Posts in News
Introduction to the National Fund for Sacred Places webinar
Introduction to the National Fund for Sacred Places webinar

Attend an information session webinar on Thursday, February 1st at 12:00 PM EST to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place (or the sacred places in your community or judicatory) may qualify.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects. To learn more, please visit us at fundforsacredplaces.org.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsGrand Canyon SynodNational Fund for Sacred Places, Partners for Sacred SpacesComment
Further Your Discipleship Journey with Holy Trinity's Walking Wet Discipleship Day
Further Your Discipleship Journey with Holy Trinity's Walking Wet Discipleship Day

Join Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chandler for the Walking Wet Discipleship Day on February 3, 2024. A day of learning, fellowship, and faith exploration, featuring keynote speakers Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta and Rev. Peter Perry. Registration includes meals, with childcare available upon request. Dive deeper into your faith journey with us! Register now at bit.ly/discipleship2024.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardHoly Trinity Chandler, Fiesta Conference Comment
Rereading Niebuhr’s The Kingdom of God in America
Rereading Niebuhr’s The Kingdom of God in America

As part of our Creating Space for Conversations series, we share a PDF of an article by Mark A. Granquist, Rereading Niebuhr’s The Kingdom of God in America, from A Chosen Nation?, an issue of Word and World, Luther Seminary’s journal of theology.

This seminal work, now eighty-six years old, by American theologian H. Richard Niebuhr, remains a crucial text informing Christians about how they should understand the kingdom of God, especially as it relates to the Chris- tian faith. Niebuhr emphasizes how this concept refers to the primacy of God’s sovereignty in the world over all other allegiances.—Mark A. Granquist

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardCreating Space for Conversations, Word and World, Luther SeminaryComment
Colorado River Conference Kicks Off Annual Spring Gatherings
Colorado River Conference Kicks Off Annual Spring Gatherings

Join us for our Spring Gatherings themed “Embody the Word,” starting with the Colorado River Conference on Jan 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. Watch livestream at goodsamlv.org or YouTube.

These gatherings are not just meetings, but an opportunity for spiritual growth, learning, and community engagement, centered on the transformative message of John 1:14. Don't miss this chance to deepen your faith and connect with your synod community.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian Flatgard2024 Spring Gatherings, Colorado River ConferenceComment
Aging with Grace: February Series at Community of Grace
Aging with Grace: February Series at Community of Grace

Join Community of Grace for their "Aging with Grace" Adult Education Series every Wednesday in February, where expert speakers will guide you through the various aspects of elder care, from navigating daily challenges to end-of-life care. Bring your lunch and engage in meaningful discussions followed by a Q&A session.

For a deep dive into each weekly topic and to connect with valuable resources, visit the full series details at Community of Grace or in this PDF.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardCommunity of Grace Peoria, Cactus Conference, Older AdultComment
Mosaic: It Was A Life-Changing Experience
Mosaic: It Was A Life-Changing Experience

Mosaic International has been in partnership with Building a Caring Community(BCC) in Tanzania since 2007 to love and support children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). All of Mosaic International’s work and its Carman International Fellowship program are supported by donors and grants. Daniel Scherer-Emunds served as a Carman International Fellow from August 2022 to December 2023. He looks back upon his time there in this article for Mosaic.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardMosaic, Disability MinistriesComment
ELCA Delegates Share Insights from COP28: Join the Upcoming Webinar
ELCA Delegates Share Insights from COP28: Join the Upcoming Webinar

Explore ELCA's vital role at COP28 in Dubai, where Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) representatives joined global leaders to address climate change's existential threat. Learn about their efforts in disaster risk reduction, mitigation, and preparation as part of their commitment to responding to increasing climate-related disasters. Don't miss the upcoming webinar on Jan. 24 to hear firsthand experiences and impacts from the ELCA delegation at COP28. Register here for the webinar, and read the full article at ELCA.org.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardLutheran Disaster Response, Climate ChangeComment
ELCA Seeds Monthly: Embracing New Beginnings and Reflecting on the Past Year's Highlights
ELCA Seeds Monthly: Embracing New Beginnings and Reflecting on the Past Year's Highlights

Discover impactful stories and vital updates in the latest issue of ELCA's Seeds Monthly newsletter. Highlights include the legacy of Living Lutheran publications, an invitation to participate in the reconsiderations of the Human Sexuality social statement, top articles from 2023, and insights into building up African Descent Leaders. Plus, learn about upcoming events like the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Youth Gathering, and explore new resources for contemplative practices and Lent.

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardSeeds MonthlyComment
Join Lutherans Restoring Creation for 'Sacred Grounds' – Transforming Holy Spaces into Wildlife Sanctuaries
Join Lutherans Restoring Creation for 'Sacred Grounds' – Transforming Holy Spaces into Wildlife Sanctuaries

Lutherans Restoring Creation invites you to be part of meaningful environmental action with upcoming events like "Sacred Grounds" on January 23rd and "Regenerating Life" on February 27th. These events, in partnership with Interfaith Power & Light and ELCA World Hunger, focus on utilizing sacred spaces and land for wildlife-friendly gardening and discussing the role of land in healing our planet. Join the journey towards a more sustainable and connected world.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardLutherans Restoring Creation, Climate Change Comment
Arizona Faith Network (AFN) Invites You to Engage in a Year of Spiritual Growth and Advocacy
Arizona Faith Network (AFN) Invites You to Engage in a Year of Spiritual Growth and Advocacy

Explore a year of spiritual growth and advocacy with the Arizona Faith Network's 2024 events. From meditative practices to environmental advocacy and film festivals, AFN offers diverse opportunities for engagement. Join the community in events like the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Black History Month Film Festival to deepen your understanding and impact. Read their full newsletter here.

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Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardEcumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, Arizona Faith NetworkComment
2024: A Year of Ecumenical Engagement and Inter-Religious Learning
2024: A Year of Ecumenical Engagement and Inter-Religious Learning

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is upon us once again. To commemorate this time of collective witness, the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Perspectives blog at ELCA.org has compiled a list of ecumenical and inter-religious opportunities for you and your congregation to connect with throughout the year!

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ELCA, NewsBrian Flatgard2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious RelationsComment
Office of the Bishop Updates: 1/19/2024
Office of the Bishop Updates: 1/19/2024

The Office of the Bishop gathers for an in-person staff meeting, the Ordination and Installation of Pastor Judi Tyler, Jan 21, 2024, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Phoenix, and celebrates the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We also share photos from the Installation of Pastor David Sivecz and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Service.

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News, Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardOffice of the BishopComment
Khader El-Yateem appointed Executive Director for ELCA Service and Justice
Khader El-Yateem appointed Executive Director for ELCA Service and Justice

The Rev. Khader El-Yateem has been appointed executive director of the Service and Justice home area of the ELCA. El-Yateem will begin his service March 18, 2024.

"I am excited about Pastor El-Yateem bringing his relationship-building skills to the churchwide organization," said the Rev. Michael Burk, ELCA presiding bishop pro tempore. "Khader's love of Jesus is contagious and his commitment to sharing God's love for the world will enhance the good work already being done by the people he has been selected to lead."

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ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardComment
I shared Dr. King’s last day
I shared Dr. King’s last day

Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, The Lutheran ran this article in its May 8, 1968, edition. The piece is a first-person account by then-Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago student Harold Wesley Varner, who was feet away from King when he was killed. Varner, who died in 1996, served as a Lutheran pastor in the 1960s and 1970s.

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ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardMLK, Racial Justice, Living LutheranComment