Lutherans Restoring Creation shares their February 2023 Good Green News, featuring: The Ants & the Grasshopper Screening; Earth Day Virtual Service 4/23/2023; and upcoming connections calls Lead-Free Superhero, and Pollinator Projects.
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At its November 2022 meeting, the ELCA Church Council authorized the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) to consist of no more than 35 voting members and directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the Commission.
Each synod is being asked to submit two nominees. Read more in this post about this process and how to nominate yourself or others.
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What a day! For photos and a full recap, please visit lamaz.org. Highlights below.
Nearly 100 advocates from 23 of Arizona’s 30 districts gathered at the State Capitol for a day of advocacy on January 30, 2023
Sen. Raquel Terán (D), Senate Minority Leader from LD26 and Rep. Tim Dunn (R) from LD25 (Yuma) were featured speakers, along with Ashley St. Thomas, Arizona Food Bank Network; Jessie Gruner, Pinnacle Prevention; and Connie Phillips, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.
Participants met with their legislators in support of anti-hunger bills HB2211 and HB2142
Bishop Hutterer led the invocation in the Senate, advocates were introduced in the House gallery by Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (D), LD13 and in the Senate by Sen. Raquel Terán (D), LD26.
Advocates attended the Health & Human Services Committee to hear testimony in support of HB2211, which received a 9-0 due pass recommendation.
The Office of the Bishop travels to Las Vegas as part of Synod on the Move, preaching at various churches and attending the Colorado River Conference Spring Gathering, Feb 4, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. We also share photos from last week’s Synod on the Move in the Tucson area and Lutheran Day at the Legislature.
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This week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:
Rev. Katie Langston, New Promise, St. George, who celebrates 1 year on February 4.
Rev. Shari Bernau, Living Water, Scottsdale, who celebrates 18 years on February 5.
Rev. Pam A. Reynolds, Lord of Life, Sun City West, who celebrates 2 years on February 6.
Rev. Mark Wickstrom, Living Hope, Las Vegas, who celebrates 37 years on February 9.
The West is faring particularly well, with states like Montana and Utah seeing some of their lowest-ever case and hospitalization rates.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
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Watch a video from the Rocky Mountain Synod on Ascension Lutheran’s response to the Marshall Fire.
On Dec. 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire, a destructive wildfire and urban conflagration whipped by sustained winds, swept across Boulder County, Colorado. The fire completely destroyed the homes of several families who are members of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Louisville, including pastor Stephanie Lord’s.
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It's been a rough few years and it may be time for you to reset. This tour will include a visit to India's Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) which includes visiting the famous Taj Mahal. We will also spend five days in a retreat in the holy city of Varanasi.
Contact Pastor Jose at chaplainjosevalenzuela@gmail.com to learn more and be a part of this small, 10-person tour.
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Camp ALOMA needs summer staff 18-25 years old and high school volunteers! Learn lifelong skills by spending the summer in the crisp pines of Prescott AZ! If you have a heart for ministry, the outdoors, and children, then we are eager to meet you! See campaloma.com or apply at www.nloma.org.
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Camp ALOMA summer camp registration is now open for Summer 2023! Hurry on over to sign up for your first choice week with your bff! (And go get those early bird discounts.)
See campaloma.com or register at app.campdoc.com/register/aloma.
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We pray for Rev. William Timm and the people of Gloria de Cristo Lutheran Church in Yuma, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at gloriadecristo.com, and their social media pages on Facebook.com and Youtube.
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Professional ministry can be isolating and lonely. We were created to be together – that story is told in our scriptures from Genesis through Revelation. Let’s practice that this summer.
You can still register for the Rostered Ministers Gathering, July 17-20, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona, and the early-bird rate of $245 is good through March 31.
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CM CARES®, the Church Mutual Insurance Company Foundation, is offering 25 scholarships of $2,500 each to religious scholars. A program flier is available to download, and complete details and materials are available online at churchmutual.com/cmcares-scholars.
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At the Festival of Homiletics on May 15 – 18, 2023, you’ll have the chance to hear respected and thoughtful speakers present on this year’s theme: Preaching Hope for a Weary World.
Like last year, the 2023 Festival will be hybrid: both in person in Minneapolis and virtually online—and we want to welcome as many attendees as possible. We even have a FREE livestream option for those with limited budgets. You can register to attend in the way that best meets your needs.
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The schedules for the July 2023 Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) and Western States Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (WYLE) have been released. Register and learn more at wsyg.com.
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Lutheran Men in Mission shares their October 2022 Ambassador-Gram (view as PDF). This issue includes videos shared from last October's Bold Gathering speakers, Bible study, Bookstudy, Retreat dates, Winter Foundations newsletter, and New Project 12 Lifeline information.
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12/1/2022 update: We learned there was a problem with form functionality, and now provide new statements of intent from Churchwide for your use. (view as PDF in English or Spanish)
Please share your congregation’s plan for 2023 Mission Support by February 15, 2023 so the Synod Council can plan for the coming year. Thank you!
In this post, we share a letter (English, Spanish) from Bishop Hutterer and Synod Vice President Barbara Carl, thanking you and our synod’s congregations for continued mission support, half of which is passed to ELCA churchwide for ministry in the larger church.
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We pray for interim pastor Rev. Philip Gustafson and the people of Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at graceinthecity.com, and their social media pages on Facebook. and Youtube.
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In order to serve more people experiencing homelessness, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest is pleased to announce that the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (I-HELP) will be launching in Phoenix in January, 2023.
To support this program as an individual or have your ministry sign up as a host site, view more info here or send an email to Angel George, Community Engagement Supervisor.
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I was telling my granddaughter the other day that a good portion of artistic skill lies in how you see things. I have an artistic eye, but because of my tremor, I don't do much with it anymore. However, it got me thinking there are other things that are so much in how we see things, like generosity.
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