Refresh your spirit this Advent with "Journeying Together -- Spiritual Practices in Community." Join Thriving Leadership Formation on Dec 7, 2023, from 10am-1pm MST, 9am to Noon PST, for a free virtual event focused on grounding spiritual practices. Perfect for ministry leaders seeking respite and connection. Register now for a serene start to your Advent journey. Register here. Questions? Email thriving@callutheran.edu.
Read MoreWould you like to finish this year with a gift to your church, the Grand Canyon Synod, and/or favorite ELCA ministry that maximizes your impact and reduces your taxes? Read about four smart options in this post.
Read MoreWe're excited to announce the election of Rev. Benjamin B. Bergren to the ELCA Church Council, serving until August 2025. Join us in thanking Pastor Karn Carroll for her impactful service and in welcoming Pastor Bergren, as he brings his ministry experience from Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas and elsewhere to our churchwide leadership.
Read MoreSome of the Office of the Bishop staff worships with University Lutheran for the farewell/retirement Pastor Gary McCluskey, and prepares for our upcoming assembly. We also share a photos from Bishop Hutterer’s visit to Mexico City as part of our relationship building with Iglesia Luterana Mexicana (ILM, Mexican Lutheran Church) .
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Deacon April Boyden, who celebrates 34 years on December 1.
Rev. Lars Hammar, Lord of Grace, Tucson, Open Space, Tucson, who celebrates 24 years on December 5.
Rev. Joshua Pontious, Community of Grace, Peoria, who celebrates 2 years on December 5.
Join us in supporting the "Standing in Hope" campaign by Opportunity Palestine to aid the ELCJHL schools in the West Bank during the current crisis. With schools closed and families facing economic hardships, your generosity can provide essential scholarship assistance. Learn more about how you can contribute to this vital cause and stand in solidarity with the students and educators during this Advent Season.
Read MoreElevate your leadership skills with the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA's "Excellence in Leadership" program. Starting January 5, 2024, this 13-month cohort offers bi-weekly online sessions every Friday morning to nurture courageous, resilient, and faithful leaders.
Explore adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, and spiritual practices in a community of diverse participants. Transform how you respond to challenges and conflicts, both personally and professionally. Don't miss this chance to journey towards emotional and spiritual wholeness. Enroll now and step boldly into the future, and view a PDF brochure for more info.
Read MoreEmbrace the spirit of Advent with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona's inspiring message. This season, delve into the profound ways the Bible encourages us to prepare for meeting God - not just spiritually, but through active service. Explore various ways to incorporate advocacy into your daily spiritual practice, and learn how you can contribute to meaningful change.
Read More“O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.” If you’re like me, when we enter the liminal season of Advent, this is the song that slows me down to a time of waiting and reflection. I imagine the quiet of Bethlehem, a world waiting for the birth of Jesus, waiting for the profound message of peace and reconciliation he brought into our world.
With the world, we are still waiting.
Read MoreAs part of our Creating Space for Conversations series, we share a PDF of an article by Will Fredstrom, Bonhoeffer’s Stellvertretung: A Christ-Like Ecclesial Ethic for Serving “Galilean” Neighbors, from A Chosen Nation?, an issue of Word and World, Luther Seminary’s journal of theology.
Read More“The ideas of America as either a “Christian” or “post-Christian” nation both reduce a complex relationship between church and state to a simplistic one. If the church is, as Bonhoeffer states, a representative of Christ’s redemptive presence in the world, then the church is primarily bound to serving all neighbors, both directly and through cooperation with the state.” —Will Fredstrom
Blessed Tomorrow's latest newsletter is brimming with opportunities for climate action and community engagement. Highlights include the screening of 'The Letter,' a film documenting the impact of climate change, and the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for both leaders and high school students. Additionally, listen to ELCA's Vance Blackfox discuss indigenous perspectives on climate action and discover how Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador Sharee Wharton is empowering churches through an energy efficiency webinar series.
Read MoreNew Year’s Bash for Youth! Join the crew at Camp ALOMA from Dec 29, 2023, to Jan 1, 2024, for an epic New Year's retreat for 7th-12th graders. Games, fellowship, and festive fun await! Book your spot at $110 per camper now: https://forms.gle/PPmWgqRokVKq7iky9
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop staff gives thanks, travels, and works on year-end projects. We also share a photo from the recent First Call retreat with Region 2.
Read More“We at the LAMA office want to wish you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! We hope you take this holiday to enjoy God’s bountiful gifts of friends, family, and food— however those things may be present in your life. This year, we give thanks for our wonderful community of advocates and liaisons, for all the congregations who have welcomed us and joined us in our work, for all of our partner networks, and for the opportunities we have been given to do God’s work through advocacy.” Read the full post on the LAMA website.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Brian Weinberger, Bethlehem, Mesa, who celebrates 15 years on November 29.
Rev. Naomi Hartman, Church of the Foothills, Tucson, who celebrates 14 years on November 29.
As you gather this Thanksgiving season with friends and family—whether they be relatives or connections as family in Christ—I want to express my deep gratitude to each congregation and individual for your support and commitment to our mission as church together. Through prayer, presence, and financial gifts, your generous support has allowed the Grand Canyon Synod to accomplish so much this year. I am continually inspired by the way you live the call to love God and serve our neighbor.
Read MoreWe pray for the family and friends of Rev. Dr. Carl Braaten, who died October 28, 2023.
A memorial service will be held November 25, 2023, 1pm, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, 13724 W. Meeker Boulevard, Sun City West, AZ 85375.
Read MoreJoin us Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center online for "Spirited Advent: My Soul Magnifies the Lord!" – a soulful Zoom journey this Advent. Hosted by Sheri Brown, each Sunday session offers a sacred space for reflection and connection, exploring themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Inspired by Mary's Magnificat, these 30-minute gatherings provide a much-needed spiritual respite during the busy holiday season. Register now for this enriching, free series and discover your soul's unique begotten-ness.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop staff takes time to give thanks this upcoming week. We also share photos from the Latin American Consultation with ILM President Roberto Trejo Haager, Trinity Lutheran’s 75th anniversary, and the Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA convention.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Carl Sirotzki, Mount Cross, Payson, who celebrates 8 years on November 21.
Rev. Leonard Hoffmann, who celebrates 48 years on November 23.
Rev. Mari Larson, St. Andrew, Las Vegas, who celebrates 27 years on November 23.
