Pastor Beth

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Finalizing Advent and Christmas worship plans

  • Continuing Education: November 11-13

  • 2025 Calendar Planning & SMART Goal Formation

  • Interfaith Thanksgiving Service & Food for Kidz Support

  • Vacation: November 25-30

Susan

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Supporting Advent planning

  • 2025 Calendar Planning

  • Food 4 Kidz Marketing Projects

  • Vacation: November 25-30

Jamie

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Advent and Christmas Worship Planning

  • Choir Rehearsal Leadership

  • Worship Leadership

  • Worship Leader meeting & Staff Review

Join your neighbors from the rich variety of Fountain Hills faith traditions as we gather for our 16th Annual Fountain Hills Interfaith Thanksgiving celebration on Sunday, November 24th at 2pm.

This year’s celebration will be at The Fountains, a United Methodist Church, 15300 N. Fountain Hills Blvd.

“Christ, our peace,
you break down the walls that divide us;
Christ, our peace,
come, make us one body in you.”

— Christ, Our Peace | All Creation Sings, 1037

Photo by Samuel Schneider on Unsplash

As I reflect on the election results in our nation and in our swing-states synod, I recognize that emotions across our communities are varied and deeply felt. For some, there is joy and hope; for others, uncertainty and worry. In this moment, we turn our gaze once again toward Jesus, our unchanging source of comfort and strength in uncertain times.

What’s this about the new Bonhoeffer movie? — Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona. Due to concern that the forthcoming film is a production of Christian Nationalism and casts an inaccurate portrayal of Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this piece opens with a comment from Grand Canyon Synod Bishop Deborah Hutterer and includes further information about the film and about Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

• “Aging and Transitioning” event, November 2, 1-2:30, Living Water Lutheran Church, 9201 E Happy Valley Rd, Scottsdale, AZ. Mari Murrin, Concierge Placement Consultant at Senior Care Arizona will present. (More details on flyer posted at New Journey near the nametag rack.)

• Rev. Colleen Windham-Hughes at Ascension, November 9, North Scottsdale United Methodist Church, 9:30-11:30, with brunch and/or 1:00-3:00 with tea. Windham-Hughes, ordained in both the Lutheran and Methodist traditions, will speak to commonalities across these traditions – a timely topic given Ascension’s sharing of church facilities with North Scottsdale Methodist Church. More information here.

• A Man in the Dog Park author talk, November 14, 6:30 pm (in-person at Christ the Lord, Carefree; by Zoom with congregational or other groups or by Zoom for individuals – request link at admin@ctlcarefree.org). Kris affirms that this is a very interesting and accessible book (though reading the book is NOT required to attend the talk. If you’d like to gather at New Journey for “group Zoom,” please let her know.

Thank you to Sharon and Harry Vaughan for stepping up to be New Journey’s “Connectors” for Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. The purpose of the connector network is to strengthen communication about LSS-SW needs and opportunities among churches and other partners across the region. Looking ahead: LSS-SW’s annual “Building Foundations” luncheon is February 27, 2025, 11:30-1:00, at the Marriott at Phoenix Airport. Stay tuned for more updates from Harry and Sharon!

Pr. David Sivecz of Grace Lutheran (where our packed lunches go) requests gently used clothing and other small items for the Grace Room (scroll down). Please check your closets and cupboards; use coupon savings at local merchants to pick up a small item or two; and let’s fill the bins prior to Thanksgiving! Items needed, as per Pr. David’s message:

On behalf of the Congregation Council and the Stewardship Team, thank you, people of New Journey Lutheran Church for responding to the 2025 Stewardship Appeal and returning your financial commitment cards.

We are on our way to funding our 2025 Mission Plan, and are grateful to God for your investment in New Journey’s mission priorities in 2025.

To read more about our mission priorities, click here.

Be the Church is this year’s theme for New Journey Lutheran’s 12th  Annual Food for Kidz Community Food Pack. To support this theme, The Food Pack Planning Team set an ambitious $15,000 fundraising goal for our 2025 Community Food Pack. We are appealing to you, members and friends of New Journey, to make financial contributions to our fundraising goal and support the mission of our Food Pack: Feeding Communities, Changing Lives.   

Join Jamie Asmus, Pastor Beth, and members of the New Journey Choir as we sing through parts of the new hymnal supplement, All Creation Sings, following worship on Sunday, November 17.

We will sing through “Reign of Christ”, “Advent”, & “Christmas” sections in the hymnal supplement with the goal of familiarizing ourselves with new music to enhance our worship experience. No singing experience necessary—all are welcome.

This Advent and Christmas season, our community gathers under the theme: “Words for the Beginning.” Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. As we step into the unknowns of a new season and year, we gather for midweek Advent worship to be reminded of hope in God who was and is making all things new.

Join the Christian Education team, members and friends this Advent season for a Bible study on the Gospels, a deeper dive into the Gospel of Luke, and Mary’s Magnificat.

Wednesday mornings in December at 10:00 am in the fellowship space, Rev. Terry Steeden and Pastor Beth Gallen will lead informing and enriching Bible study. Bring your Bible and a friend! Snacks are welcome, too.

As early voting begins in Arizona, and with early voting also beginning soon in Utah and Nevada, I want to reflect on the sacred responsibility we hold as citizens and people of faith. Our participation in the democratic process is not only a privilege but a duty—one that reflects our commitment to justice, peace, and the flourishing of all people.

We invite you to read Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton’s heartfelt statement on the recent surge of hostility towards Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. In her message, Bishop Eaton emphasizes the biblical call to love and welcome strangers, condemning the harmful rhetoric and violence. She urges the church to stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants, advocating for their dignity and protection, and calls on all people of faith to combat hate and support their neighbors.

Read the full statement:

We are excited to announce our upcoming ministry team meetings!

These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to come together, share our progress, and plan for the future. Your presence and input are invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our community.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Here are the dates for October:

• Food for Kidz Team —October 24 @ 4:00 pm by Zoom

• Worship & Music Team —October 28 @ 4:00 pm

• Stewardship Team—October 29 @ 4:00 pm

• Northeast Valley Consortium—October 30 @ 5:00 pm by Zoom

To give space for the Food for Kidz team to meet its financial goals, Social Ministry will not be hosting an Advent fundraiser in 2024.

• We anticipate the traditional Angel Tree for Imagine East Mesa School in December.

• Last year, NJLC Sew Journers contributed 30+ quilts for seniors in the Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest Aging and Disability Services program; we will again contribute quilts, blessing them on Sunday, December 8 for delivery shortly thereafter.

• If you are interested in on-your-own holiday giving opportunities, here are a few options:

  • Additional LSS-SW priority items for Christmas 2024 are pots and pans with lids for seniors and children’s toys Christmas 2024 — Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (lss-sw.org). See the LSS-specific wishlist at Amazon.com (items in the $10-$15 range that can be delivered directly to LSS.)

  • www.ELCA.org/goodgifts: animals, plants, school supplies, and more.

• The draft Social Ministry Calendar is posted on the new bulletin board to the left of the nametag rack.

  • Our next “5th Sunday Letter-Writing” will be in early January (deferred from December 31, 2024, for all the reasons you might imagine).

  • New Journey will participate with our Northeast Valley Consortium partners in the Grand Canyon Synod 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge in March-April 2025.