The Fuller Church Leadership Institute presents Leadership and the Challenges Facing our Neighbors Today and Tomorrow, a free webinar with Dr. Tom Sine and Tod Bolsinger, Wednesday, 5/10/2023, 11am MST/PDT, 12pm MDT. Register for free here.
In order to build adaptive capacity for the long haul of change, church leaders must be able to identify ongoing pain points in their community. But in an ever changing world, is it possible to identify pain points of the future?
Read MorePrayers for Pastor Phil Gustafson and his family after the unexpected death of his wife, Sandy, on April 28, 2023. Please keep Pastor Phil and family in your prayers. Pastor Phil is the interim pastor at Grace Lutheran in Phoenix. Her obituary is here.
A funeral service will be at Dream City Church (21000 N 75th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85308), on Friday, May 5, 2023, with a wake at 5pm and the service at 6pm with a reception to follow. Pastor Todd Matchett will be the presiding minister. The family asks that people attending in person please wear bright colors. The service will be live-streamed at dreamcityevents.com/memorial.
Read MoreOur Saviour's seek a Parish Administrator to lead the church office and campus facilities and to collaborate with the Pastor, staff and members of the congregation to support the ministries of our congregation. This position is the primary contact person for non-pastoral matters; manages the church office, campus buildings and grounds; and coordinates all written communications and printed worship resources for the congregation.
Read MoreOn Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 10:00 am, Spirit in the Desert’s Sue Palmer will offer a 15-minute guided meditation. Learn more here.
Free food! Snacks and beverages will be provided by Spirit in the Desert, Roastery of Cave Creek and Foothills Food Bank.
Read MoreThis year, Mother’s Day brunch ($30, $10 for ages 4-12) is being offered May 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Spirit’s recently renovated dining room. Dine indoors or outdoors. Your choice of two seatings: Morning or Afternoon. Reserve your spot today!
Read MorePre-Assembly of the Americas
Americas: LWF’s involvement in church and society of Colombia
Americas: Strengthening communities through justice, inclusion, and hope
Stories
Grace Lutheran, Phoenix, seeks heat respite program outreach coordinator, May 22-September 8, 2023. View job description here.
To apply, send your resume, cover letter, and at least two references to Pastor Phil Gustafson at gracepastor@graceinthecity.com. For questions, you may reach Pastor Phil at the Grace office at 602-258-3787.
Read MoreThere are two spots left for this year’s cohort of Stewardship for All Seasons. Please let Pr. Miguel know if you are interested in taking one of those spots by May 4, 2023. First come first served.
This will be the last year that a $2,900 scholarship will be provided, making the costs to our congregations only $250 for a quality yearlong stewardship program. View a PDF flyer here.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Andrew Schlecht and the people of Maricopa Lutheran Church in Maricopa, part of the Fiesta Conference. Visit their site at maricopalutherans.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.
Read MoreThe Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically April 20, 2023. The council serves as the ELCA churchwide organization's board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly.
Read MoreOur team is excited to share that the application process for Domestic Hunger Grants will open May 1, 2023. For those who are familiar with the Domestic Hunger Grants, this year’s process will look a bit different, but we hope that the changes described below will improve the process in some important ways. To learn more about the updated process and how to apply, please visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants.
Read MoreThe Ordination and Installation of Tim Perlick will be Saturday, May 13, 2023, 3pm, at Mount of Olives Lutheran Church (3546 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018). Bishop Hutterer will be presiding. Rev. Stephen Talmage is preaching. A reception will follow.
Rostered Ministers are invited to robe and process. Color of the day is red. There will be a reception following the service.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop continues assembly planning, and travels to various congregations and ministries around our synod, including Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future, Apr 29, 2023, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, a Luther Seminary panel hosted by NE Valley Consortium.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Kevin Meyer, LSS-SW, Phoenix and Covenant, Quartzsite, who celebrates 28 years on April 30.
Deacon Sally Almen, who celebrates 36 years on April 30.
Rev. Melissa Harr, who celebrates 12 years on May 1.
Deacon Don Burgess, who celebrates 18 years on May 1.
All of our synod’s counties are at at low levels except Greenlee and Apache counties, which are at medium level.
Note: our updates can be a week behind due to our news cycle overlapping with Thursday updates. View the latest CDC and NYTimes updates here.
Read MoreFor an end to ongoing violence in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Israel, and Haiti…
For places in the world grieving mass deaths, including Kenya and Burkina Faso…
For Australia and New Zealand as they remember their fallen on Anzac Day…
For an end to gun violence in our nation…
That faith-based narratives of love, humility, and service would rise above dangerous rhetoric of Christian nationalism…
For those harmed by legislative restrictions on healthcare access, especially for transgender siblings and women…
For an expansion of affordable housing, and for all who are unhoused or housing insecure…
The use of cannabis (marijuana) and whether it should be legal remains a hotly debated issue in our country, with different states reaching different conclusions. One persistent fear is that cannabis is a “gateway drug” leading its consumers to use harder drugs. In an article for Forbes, Dario Sabaghi traces the dubious history of this concern, noting that several studies not only challenge this idea but also suggest that cannabis may also lead users away from opioids.
Read MoreRev. Dan Potaznick, Director of Generosity and Strategic Development, shares a note about his time with Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria.
“This weekend I visited Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria to give thanks, and it was a busy Sunday. Young members celebrated their first communion, the congregation kicked off their spring endowment drive, and members of both All Saints Lutheran (Phoenix) and Peace Lutheran joined together as a joint choir.
If that wasn't enough for one Sunday, after worship I joined members & visitors to pack 800 pounds, or 1200 bags, of rice and beans for the West Valley Community Food Pantry.”
Read MoreELCA Worship shares their news for March, 2023.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The ELCA churchwide organization is hiring a part-time Worship intern for the remainder of 2023. Learn more about the position here.
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