Lutheran MissionComment

Join Us for a Lenten Challenge Deep Dive: The Story Behind NELM and LDR

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.

Watch & Share: Bishop Hutterer Invites You to the 2025 Lenten Challenge

Bishop Hutterer has recorded a special invitation video encouraging participation in the 2025 Lenten Challenge! This friendly, faith-deepening challenge connects us in daily spiritual practices while supporting safe drinking water efforts at the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. Watch the video, share it with your congregation, and join the challenge today! Download options are available on our Vimeo page.

Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon Synod, News, Region 2Brian FlatgardFebruary 20, 20252025 Lent, 2025 Lenten ChallengeComment

Bringing Safe Water to Rock Point: How You Can Make a Difference This Lent

This year’s 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge invites us to engage in daily spiritual practices while supporting the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. More than half of Rock Point’s households lack access to safe drinking water, and NELM is working to install a potable water system. Join the challenge by committing to three Lenten practices—daily devotion, diligence, dedication, or donation—to help meet this urgent need. Let’s come together as a synod to deepen our faith and serve our neighbors. Sign up today! www.lentenchallenge.org

Grand Canyon Synod, News, Region 2Brian FlatgardFebruary 19, 20252025 Lent, 2025 Lenten Challenge, Navajo Evangelical Lutheran MissionComment

“Is This Not the Fast I Chose?”: A 2025 Lenten Call to Disrupt Injustice

“Is This Not the Fast I Chose?” (Isaiah 58:6) inspires the 2025 Lenten Series from Sumud and Bethlehem Bible College. Centered on the theme, “Our Christian Call to Disrupt Injustice,” this series invites reflection and action rooted in our faith. Lenten resources will be available in March at Sumud’s webpage: elca.org/sumud.

ELCA, News, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardFebruary 18, 2025Sumud, 2025 LentComment

Journey Through Lent: ELCA World Hunger Resources Now Available

Prepare your congregation for Lent with free resources from ELCA World Hunger! From an action guide to a Lent devotional calendar and a five-session study, these tools will inspire reflection and action as we journey together to end hunger. Download or order resources today at ELCA.org/hunger/resources and learn how your congregation can make a difference this season.

ELCA, Leadership Resources, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardFebruary 3, 20252025 Lent, Hunger, ELCA World HungerComment

ELCA World Hunger provides Advent and Lent Resources

New resources are now available from ELCA World Hunger to enrich the life of your congregation in Advent 2024 and Lent 2025. As congregations across the ELCA creatively find new ways to lean into the future, we are eager to equip leaders with ELCA World Hunger resources for the important church seasons of Advent and Lent.

ELCA, News, Leadership ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 25, 2024Hunger, ELCA World Hunger, 2025 Lent, 2024 Advent and ChristmasComment

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