Posts in Resources
Webinar on Security in Houses of Worship
Webinar on Security in Houses of Worship

The Office of the Bishop has organized an online presentation from the Phoenix Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office on security in houses of worship. Tuesday, 5/10/2022, 5-6:30pm MST/PDT, 6-7:30pm MDT. Click here to register.

Violence and criminal acts are a threat to all faith-based communities from persons who seek to spread fear and hate crimes, or the unexpected site of acts of domestic violence. We recognize the importance of education and raising awareness of potential threats to religious facilities, or the groups who may use these buildings regardless of type or denomination.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Faith Lens: Glimpse of the Kingdom
Faith Lens: Glimpse of the Kingdom

The Easter season is seven weeks long. Nearly every week the gospel lesson includes disciples encountering Jesus and failing to recognize him. This week’s gospel encounter is crammed with significance. There is a miracle and allusions to Peter’s failure to stand firm during the horrible events of Holy Week, as Jesus asks him repeatedly, “Do you love me.” Both are important and theologically significant, yet by focusing on them we may miss what is most significant. Namely, Jesus is in the world today if we have eyes to see.

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Worship Resources, ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardFaith Lens, Youth and Young Adult, 2022 Holy WeekComment
Spanish resources available at Sundays and Seasons
Spanish resources available at Sundays and Seasons

All Creation Sings includes a fully bilingual setting of Holy Communion (Setting 11/Liturgia 11). To support use of this liturgy as well as Evangelical Lutheran Worship Setting Seven: Santa Comunión, Sundays and Seasons now provides many more hymns and songs in Spanish.

Most hymns from Libro de Liturgia y Cántico are available for download to Deluxe subscribers. Service music (#181-274) is available to both Standard and Deluxe subscribers.

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ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardELCA WorshipComment
TuneUp: A way to recruit singers by teaching them to match pitch
TuneUp: A way to recruit singers by teaching them to match pitch

ALCM Webinar Series “TuneUp: A Way to Recruit Singers by Teaching Them to Match Pitch,”
Friday,4/29/2022, 11am MST/PDT, 12pm MDT.

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians invites you to join its webinar to “help people sing with confidence.” This session offers ways to “recruit people to TuneUp” as well as useful techniques to get them to quickly and easily match pitch.” Register as part of the spring or full-year webinar series.

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ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardAssociation of Lutheran Church MusiciansComment
Earth Day is Friday, 4/22/2022
Earth Day is Friday, 4/22/2022

Earth Day is Friday, April 22, 2022! We encourage you to review ELCA’s social statement on Caring for Creation (in English or Spanish), and visit the Environment Advocacy page and resource pages at ELCA.org. And Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA.

Our friends at the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona have also compiled a great set of Earth Day events that you may interest you.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardEpiscopal Diocese of Arizona, Lutherans Restoring Creation, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, Climate ChangeComment
Global Farm Challenge resources for youth
Global Farm Challenge resources for youth

As you plan for new activities and events this summer for youth, we invite you to join us in ELCA World Hunger’s Global Farm Challenge, a youth-focused, whole-church campaign to accompany our neighbors who are facing threats of hunger and poverty around the world.

Visit ELCA.org/globalfarmchallenge for more information, to order resources when they become available, and to begin planning your youth group’s participation and fundraising.

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ELCA, Resources, NewsBrian FlatgardHunger, ELCA World Hunger, Youth and Young AdultComment
Lutherans Restoring Creation provide creation-focused worship service for Earth Day
Lutherans Restoring Creation provide creation-focused worship service for Earth Day

An online worship service for Earth Day (4/24/2022) is being finalized by Lutherans Restoring Creation and they are excited to share it with all. If you want to integrate it into your worship service be sure to register now as private/preview links will be sent soon. Click here to register.

They are honored to have the Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos sharing the message of the day according to the Readings for April 24th. The service — in English, Spanish, and ASL — will be available to all via YouTube and Facebook starting Friday April 22, 2022.

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ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardLutherans Restoring Creation, Climate ChangeComment
ELCA Coaching offers Courageous Leadership by topic each first Wednesday
ELCA Coaching offers Courageous Leadership by topic each first Wednesday

When Jesus began His ministry, He immediately formed a small group. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we gather in small groups for discussion and empowerment in the crucible of change for us as faith leaders. Join ELCA Coaching on April 6, 2022, 11am MST/PDT, noon MDT.

A majority of this hour will be spent in breakout rooms with conversations facilitated by our ELCA Coaches focused on: Growing Young, Grief in our Communities, Personal Grief, Rural Ministry, Urban Ministry, Hybrid Church, Advocacy, Race Relations, Allyship – LGTBQIA+, Conflict, Leadership Development.

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ELCA, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardELCA CoachingComment
Additional worship texts for Good Friday and Easter
Additional worship texts for Good Friday and Easter

As we approach Holy Week and the Easter season, you may desire worship texts that hold in tension the joy of the resurrection with the reality of violence and suffering in our world in Eastern Europe and around the globe.

Below are three newly composed worship texts by Gail Ramshaw — For Good Friday, For the Easter Season, and an Eastertide Lament — available for use in your context during Holy Week. Guidance for use precedes each selection.

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ELCA, Resources, Worship ResourcesBrian FlatgardELCA Worship, 2022 Holy WeekComment
Updated ELCA Style Guide reflects shift in use of gendered language
Updated ELCA Style Guide reflects shift in use of gendered language

As language continues to evolve around the way we identify ourselves and others, so has the ELCA’s style guide. The most recent shift involves use of gendered language regarding our siblings in Christ, with a focus on ways to ensure that we represent everyone in the church, emphasizing gender-inclusive terminology and using titles and pronouns to reflect and honor nonbinary identities. Download the newest version at ELCA.org/brandmark.

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ELCA, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardLGBTQIA+ Comment
Six ways your church can prepare for the “great giving reshuffle”
Six ways your church can prepare for the “great giving reshuffle”

Carey Nieuwhof’s blog shares a guest post on how economic disruptions may affect ministries, with six steps to get ready for the “great giving reshuffle.” Read the full post here.

  1. Make sure your board of directors is prepared and aligned.

  2. Model privately and publicly your personal resolve to Biblical stewardship.

  3. Care for the souls of your people more now than ever.

  4. Rather than presume pre-existing giving patterns, artfully craft an environment that invites people into a community story.

  5. “Major giver” discipleship and development are paramount.

  6. Retool how you engage new givers into your community.

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Resources, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardCarey Nieuwhof, StewardshipComment
Recommendations for congregation secretaries
Recommendations for congregation secretaries

Every congregation requires a secretary. The secretary is arguably the most important officer, responsible for organizing, assimilating and disseminating information within and without the organization. They need to be organized, hardworking and intelligent, with excellent writing skills. In this post (or view as PDF), your congregation’s secretary can find some recommendations/guidelines for performing their duties efficiently.

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ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardAdministration MattersComment