This section is dedicated to celebrating and lifting up the everyday work of our congregations, ministries, and partners at various levels—from local to global. Join us in gratitude and prayer for these people and organizations. View all our spotlight posts here.
This week, the Office of the Bishop will gather for the Synod Council Retreat and then Bishop Hutterer attends the Conference of Bishops Fall Gathering in Chicago. Staff will also support installations, retirements, candidacy and first-call ministry, congregational vitality and generosity, upcoming events, communications, security, and month-end financial work.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Judith Rainforth, who celebrates 23 years on September 21.
Rev. Gary Ulrich, who celebrates 47 years on September 24.
Next week, the Office of the Bishop will connect with congregations and leaders through visits, preaching, a retirement celebration, the Conference Dean Retreat, and various meetings. Staff will also advance candidacy, ministry, grants, communications, finance, event planning, and administrative work while welcoming the Rev. Jacqueline Pagel back from sabbatical. We also share a photo of Bishop Hutterer’s visit to Trinity Lutheran Church for Pastor Karl Guhn’s retirement.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Bill Voris, who celebrates 66 years on September 11.
Rev. Jill Doherty, New Promise, St. George, who celebrates 28 years on September 13.
Rev. David Brandfass, Christ, Sedona, who celebrates 31 years on September 13.
Rev. Daniel Volkmann, All Saints, Phoenix, who celebrates 2 years on September 13.
Rev. Kylee Bestenlehner, Peace, Peoria, who celebrates 1 years on September 13.
Rev. Carl Mangold, who celebrates 51 years on September 14.
Rev. Craig Geiger, who celebrates 54 years on September 17.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Jeffrey Solheim, ELCA, Chicago, who celebrates 27 years on September 5.
Rev. Barbara Duhlstine-Robarge, who celebrates 35 years on September 6.
Rev. William Phillips, Christ, Las Vegas, who celebrates 41 years on September 8.
Rev. Corazon Aguilar, who celebrates 31 years on September 9.
Deacon Connie Rose-Kamprath, Esperanza, Phoenix, who celebrates 34 years on September 10.
Next week, the Office of the Bishop will support congregations and leaders across the synod through Bishop Hutterer’s visits and meetings, fall and 2027 ministry planning, congregational leadership development, grants, communications, finance, and preparations for upcoming events. We also share photos from our staff retreat at Spirit in the Desert.
The Office of the Bishop will gather for a staff retreat at Spirit in the Desert while continuing to support congregations and leaders across the synod. The week also includes the Ordination and Installation of Guy Ilunga at Trinity Lutheran in Phoenix (August 29, 2026, 10:00 AM), ministry at Central Lutheran in Arizona City, ongoing grants and communications work, and preparation for upcoming events and financial reporting.
We also share photos from Bishop Hutterer’s worship with Church of Our Saviour in Lakeside, Myrna Wells-Ulland’s birthday at Spirit in the Desert, the Office of the Bishop’s visit to West Valley Lutheran Thrift Store, and a visit by author Bill Kalaf and former Vice President Paul Gryniewicz (2017-2021).
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Michael Sager, Desert Hills, Green Valley, who celebrates 32 years on August 28.
Rev. Paul Ninnemann, who celebrates 50 years on August 29.
Rev. Carol George, Resurrection, Oro Valley, who celebrates 27 years on August 29.
Deacon Barbara Sikkink, who celebrates 34 years on August 30.
Rev. Renee Geiger, who celebrates 38 years on September 1.
Rev. John Schaumburg, who celebrates 54 years on September 2.
Rev. Kirk Anderson, who celebrates 54 years on September 3.
The Office of the Bishop will be active across the synod next week, preaching and worshiping with congregations, meeting with ministry and synod leaders, preparing for upcoming events and the staff retreat, and continuing stewardship, grants, communications, finance, and administrative work. We also share photos from the Installation of Rev. Annemarie Burke at Beautiful Savior in Tucson.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Barbara Rapp, who celebrates 33 years on August 21.
Rev. Martha Neff Stum, who celebrates 16 years on August 21.
Rev. Cherlyne Beck, Office of the Bishop, Phoenix, who celebrates 43 years on August 21.
Rev. Loren Swanson, who celebrates 55 years on August 22.
Rev. Gary Garvey, who celebrates 44 years on August 22.
Rev. Carlyle Smith, who celebrates 62 years on August 23.
Rev. Naomi Barcanic, who celebrates 29 years on August 24.
Rev. Julie Gerrish, Christ, Sedona, who celebrates 2 years on August 24.
Rev. Solomon Kuch, Emmanuel Sudanese, Glendale, who celebrates 1 year on August 24.
Rev. Nathan Bowman, Hospice of the West, who celebrates 41 years on August 25.
Rev. John Maroni, Shepherd of the Desert, Sun City, who celebrates 21 years on August 27.
The Office of the Bishop is engaged across the synod and beyond this week through worship, pastoral leadership, ministry site review, innovation planning, generosity work, staff service at West Valley Lutheran Thrift Store, and preparations for upcoming events. Synod staff also continue the essential communications, administrative, financial, and stakeholder support that sustain our shared ministry.
‘ECOmenical’ prayer to strengthen church commitment to climate justice
Czech Republic: Building courage, resilience, and responsibility
Global Faith Unfiltered: Poetry, a tool for sharing and connecting
Study Group: Peace and Reconciliation in Times of Conflict and War, 10 - 15 Aug
Africa Lutheran Churches Leadership Consultation, 24 - 28 Aug
Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics and Management, 17 - 29 Aug
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
The Rev. Cheryl Fox, who celebrates 17 years on August 15.
Rev. Mark Powell, who celebrates 46 years on August 17.
Rev. Deborah Hutterer, Office of the Bishop, Phoenix, who celebrates 22 years on August 18.
Rev. Brent Maxwell, who celebrates 19 years on August 19.
Rev. Kurt Fangmeier, Sierra Evangelical, Sierra Vista, who celebrates 25 years on August 19.
Rev. Marilyn Ascarza, who celebrates 36 years on August 19.
Rev. Scott Hackler, Spirit of Grace, Surprise, who celebrates 37 years on August 20.
Michael Purcell, who celebrates 48 years on August 20.
As summer transitions toward fall, Grand Canyon Synod staff are focused on planning, ministry support, stewardship development, and financial oversight. This week also marks the return of Communications Director Brian Flatgard from sabbatical, bringing renewed energy and gratitude as the synod prepares for the season ahead.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Janet Richardson, who celebrates 37 years on August 6.
Rev. Richard Peterson, who celebrates 33 years on August 8.
Rev. John Hoelter, who celebrates 59 years on August 9.
Rev. Wyatt Linde, Resurrection, Oro Valley, who celebrates 3 years on August 9.
Rev. Joseph Dillon, who celebrates 50 years on August 10.
Rev. Paul Campbell, who celebrates 47 years on August 12.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Rev. Kevin Anderson, Spirit of Hope, Mesa, who celebrates 1 year on August 4.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Rev. Thomas McFarland, who celebrates 40 years on August 3.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Rev. Sharon Brown, who celebrates 13 years on August 2.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Rebecca Boardman, who celebrates 22 years on July 31.
Rev. James Schubert, who celebrates 36 years on July 31.
While Bishop Hutterer is on vacation, Grand Canyon Synod staff continue supporting congregations, strengthening ministry partnerships, and preparing for future initiatives. This week’s work includes ministry reviews, stewardship development, event planning, website improvements, and the completion of key financial reporting for the synod.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Rev. Tony Scheer, who celebrates 26 years on July 30.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Matthew Wiswall, who celebrates 36 years on July 29.
Rev. Mateo Chavez, San Juan Bautista, Tucson, who celebrates 8 years on July 29.
Rev. Susan Schubert, who celebrates 36 years on July 29.
Today we celebrate the ordination anniversaries of:
Rev. Gary McCluskey, who celebrates 46 years on July 27.
Rev. David Pavesic, Office of the Bishop, Phoenix, who celebrates 24 years on July 27.
Rev. Denise Edwards, who celebrates 24 years on July 27.
This week we celebrate the ordination anniversary of Rev. Ryan Hersch, Peace, Peoria, who celebrates 23 years on September 27.