In this post, we try to thank the many people who made our return to in-person assembly possible. We apologize for anyone we’ve neglected. It’s a blessing to have so many who help us be church together at our biggest event of the year.

We start by thanking all the voting members who took the time to participate and travel for our two-day assembly, and by informing themselves on the business of our synod. Your leadership is greatly appreciated.

Special Guests

We were privileged to welcome our Churchwide representative, Rev. Louise Johnson, whose role with churchwide is Executive for Administration. Pastor Johnson delivered the churchwide report on Saturday and preached at the closing worship.

After numerous Covid-thwarted attempts to arrange a visit, we were blessed to welcome Rev. Roberto Trejo Haager, Pastor President of Iglesia Luterana Mexicana, ILM.

Synod Assembly Planning Team

This team has been working since last December to make our event run smoothly.

• Rev. Nanette Christofferson

• Rev. Steve Crittenden

• Rev. Tina Mills

• Rev. Sarah Stadler (especially for providing sunflower and calendula seeds from her garden — in honor of our Growing Generosity Appeal — as a gift to all who attended)

• Bishop Deborah Hutterer

• Theresa Thornburgh, Director for Administration and Events

• Kathye Hamm, Administration and Events Assistant

• Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications

• Barbara Carl, Synod Vice President

• Rev. Steve Springer: Chair of reference and resolutions and parliamentarian

• Rev. David Brandfass, Synod Secretary

We also thank Erik Rehms, Synod Treasurer, for his work as Chair of the Credentials Committee and presenting our reports and mission spending plan.

Thanks Roger Bailey, Chair of the Nominating Committee, as well as Barbara Carl, Rev. David Brandfass, Janis Richert, Glenn Austad, and Mark Myers who served on the committee.

We thank Annette Chavez, our Spanish translator, and Richard Wall, our musician.

Love of Christ Lutheran in Mesa

We are incredibly blessed to receive the hospitality and welcome of the pastors, members, volunteers, and staff of Love of Christ Lutheran here in Mesa. Particularly,

• Senior Pastor Steve Talmage

• Dick Beckman, Operations Manager

• Rob Mills, our A/V tech

• Kevin Anderson

• Patty Delaney

• Dianne Oien

• Don Barenz

• Barb Talmage

• The volunteers who kept us well fed

Presenters

We thank Rev. Carol Breimeier, Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta, and Rev. Peter Perry for leading us in Bible study and our “How to Have a Spiritual Conversation Without Being a Jerk” workshop.

Other volunteers

We had numerous folks who helped as table hosts and behind the scenes help.

• Rev. Jason Adams

• Veronica Alvarez

• Andrea Arey

• Glenn Austad

• Cogan Blackmon

• Rev. Sharon Brown

• Twila Burdick

• Rev. Douglas Dill

• Rev. Alan Field

• Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman

• Rev. Lars Hammar, photographer

• Rev. Chris Heller

• Sue Jensen

• Rev. Mike Johnson

• Dr. Jerry Kingston

• Hannah Manzanares

• Laura Musfeldt

• Mark Myers

• Lisa Parrish

• Tim Perlick

• Rev. Pat Reed

• Janis Richert

• Glenn Schrader

• Rev. Christine Stoxen

• Rev. Daniel Valasakos

• Diana Washington

• Deacon Janice Zimbelman

• Rev. Glenn Zimbelman

• Rev. Jacqui Pagel

And thanks to anyone that we missed!