Have news, events, or opportunities to share? The Grand Canyon Synod invites all congregations to submit their stories, job openings, and volunteer opportunities. Keep our community informed and connected by contributing to our news blog, events calendar, and weekly email newsletter. Share your updates today at gcsynod.org/share.
Read MoreLooking to make a difference and save on taxes before 2024 ends? Discover smart ways to give that benefit both you and the ELCA ministries you care about. From simple cash donations to leveraging appreciated securities, gift annuities, and IRA contributions, these giving options can maximize your impact. Contact Lisa Marie Higginbotham, our Regional Gift Planner, to explore how you can contribute meaningfully this holiday season.
Read MoreYoung adults across the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to join the upcoming Winter Retreat at Camp ALOMA in Prescott, January 17-20. Enjoy faith-based learning, fellowship, and fun activities like Laser Tag, s’mores around the fire, and hiking. Connect with other young adults in a beautiful outdoor setting and grow in your faith. Spaces are limited—register today!
Read MoreAs 2024 draws to a close, the ELCA Foundation is offering a range of impactful and tax-advantaged ways to support ministries that matter to you. From IRA distributions to gifts of appreciated securities, there are options to maximize your giving while reducing taxes. Key deadlines for year-end gifts are fast approaching, so now is the time to act. Looking ahead, new opportunities like increased QCD limits in 2025 offer even more flexibility for generosity. Learn more about these strategies and contact Lisa Higginbotham for personalized guidance. Read the full newsletter.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop will be closed from December 24 to December 26, 2024, in celebration of Christmas. advent
We pray your Christmas is filled with the joy and peace of Christ’s birth.
Read MoreKick off 2025 with Camp ALOMA’s New Year’s Retreat! Jr High and High School students are invited to Prescott from December 29 to January 1 for a faith-filled retreat featuring devotions, worship, campfires, and more. Registration is $110 per camper, with optional transportation. Spots are limited—register today!
Read MoreThis Monday, December 23, at 12:00 PM AZ/MST, join the final session of Restore Our Hope: Advent Centering Prayer. As we await the birth of Christ, this week’s focus turns to God’s healing and comfort for a broken world. Come together in song, prayer, and quiet reflection to prepare your heart for Christmas. Register today and share in this closing Advent experience.
Read MoreChrist the Lord in Carefree seeking a part-time Administrative Manager to join our team. Whoever fills this role will have the opportunity to contribute to the mission and ministry, especially as we reshape our staff and administrative functions to meet the changing needs of our church and community. If you are looking for a place that will celebrate your unique gifts in an environment of good humor, hospitality, reliability, and service to the community, this may be the place for you! More info and apply here.
Read MoreWe uplift and pray for Rev. Don Lorfing, Rev. Scott Hove, Rev. Jason Adams and the people of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church at the Lakes in Las Vegas, part of the Colorado River Conference.
Read MoreWe uplift and pray for Rev. Luis Ochoa and the people of Santa Trinidad Lutheran Church in Chandler, part of the Fiesta Conference.
Read MoreWe uplift and pray for Rev. Michael Sager, Rev. Craig Larson and the people of Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, part of the Kino Conference.
Read MoreWe uplift and pray for Rev. David Sivecz and the people of Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, part of the Capital Conference.
Read MoreThe Office of the Bishop celebrates at our year-end Christmas party, puts the final organizing on 2024, and prepares for 2025, including our synod assembly.
Read MoreThe Request to Speak (RTS) program empowers Arizona residents to engage with legislative decisions from home. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona makes it easy to sign up by creating your account for you. Get involved in advocacy for justice in 2025 by registering your opinions and tracking bills online. Learn more and apply today at lamaz.org/request-to-speak.
Read MoreThe Grand Canyon Synod Executive Committee has recommended a 2.5% increase in compensation for rostered ministers in 2025. Congregation councils are encouraged to use the synod’s compensation guidelines, now updated for 2025, and consult inflation benchmarks. Access resources, worksheets, and more at gcsynod.org/compensation.
Read MoreGrand Canyon Synod representatives Pastor Jonathan Linman and Pastor Mari Larson attended the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Chicago, addressing topics like Christian Nationalism, mass deportations, and Lutheran-Catholic collaboration. Larson was honored for her leadership in LEIRN, and Linman shared a model for ecumenical reception developed for the Phoenix Lutheran-Catholic event. Read more about the workshop’s call to unity and action in divided times.
Read MoreThe ELCA is introducing several updates to the Annual Congregation Report process for 2024. Starting in mid-January, congregations will receive a letter with their ID and password but no printed resources; all instructions and materials will be posted online. A new reporting platform will also launch, offering streamlined tools and embedded instructions. Congregations must file 2023 reports by December 20, as the system will shut down afterward.
Read MoreWe pray for the friends and family of Rev. Ronald Franklin Pechauer, who died December 4, 2024 in Apple Valley, MN. Pastor Pechauer had served at Shepherd of the Desert in Sun City, as well as many other churches. Obituary is available here.
Read MoreElizabeth Cote, a YAGM volunteer through the ELCA, shares her transformative experience in Senegal. From learning Wolof and adapting to rural life in Linguere to serving in a healthcare clinic and teaching English, Elizabeth reflects on living out her Lutheran faith through cross-cultural service. Discover her insights on Senegalese values like teranga (hospitality) and how they shape her mission. Read more about Elizabeth’s journey and how you can support her ministry in her first newsletter and second newsletter.
Read MoreOn November 26, Faith / Le Fe and Mount of Olives Lutheran united to serve 148 families through the “Faith In Action Together” Thanksgiving outreach. Families received food boxes and a hot lunch, thanks to the efforts of over 40 volunteers. Read more for photos and to celebrate the power of walking together in Christ.
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