Bishop Hutterer Annual Report: June, 2022
Bishop Hutterer Annual Report: June, 2022

Stirred up in the Spirit, the theme of the 2022 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly, draws on the common work we do as Synod.

In a world where we can easily provoke each other in unhelpful and even harmful ways, this assembly focuses on the ways we get to provoke each other in good and Spirited ways. We challenge each other to recognize that we are called to be public witnesses of God’s love and hope in the world. I pray this assembly renews our enthusiasm and confidence to provoke actions of love and good deeds.

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Grand Canyon Synod, Letters, Bishop HuttererBrian Flatgard2022 Assembly Reports, Office of the Bishop Comments
Gerrish family update: One out, two to go!
Gerrish family update: One out, two to go!

We share this news from Paul Gerrish that his son, Stephen, is out of the hospital. We continue to pray for the Gerrish family. Read more in our initial post, visit their GoFundMe page, and get CaringBridge health updates for Justin and Katherine, who remain recovering in the hospital.

By your power, great God, our Lord Jesus healed the sick and gave new hope to the hopeless. Though we cannot command or possess your power, we pray for those who want to be healed. Mend their wounds, soothe fevered brows, and make broken people whole again. Help us to wel-come every healing as a sign that, though death is against us, you are for us, and have promised renewed and risen life in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, PrayersBrian FlatgardGerrish familyComment
A Prayer for Memorial Day
A Prayer for Memorial Day

O God of life, you are older than time. You have seen generations who have died through sacrifice, war, courage and folly. You have comforted generations who mourned and grieved and sang solemn songs and laid flowers on graves. Gather us in your embrace and cradle us with your compassion. As we remember those who have died in past wars and conflicts, help us to remember that you were there when the mountains were formed. You were there to sooth our grief and breathe hope into the hopeless. You are with us still. We give you thanks for life in Jesus and pray that your lives may be reflections of his love. Amen.

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Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardVeteransComment
Fund for Leaders scholar Wanda Frenchman: A Ministry That Empowers People
Fund for Leaders scholar Wanda Frenchman: A Ministry That Empowers People

We share a video highlighting Fund for Leaders scholar Wanda Frenchman, who helps lead the Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix, Ariz. which was founded by her mother, Mary Louise Frenchman.

Wanda is participating in the TEEM program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. This allows her to pursue rostered ministry while she continues to lead her community in Phoenix.

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ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardELCA Fund for Leaders, Native American Urban Ministry Phoenix, American Indian and Alaska Native, Capital ConferenceComment
Sierra Pacific Synod: Bishop’s Report to the Church
Sierra Pacific Synod: Bishop’s Report to the Church

After listening to the concerns of this church, careful review of the report of the Listening Team and other accompanying documents, consultation with outside legal counsel, and prayerful reflection and discernment, I have decided not to bring disciplinary charges against Bishop Rohrer.

While I am not inaugurating formal disciplinary processes at this time, there remain enough serious concerns that influence Bishop Rohrer's ability to remain impactful in their role that I have asked Bishop Rohrer for their resignation, which I believe to be in the best interest of all parties involved. Leer también en español…

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Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardSierra Pacific Synod, Region 2, Bishop Rohrer Comment
COVID-19 community levels: 5/26/2022
COVID-19 community levels: 5/26/2022

According to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels, Clark County is the first to be at medium level after months of low levels in our synod.

All of our synod’s remaining counties are low level: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Washington, Yavapai, and Yuma.

The United States is averaging more than 105,000 new cases each day, the most since February, when the first Omicron wave was subsiding. Cases are rising in most states, and since many cases go uncounted in official reports, the true toll is higher than these figures show.

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News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardCoronavirusComment
ELCA Foundation workshops
ELCA Foundation workshops

Lisa Marie Higginbotham, CFRE, one of our Regional Gift Planners with the ELCA Foundation is presenting virtual workshops on three related topics: planned giving, stewardship, and endowment. Use the links below to join the meetings.

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Grand Canyon Synod, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardStewardship, ELCA FoundationComment
Devotional: Can’t Control the New
Devotional: Can’t Control the New

I grew up a Lutheran, having built a deep connection to God from a young age. However, like many of us I am sure, I have struggled with my faith over the last few years, especially these last two years. It seemed like the life I planned out was turned upside down and twisted without a moment’s notice. “New” things kept appearing everywhere I looked, and I felt incredibly lost, stuck in an uncontrollable void of questions and uncertainty

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ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardAdvocacy, ELCA AdvocacyComment
Response to the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
Response to the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America grieves with the families of the 19 students and two teachers killed in Tuesday's mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Mass shootings in this country over the past two weeks have deepened the wounds of grief and sorrow. This follows the racially motivated shooting of 10 people in Buffalo, N.Y.; the shooting in Laguna Woods, Calif.; and the 27 other school shootings that have occurred in 2022. Many of the shooters have targeted children and older adults — some of the most vulnerable in our society.

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ELCA, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardGun ViolenceComment