Sharri Hackbarth, former member and friend of New Journey, completed her baptismal journey on May 25. We thank God for her life, faithfulness, friendship, kind heart, and support of New Journey’s development as a congregation over the early years.

f you weren’t able to attend the 2025 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly—or if you’d like to revisit some of the Spirit-filled moments—you can now watch full recordings from the gathering, held June 12–13 at Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas.

As we move through the summer, please note a temporary change to our eNews publication schedule. Instead of our usual first and third Friday releases, eNews will be sent out on the following dates:

• July 11 & July 18

• August 8 & August 22

Starting in September, we’ll return to our regular 1st and 3rd Friday schedule.

Thank you for staying connected and for your continued support of our church communications!

As the new school year approaches, we’re inviting you to help us support students and families in our community by donating school supplies. Imagine East Mesa has put together a list of suggested items that would be most helpful—but as always, any contribution is appreciated, and we welcome whatever you’re able to provide.

We’re stepping up our advocacy opportunities, based on ELCA, LSS-SW, Arizona Faith Network, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Arizona, and Bread for the World calls during this important legislative period. You may join all, some, one, or none of the letter-signings.

Joining in Northeast Valley Consortium support of Living Water’s Vacation Bible School mission project, New Journey delivered 90 books for children/youth, 51 books for adults, and 74 magazines.

Please join us for approximately 30 minutes after worship on Sunday, June 22 to prepare 200 sandwiches (approximately half ham & cheese, half PB&J). Your participation saves lives during our extreme heat season, already in full swing!

Our church choir will be taking a summer break and will return in September. We are so grateful for the beautiful music they’ve shared throughout the year, enriching our worship and lifting our hearts.

Just a quick note to let you know that SewJourners will not meet on Wednesday, June 26. The sewing machines are taking a breather, and the fabric is enjoying a well-earned day of rest!

Pastor Beth will be on vacation from Sunday, June 30, through Saturday, July 6. We pray this time offers her much-needed rest, renewal, and inspiration!

While she is away, we are grateful to have pastoral care coverage in place:

🗓 June 30 – July 6
📞 Emergency pastoral care will be provided by Pastor Anna Rieke. You can reach her at (206) 291-8841.

Let’s keep Pastor Beth in our prayers, asking for a peaceful and refreshing break!

Pastor Beth

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Summer Worship Planning

  • Attending the Festival of Homiletics, May 12-15

  • Vacation May 16-19

  • Administrative Tasks

Susan

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Worship PowerPoints

  • Social Media & Advertising Planning

  • Website Updates

Jamie

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Choir Leadership

  • Worship Leadership

  • Summer Worship Planning Support

We’re honored to share the 2023-2024 Annual Report from our mission partner, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest—a powerful reflection of compassion in action.

As members of the Grand Canyon Synod, we’re excited to join others in lifting up the ways God is at work in our congregations and communities. In anticipation of the 2025 Synod Assembly, ministries across the synod have shared stories of faith, service, and growth—all centered on this year’s theme, Build Up the Body (Ephesians 4:12–13).

June marks the beginning of summer—a season of sunshine, growth, and endless possibilities. It's the perfect time to embrace fresh adventures, soak in the vibrant energy of nature, and create unforgettable memories. Let’s make the most of June together!

On May 29, New Covenant Lutheran Church hosted the inaugural consortial Feast of the Ascension celebration, attended by two dozen-plus friends from Ascension, Christ the Lord, New Journey and New Covenent congregations.

The congregations of the Northeast Valley Consortium are invited to participate again in the Living Water Lutheran Vacation Bible School Mission Project Book Drive (June 16-20).

The House of Representatives passed legislation that would cut $290 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by making significant changes to the program. These changes would push families and children off SNAP and drive them deeper into hunger and poverty. Fortunately, these harmful SNAP cuts have a long way to go before they become law and there is a lot we can do to stop them – including using the power of prayer.    We would like to share with you a “Prayer for SNAP.”

ALL are welcome (and needed!) to join the first summer lunch pack after worship on Sunday, June 8. We will prepare 200 lunches for the Arizona Faith Network cooling center at First United Church of Christ – Phoenix, a partner with their neighbor Grace Lutheran.

In 2024, Christian ethicist, David P. Gushee wrote a book titled: The Moral Teachings of Jesus, Radical Instruction in the Will of God. At the Festival of Homiletics, Pastor Beth attended a workshop and a lecture led by Gushee on his book, and was inspired to bring it back to the New Journey community.

This book will form the basis of a summer series in which our community will consider 11 moral teachings of Jesus. Beginning Wednesday, June 18 at 5:30 pm by Zoom, members and friends of NJLC will gather around select teachings for discussion, deliberation, spiritual challenge and comfort.

Thank you for a few minutes to share your thoughts about the Narrative Lectionary. 

This last fall, our congregation moved to the Narrative Lectionary to support our community's connection to and knowledge of the stories of scripture. By focusing on one story per Sunday, we hoped our community would come to notice the broad sweep of the Biblical arc as one story from Creation through the early Christian church.