Posts in Grand Canyon Synod
40 Days of Caring for Creation: A Lenten Practicum
40 Days of Caring for Creation: A Lenten Practicum

Join learner/facilitator Sheri Brown on each Thursday of 2023 Lent at 4:00 pm MST (AZ) for six half-hour virtual workshops, beginning Thursday, February 23, as we live into 40 days of caring for creation. Register to receive Zoom link and join the Spirit in the Desert community

  • February 23: Coming full circle, a fuller and creation-integrated faith.

  • March 2: Present bias and why it is working against future generations.

  • March 9: Your carbon footprint and what it says about walking the talk of faith.

  • March 16: Food choices and what they say about putting your money where your mouth is.

  • March 23: Human migration patterns and global demographic decline.

  • March 30: Purchasing choices and what they say about faith-based earth advocacy.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian Flatgard2023 Lent, Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Climate ChangeComment
Boundary Training course completion certificates due by 2/28/2023
Boundary Training course completion certificates due by 2/28/2023

All active Grand Canyon Synod rostered ministers are required to participate in professional boundary training every three years. Retired rostered ministers are not required. The Office of the Bishop has partnered with CongregationU to provide Boundary Awareness Training for $29.00.

Click here to take this course by 2/15/2023, and email your certificate of completion to office@gcsynod.org by 2/28/2023. Learn more in a letter from Bishop Hutterer in this post.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Tri-Faith discussion: What does it mean to be a child of God?
Tri-Faith discussion: What does it mean to be a child of God?

Join Imam Omar Tawil, Pastor Ryan Hersch, and rabbi Elena Canter for a free virtual Tri-Faith Discussion: What does it mean to be a child of God? Register at isb-az.org/trifaith for this Tuesday, 2/27/2022 event at 6pm MST, 5pm PST.

The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA) is a non-profit, apolitical, educational organization founded in 1999. ISBA is an outreach institution that provides education about Islam and Muslims, and promotes interfaith dialogue.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardIslamic Speakers Bureau, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsComment
Watch the film "Luther" at Esperanza Lutheran in Phoenix on 2/26/2023
Watch the film "Luther" at Esperanza Lutheran in Phoenix on 2/26/2023

The film “Luther,” starring Joseph Fiennes in the title role of the 16th-century Protestant reformer, will be shown at 3pm Sunday, 2/26/2023, in the Fellowship Hall of Esperanza Lutheran Church, 2601 E. Thunderhill Place, Phoenix, AZ 85048. The film, rated PG-13, was partially funded by the Christian financial services company Thrivent.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardFiesta Conference, Esperanza PhoenixComment
A warm welcome to Dan Potaznick, Director of Generosity and Strategic Development
A warm welcome to Dan Potaznick, Director of Generosity and Strategic Development

We welcome Dan Potaznick to the Office of the Bishop team. This week he begins as Director of Generosity and Strategic Development.

Dan is called to the Grand Canyon Synod to help congregations & leaders across the desert in their mission to share the Good News of Jesus. In addition to serving the Grand Canyon Synod, Dan has been called as Associate Pastor for Outreach to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Glendale, AZ. Bishop Hutterer will ordain Dan as a Minister of Word and Sacrament on March 18th, 2023.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardOffice of the BishopComment
Office of the Bishop Updates: 2/17/2023
Office of the Bishop Updates: 2/17/2023

This week, a good number of the Office of the Bishop attends Walking Wet: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church's Discipleship Journey Seminar, Feb 17, 2023 – Feb 18, 2023, and the Spring Gathering for Cactus, Capital, Fiesta, Northeast Valley & Rio Salado Conferences, Feb 19, 2023, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM. We also share photos from Bishop Hutterer’s visit to Lord of Life Lutheran, Sun City West.

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News, Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardOffice of the BishopComment
Ordination celebrations: 2/17/2023 – 2/23/2023
Ordination celebrations: 2/17/2023 – 2/23/2023

This week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:

  • Rev. Barbara Bengtson, who celebrates 29 years on February 20.

  • Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta, Director for Evangelical Mission and Bishop’s Associate for Congregational Vitality, who celebrates 14 years on February 22.

  • Rev. Peter Perry, St. John’s, Glendale, who celebrates 26 years on February 23.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardOrdination AnniversariesComment
3/1/2023 is the deadline to receive your congregation's 2022 annual report
3/1/2023 is the deadline to receive your congregation's 2022 annual report

Each year the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) asks congregations to provide information about their people and activities. This year’s deadline to do so is March 1, 2023.

Find all the resources you need at the ELCA’s Annual Congregation Report page, including FAQs, online Form A & C Parochial Reports as well as ways to update your ELCA Congregational Leadership Directory.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Healing of Memories Workshop for Healthcare Workers
Healing of Memories Workshop for Healthcare Workers

The Healing of Memories workshop is FREE for healthcare workers who have experienced emotional, psychological and spiritual distress – in their personal or professional lives – during the COVID pandemic. This workshop provides a safe, confidential environment, the ideal setting to help participants take the necessary steps toward healing. Register here for this February 19 – 21, 2023 event at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardSpirit in the Desert Retreat CenterComment
The 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge
The 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge

The Grand Canyon Synod and the Southeastern Iowa Synod are partner synods. For Lent 2023, the two synods are challenging one another to participate in some spiritual and physical practices during the 40 days of Lent, raise awareness of hunger issues, and raise some money for ELCA World Hunger.

The synod with the most participants wins! Click here to sign up for the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge. Just signing up counts as participation!

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian Flatgard2023 Lent, Hunger, ELCA World HungerComment