Things are quiet this time of year as a good number of the staff take a vacation and travel. May you find God’s peace in this liminal time of the year.
O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read MoreDesert Hills Lutheran Church seeks a parish nurse to work 20 hours per week. Read the job description as a Word doc and contact the church if interested.
Read MoreMany of you may have received an email supposedly from Bishop Hutterer that she wants to speak with you urgently but is going into a meeting and to email her. Please do NOT respond to that email – it is not from her official email address, and is a scam.
We’re including and adapting a scam awareness PDF created by the Southeastern Iowa synod which has great tips on how to recognize scam text and emails.
Read MoreSeeking safety, refuge, and opportunities for a better life, people fleeing conflict and oppression in various parts of the world sometimes brave the extreme hardships of crossing the Alps from Italy into France. Some of them perish in the effort. All are wary of encountering hostile border patrols intent on repelling their movement. Lately, however, some migrants have been astonished to encounter a different sort of presence in the Alps.
Read MoreWe rejoice in the actions and gifts of the many ministries of the Grand Canyon Synod, which are the warp and weft of our life as church together. Because of your benevolence, we are able to achieve many things, including providing $202,874 for 30 grants to ministries in our synod.
Read more about the grants and who received them in this post.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Sarah Isakson and the people of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at faithalive.com, and their social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Read MoreAs the secular year draws to a close and the new church year opens into the season of Advent it seems a fitting moment to take a pause and to reflect on the turbulent last two years. This issue of JLE, therefore, is not introducing a new topic but is instead drawing together some of the articles previously published on three issues that loom large this December: Climate Change, COVID 19, and Possibilities for Dialogue. Read more.
In addition, check out their new 2022 Call for Papers here. Read the current issue.
Read MoreWe finish the 2021 calendar year full of gratitude for all we have accomplished together as a synod.
We also celebrate all who have pledged large and small gifts to our Growing Generosity Appeal. In under a year, we are unexpectedly surprised to find we are already at 97% ($485,082) of our three-year goal of receiving $500,000 in pledges.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Timothy Nybroten and the people of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oro Valley, part of the Santa Cruz Conference. Visit their site at orovalley.org, and their Facebook page.
Read MoreAfter a Covid hiatus, Open Space returns, and Pastor Lars Hammar shares their January 2022 newsletter. View in this post, online, or via PDF.
“I am reminded of how many times the people of God had to restart things in the scripture: exiles, temples destroyed, regime changes, and yet, somehow, God always finds a way. And I believe we can too. Our mission stays the same: to reach urban young adults with art. What, exactly, that looks like, will be the fun part to find out.”
Read MoreFor continued relief and recovery efforts after tornadoes and storms…
For those separated from loved ones and congregations revising and canceling plans in order to stay healthy during this season of Covid…
For all approaching a new year with hope and optimism…
For all who struggle with addiction, disordered eating, or body image…
For healthcare workers and support staff in their second pandemic winter…
For the very young and all others who are unable to access or receive vaccines…
For everyone who envisioned this holiday season differently than how it turned out…
But the angel said to them,
‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.’
—Luke 2:10
May the Good News of Jesus be great joy for you and our world. Christmas peace,
—Bishop Deborah Hutterer and the Grand Canyon Synod office staff
Read MoreDesert Cross Lutheran is looking for a worship leader at their Gilbert campus. This person will be a gifted pianist and able to lift up other musical gifts and talents within the congregation. Contact the church if interested.
Read MoreContinued struggles with the Delta variant and the emergence of the highly infectious Omicron variant have pushed the country’s daily case totals to their highest levels since late summer.
Extremely high risk counties for unvaccinated people in our synod include Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
Bishop Hutterer wrapped up the year with the installation of Rev. Dr. Mari Larson at St. Andrew's Lutheran in Las Vegas this last Sunday. As we begin our church year anew, we thank you for walking with us through another year full of strange gifts and surprises. May we heed the winds of the Holy Spirit as we step forward yet again.
Read MoreIn her December column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that the cross is the true gift of Christmas: “All of our Christmas glorias are realized in Jesus’ glorification on the cross. We have peace. We have hope. We are loved. And not just at Christmas.” Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/3suio95 and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/32hG0mz.
Read MoreThis network of the Grand Canyon Synod gathers once a month online to learn and to share with the group about hunger-related topics in our congregations. All are welcome. Tuesday, 12/28/2021, 6-7pm. View more info and find Zoom links here.
Read MoreThe ordination of Lourdes Olson will be Saturday, 1/15/2022, 11am PST, 12pm MST, at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. The Rev. Matthew Metevelis will preach and Bishop Hutterer will preside.
Lourdes has been called to serve New Song Lutheran in Henderson.
Read MoreDeacon Janice Zimbelman will begin her call as Director of Congregation Transition beginning January 15, 2022. She serves in this role in partnership with the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain Synods.
We give thanks to Pastor Sarah Moening, who is currently serving as Director of Congregation Transition, and will conclude this ministry on February 1, 2022.
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