At Grace, we are called by God to be in the city for good! For those interested in volunteering this summer, we invite you to attend the orientation held in the North Room of Hope Hall on June 9th from 11:30a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP at outreach@graceinthecity.com or call Clottee Hammons at 602-817-8996 if you plan to attend. View PDF flyer.
At the center of our religion, love. What heals us, love. What heals our communities, love. Also, the stated motive of most religious people, regardless of actual outcomes, love. I agree with the Beatles: “All you need is love.”
As we expectantly wait for Christmas, one persona dominates the church world, another persona our culture at large. These two prominent figures both speak of how we should act, what we should do—and the consequences if we do not. The persona of our culture at large? Who can we find everywhere at malls and on cards and sung about in songs during the month of December? Santa Claus.
How about the persona of the church world? Who is it who dominates our Advent stories? Right. John the Baptist.
The church as we know it, including Grace, is chang-ing. With a focus less on the institution of church and more on Christian community, our community building goal for May is for each person in the congregation to share words of encouragement or blessing with at least one of our graduating high school seniors or one of our youth celebrating Affirmation of Baptism this May.
Common Ground Recovery Community works to help people recovering from addiction and abuse through worship based around a twelve-step program. As a vital congregation, Common Ground is supported through your gifts to Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA (elca.org/campaign). Beyond the Steeple is a Living Lutheran series on non-traditional worship in the ELCA. Visit www.livinglutheran.org for more.
Peter Mayer is a songwriter, the lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and a Lutheran. “I’m a Lutheran because I’m called to be part of that vital choir of service and rejoicing that speaks and listens to a world that needs a song and needs to know and experience this mighty love of God in Christ.” Learn more about Mayer in his “I’m a Lutheran” feature in Living Lutheran. Read the full profile.
While God has called and continues to call women of color as leaders in this church, their ministry experiences have often been met with challenges. The March Living Lutheran cover story shares eight excerpts from “God’s Faithfulness on the Journey,” the ELCA rostered women of color project. The project presents contributors’ stories in their own voices, helping break the silence and celebrate women of color in this church. Read the full article.
Four years ago, the ELCA set the bold and daring goal of raising $198 million in a five-year span. Now, as we enter Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA's fifth year, we have been richly blessed. As of Dec. 31, ELCA members and congregations have contributed more than $139 million to campaign ministries, representing 70 percent of our five-year goal. Your generosity inspires us, and it is our privilege to be working with you to make all things new through Christ.
In North American culture, death is often something that people fear and avoid talking about. But there is peace and holiness in death that a growing number of Christians are working to reclaim. Lutherans are sharing what our faith has to say about death and how a faith community's role is to accompany the dying and their loved ones. In the February cover story of Living Lutheran, Rob Blezard shares stories and resources that bring peace into dying. Read the full article.
On April 19 at 6-8:30 pm, BioScience High School is hosting a fundraising event. The goal is for every student in the senior class to receive a scholarship for college. All are welcome to attend the event (or not) and/or to donate (or not). This fundraising event will take place at BioScience High School Town Hall & Library at 512 E Pierce Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
1124 N Third Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
