Save the date:  Feast of the Ascension worship, followed by ice cream social, on Thursday, May 14. New Covenant Lutheran invites New Journeyans and other NEVC partners. Likely late afternoon time and details TBA.

Save the Date: Northeast Valley Consortium Faith Development Seminar, April 11, at Living Water Lutheran Church. Dr Karoline Lewis of Luther Seminary will present and facilitate a workshop (topic and specific time TBA). We are exploring carpooling and virtual options for joining the seminar.

The second annual NEVC “pew exchange” is coming on the First Sunday of Lent. This is an opportunity for consortium members to get a chance to visit with another congregation and learn a bit more about the Consortium.

The 2026 challenge is focused on Matthew 25: 37-40 “Lord, When Did We See You?” The challenge offers each of you options of a daily Lenten devotion delivered to your email box, daily learning and/or daily action options, and/or a daily pledge of $1 a day (or more) to ELCA World Hunger. You are encouraged to commit to 3 of the 4 (or all 4!) practices during the 40 days of Lent. See www.lentenchallenge.org for much more information.

An Explanation of the final 2025 Mission Spending Plan and the Proposed 2026 Plan

As you review the various documents in the 2025 Annual Report and the agenda for the 2026 Congregational Meeting, you will see that both the 2025 and 2026 Mission Spending Plans appear to be in deficit. The final 2025 plan shows a roughly $10,000 deficit, and the proposed 2026 plan estimates an approximate $11,000 deficit. Both of these figures require some unpacking to explain their context.

Here’s a snapshot of our finances as of January 21. Thank you for your continued support of New Journey’s ministries and mission!

Join us after worship on Sunday, February 1, 2026, for our 2025 Annual Meeting. During this meeting, we will vote on the mission plan, elect new congregation council members, and address other church business.

The agenda is available in the 2025 Annual Report.

To read the approved January 2026 Congregation Council Meeting minutes, click here.

If you have questions, please contact any member of the Congregation Council.

We are in the season of Epiphany. It is a season that helps us look at the inbreaking of the kingdom of God, both in the birth of the Word made flesh and in our everyday lives as people of faith. Its themes have mostly to do with light breaking into the darkness. How has Jesus’ presence made itself known to you these days?

Here’s a snapshot of our finances as of December 30. Thank you for your continued support of New Journey’s ministries and mission!

Happy New Year!
As we step into 2026, we want to make sure our church family stays connected. One of the best ways to do that is by keeping our church directory accurate and up to date.

This year, Gwen Rubenow has graciously taken the lead on updating the directory, and she needs your help! If you’ve had any changes—new address, phone number, or email—please share your updated information so Gwen can make sure everything is correct.

New Journey will need to select representatives to attend synod assembly, Thursday June 11 - Saturday June 13, 2026 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa. The assembly theme is "Rooted in God's Story."

Planning is underway for a Spring 2026 seminar at Living Water Lutheran in Scottsdale on Saturday, April 11, led by Dr. Karoline Lewis of Luther Seminary. More details to come!

We will again join with advocates across the nation in Bread for the World's annual Offering of Letters to U.S. legislators. The letter text will be available in the NJLC eNews in advance and, as always, individuals are welcome to write and send their own letters.

Lutheran Day at the Legislature: Monday, February 28, 9:30-1:30 (registration opens at 8:30). This is an opportunity to meet legislators, meet congregational LAMA liaisons, meet your LAMA policy council, and meet other Lutherans across Arizona who share a common belief that we are called through our baptismal covenant “…to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” 

This project, a collaboration of Grand Canyon Synod ELCA churches and our counterparts in the Pacifica, Rocky Mountain, Sierra Pacific, and Southwest California Synods, launches on Ash Wednesday, February 18. The challenge includes opportunities to receive a daily devotion to your email, to engage in weekly learning and.or action activities, and to contribute to ELCA World Hunger through Good Gifts. See www.lentenchallenge.org and sign-on today!

Northeast Valley Consortium partner New Covenant Lutheran is sponsoring a Feed My Starving Childrenpacking session at the FMSC facility in Tempe on Saturday, 1/24/26, 2:30-4:00. To make a reservation to attend go to: https://www.fmsc.org/group-results?group=New%20covenant.

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New Journey and our Northeast Valley Consortium (NEVC) partners support Arizona Faith Network (AFN) heat respite sites through our summer lunch packs. AFN provides this summary for the Summer 2025 project:

On Christmas Eve, the New Journey community and friends gathered to celebrate the gift of Christ’s love with carols, prayer, and candlelight. It was a beautiful reminder of God’s promise to be with us, bringing hope and peace even in life’s weariness. With hearts lifted, we rejoiced in the joy of Emmanuel—God with us!

The transition team has gathered input from 31 NJLC members and invited responses from over 20 others. We still hope to hear from 12–15 worship attendees who haven’t yet participated. All feedback will be summarized confidentially.

If you haven’t shared your input, please email cindi@njlc-fh.org, bigleyone@aol.com, or kris.bartanen@gmail.com to schedule a conversation or send your responses.