On March 25, 2022, we commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, declared by the United Nations in 2007. As we remember the victims of what has been called the “the worst violation of human rights in history,” Bishop Eaton calls us to “learn more about the inhumane history of the transatlantic slave trade and examine the paths that will lead us towards racial healing and justice.”
Read MoreThe Rev. Daniel Rift, Director for ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response Fund, talked live with the Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, Executive Director for Service and Justice, and the Rev. Rachel Eskesen, Area Desk Director for Europe. They discussed the situation in Eastern Europe and Rafael and Rachel shared about the ELCA’s response.
Read MoreRev. Lisa Kipp, Senior Manager of Congregational Engagement with Lutheran World Relief (LWR), visited the Office of the Bishop this week and updated us on the rapidly changing situation and response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Read more in this post about LWR’s pan-Lutheran work, Lent resources, mission quilts, the doubling of congregational gifts to the Ukraine crisis, and their hunger challenge as the war disrupts food distribution worldwide.
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod Women of the ELCA is participating in a quilt and kit ingathering for Lutheran World Relief on Saturday, 4/30/2022, 9am –2pm MST, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 4001 W. Beardsley Rd, Glendale AZ 85308.
Visit grandcanyonwomen.org/events and lwr.org/quilts/resources for more information. Or, contact our AZ LWR Ingathering Coordinator, Laura Krueger. Plan now for a Quilt & Kit Blessing Sunday to get your items on their way. Thank you!
Read MoreRegistration for ELCA World Hunger’s 2023 Domestic Hunger Grants opens March 18, 2022! ELCA World Hunger congratulates those partners in ministry awarded a 2022 Domestic Hunger Grant and all those continuing grants with us this year. Visit the Domestic Hunger Grants page and this FAQ page about applying.
Read MoreIn addition to Ukraine updates, the Lutheran World Federation’s weekly newsletters also includes stories on:
Do you tend see right and wrong as black and white or in shades of gray? Has this changed over your lifetime? If it has, how so?
Read MoreThis week, we celebrate retired pastor Rev. Martin Overson’s 43 years of ordination on March 18.
Read MoreAccording to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, high level counties in our synod are Apache, La Paz and Yuma.
Medium level counties are Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma.
Low level counties are Clark, Mohave, and Washington.
Read MoreVisit the ELCA’s Eastern Europe Crisis Response resource page for a compilation of the situation, the ELCA’s response, and how you can help by praying, giving, worshiping, and connecting.
Read MoreClick here for this PDF resource from the ELCA, which is provided to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other times, in public worship or for devotional use at home or in other settings.
Read MoreIn her March column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that “over and over again humankind has betrayed the hope God has for us.” She suggests that this is a “time for a reset.” Read her column in English at https://bit.ly/361wmXp and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3wgluj2.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui Pagel will attend Faith Formation In A Secular Age, the Luther Seminary event at Living Water with Dr. Andy Root. As usual, staff travels around the synod to preach and visit.
At our in-office staff retreat on Wednesday, we were visited by Rev. Lisa Kipp, who updated us on the latest relief efforts by Lutheran World Relief.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman and the people of Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference. Visit their site at Facebook page.
Read MoreFor an end to the Russian government’s attacks on Ukraine, for the security of Kyiv, for the protection of civilians, for solidarity among those who stand for peace…
For an end to pay disparities based on gender, race, or ethnicity…
For China, as COVID-19 surges there again…
For all marking two years of pandemic upheaval, for all whose memories leave them breathless, for all who grieve without hope…
For substantive relief for all experiencing financial stress…
With gratitude for the life of Leon Schwarzbaum, holocaust survivor and justice maker, who died recently at the age of 101…
2021 was a very meaningful year for Rock Point area households. In total, the Navajo Lutheran Mission received and distributed over a quarter-million pounds of food to almost 2,000 Navajo homes.
Read MoreRev. Patsy Koeneke, interim pastor with Grace Lutheran in Kingman, celebrates 15 years on March 11.
Rev. Bruce Ayers, retired, celebrates 60 years on March 11.
Rev. Steven Crittenden, with Epiphany of Christ Lutheran in Apache Junction, celebrates 13 years on March 12.
Rev. Beth Gallen, with New Journey Lutheran in Fountain Hills, celebrates her first year on March 13.
Rev. Peter Lai, retired, celebrate 37 years on March 16.
The #NoPlasticsforLent initiative, led by young adults across the church, calls us to prayer for creation, to lament the ways we have been complicit in the degradation of the earth, and to take action to care for our neighbor in fasting from the things that are hurting our planet. For more info, view the ELCA Young Adults Facebook page or the No Plastics for Lent website.
One of the discussion group leaders is Tiana Diaz-Reyes, a student in our synod’s Lutheran campus ministry. She is working toward her PhD in Sustainability at ASU.
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