We pray for the family of Rev. Jack H. Zoellner, who died at the age of 95 on December 23, 2021 in Scottsdale, AZ. He was the founding pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Scottsdale.
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Susan Palo Cherwien, Lutheran hymnwriter and poet, died December 28, 2021. Her hymns and meditations have been a gift to the church and world.
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We pray for the family of Rev. Paul Benson, who died on January 1, 2022. He was 88 years old.
A service will be held at American Lutheran Church in Sun City, AZ, Saturday 1/29/2022, 11am MST. A light lunch will be served following the service.
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We pray for the friends, family, and former congregations of Rev. Harold D. Stromer, who died January 7, 2022. We especially lift up his wife Kathryn in prayer.
After retirement, Harold and Kathy moved to Sun City West, AZ where he continued his work by serving as interim pastor for Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Celebration Lutheran Church and Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church.
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We pray for the family of Pastor Pat Reed and her husband Mike. Early this morning Pastor Pat Reed’s mother, Teresa Nigro, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus.
We mourn with her and Mike at this tender time, and we pray that God holds them in the peace that passes all understanding that guards hearts and minds.
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Rev. Theodore Johns, age 82, after a long courageous struggle with Parkinson’s disease, died with his family at his side on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Ted was a man of spiritual strength and found his calling to serve from his intense desire to help others. He spent his life giving back and doing his part to improve our world.
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Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton wrote to the church, “With much sadness and shock I share with you the news of the sudden passing of Bill Horne, my friend and Vice President of the ELCA. He died Saturday afternoon of a suspected heart attack, according to the city press release. Please join me in praying for his wife Loretta and the rest of his family during this difficult time. We will always remember Bill as a faithful servant of God.”
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A Time of Remembrance, Thanksgiving, and Reflections for the lives and faith and leadership of:
The Rev. David Walter Preus, Presiding Bishop of the American Lutheran Church, Parish Pastor, Author
The Rev. Dr. Peter Louis Steinke, Parish pastor, Educator, Author, Therapist, Congregational Systems Consultant
The Rev. Walter Martin Wangerin, Jr., Author, Parish Pastor, Professor, Educator, Radio Announcer
Thursday, August 12, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Click here to attend the Zoom.
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We pray for the family of Elijah Defassio, who died unexpectedly August 4, 2021. Elijah is the son of the Rev. Dr. Daniel Defassio, pastor at Shepherd of the Desert, Sun City, who entered the church triumphant on January 22, 2021.
We pray for Elijah’s mother Suzy, and Elijah’s family and friends. Read his obituary here, and contribute to a fundraiser here.
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Carol Jacobson of Oakland, CA passed away on July 17, 2021, aged 64, at home with family from. A professor at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary since 1999, Carol retired as Associate Professor of Practical Theology on June 1, 2021.
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David Walter Preus, loving husband and father, Lutheran Bishop and pastor, civic leader and World War II veteran, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 23, 2021, due to complications from heart failure. We offer our prayers to his family.
Three of David’s major themes in life were “Jesus, Justice and Joy.”
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We join the people of the Southwest California Synod as we offer our care and condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Beverly Anderson, who passed away on Monday, July 12, 2021. We also hold the Rev. J. Roger Anderson, Beverly’s husband and the first Bishop of the Southwest California Synod, in prayer.
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We continue our prayers for the family of Rev. Dr. Nathan Bowman, Chaplain at Hospice of the West.
Pastor Bowman writes, “Our daughter Moriah departed to be with God peacefully on July 16, 2021. We are having a service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on this Saturday (July 24, 2021), at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church in Sun City at 10:00 AM with prelude beginning at 9:45. The service will be followed by a brunch. It is a service open to all, and will include communion.
I wanted to thank you for your support and prayers for all of us during this time. We are at peace, grieving a very precious life, but thankful that her suffering time is over. [Attached] is a working copy of the bulletin that gives a little more history about this journey in our life…”
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At our 2021 Assembly, we took time to remember the rostered ministers who have entered the church triumphant since our last synod assembly, as well as the Holy Closures of two of our congregations.
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We pray for the family of Pastor David Halmers.
Rev. David Edward Halmers, 83, of South Windsor, CT, died Thursday, May 27, 2021, at home surrounded by his family. Pastor Halmers had moved back to New England in recent months due to failing health. He remained rostered in Grand Canyon Synod.
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We pray for the family of Reverend Dick E. Hamlin, who died Monday morning, May 3, 2021. We especially pray for his wife Jayne.
A service will be held Thursday, May 13, 2021, 2 pm at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church (6300 E Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254). Masks will be required indoors. No reception is planned. Livestream available at live.lacasadecristo.com/.
Clergy who wish to robe and process will gather at 1:30 pm in the choir room. The color of the day (Ascension Day) is white.
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We pray for the friends and family of Pastor Scott Stein, especially his wife Marjean. On April 15, 2021, Pastor Scott Ray Stein was called to his Savior after a battle with prostate cancer and sarcoma, as well as early onset Alzheimer’s. He was retired from Mount Cross Lutheran Church in Payson.
A Celebration of Life service will take place on April 30 at 4:00 PM MDT. Due to COVID, this service will be for immediate family only, but will be livestreamed for his friends and family far and wide. Website to share memories and for more information on the memorial service including livestream links: bit.ly/pastorscott.
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A memorial service for Rev. Dr. Daniel R. Defassio was live-streamed on Facebook, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Pastor Phil Gustafson were among those who celebrated his life and ministry .
A copy of the service is available on the same Facebook page, Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Sun City, AZ. Feel free to share this link with all who would like to remember.
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Pastor Tim Nybroten, Resurrection Lutheran in Tucson, writes to tell us of the death of Rev. Wayne Viereck: “Pastor Wayne passed into the loving arms of God just before midnight on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. We hold Pat and the Viereck family in our prayers, and we thank God for Wayne’s many years of faithful service to Resurrection Lutheran and to the greater Church.”
A memorial service for Pastor Wayne is scheduled for Saturday, April 3rd at 1:00 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church. All CDC Covid-19 protocols will be followed.
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The Reverend Franklyn Annesifor Caron, longtime member of ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, died peacefully at the age of 91 on Friday, March 19, 2021 at Marley House Hospice in Prescott, AZ.
He was born June 29, 1929 to Annesifor and Ella Caron in Butte, Montana. Reverend Caron lived a long and storied life: musician, dancer, rodeo rider, miner, locomotive engineer, Marine, small business owner, and finally, pastor. We’ve updated this post with his full obituary.
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