Social Ministry Team Meeting: June 30, 11:30 a.m., at church, to plan for the balance of 2024. Anyone is welcome to join.

Be ready! Your NJLC lunch pack team is preparing for the June 17, 9:00 a.m., launch of the 2024 heat respite season. We will be joined by 4-5 observer-guests from Ascension, Christ the Lord, Living Water, and New Covenant so they are prepared for their lunch packs in the coming weeks. All New Journeyans are welcome!!

Books, books, books: New Journey's gathering of books for Living Water VBS book drive continues through Sunday, June 16. We would love to see those bins fill up! Read more details here.

This is the most significant holiday in Norway, akin to our Fourth of July, but it is celebrated not by independence but by creating a constitution. It is properly called Constitution Day. The date was May 17, 1814.

On Sunday, May 12, family and friends of Bob Rosenthal gathered at New Journey Lutheran for a service of remembrance.

Together, we laughed, cried and thanks to God for Bob's life. We remembered how he made a lasting impact in our lives and in the life of New Journey Lutheran Church.

Living Water will host a blood drive on Monday, June 24, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. There is a shortage of blood in the summertime, and we hope this event will help the Red Cross increase its supply.

All members of the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in the presentation of the 2025-2026 Mission Plan. Each session is the same, with two dates to choose from.

• Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30pm MST/PDT, 6:30pm MDT. Click here to register.

• Saturday, June 1 at 9am MST/PDT, 10am MDT. Click here to register.

If we could pick one word to explain why God would become flesh and dwell among us in the person of Jesus, what would we choose?

If we could pick one word to explain what draws us back into Christian community week after week, what would we choose?

If we could pick one word to describe what sustains us as we live in a world full of dangers, toils, and snares, what would we choose?

Easter Project Wrap-Up: In the spirit of 1 Peter 4:10, many thanks to New Journey friends for $465 to support farm animals, water filters, cooking stoves, and mosquito netting through ELCA World Hunger ministries around the world. And, likewise, much gratitude for $760 in designated and undesignated gifts, plus a 20-pound bag of rice, for "Casa M" asylum shelter in Nogales.

New Journey Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills recently wrapped up two Easter season projects, raising funds for two programs that provide shelter and sustenance for those in need.

A total of $760 raised will go to Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones, a shelter for asylum seekers in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, that supports mainly women and children while their asylum claims are processed.

A donation of $465 will go to the ELCA Good Gifts program which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year to support sustenance needs worldwide including farm animals, environment-friendly water filters and cookstoves and family mosquito netting.

To read the approved April Congregation Council meeting minutes, click here.

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

Cindi Brady—President

Pete Galindez—Vice President

Mike Bartanen—Treasurer

Karl Flormoe—Secretary

Jo Martinson—Member at Large

Mike Wilson—Member at Large

Pastor Beth Gallen

The congregation council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11 at 5:30 pm. Council meetings are open to any member of the congregation to attend. Should you wish to address the council, please contact Cindi Brady a week before the scheduled meeting to be placed on the agenda.

“Mommy, how come we don’t get to see Jesus?” Amelia asked me one day on our way to the grocery story.

These kinds of questions often come out of the blue as we’re running errands or playing outside in the backyard. Questions that give me pause and make me wonder what to say and how to say in a way that my six year old might understand.

Lately, (perhaps because we’ve been in the season of Easter for seven weeks and talking about the resurrection of Jesus) Amelia has felt annoyed that the disciples were able to see and talk with Jesus, and we don’t have the same luxury. “It’s not really fair. I want to see, Jesus, too,” she complains.

The 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly is swiftly approaching, and we're thrilled to invite our voting members, visitors, and exhibitors to join us from June 13-15, 2024, for a time of fellowship, decision-making, and worship. This year's assembly promises to be a transformative experience for all attendees, filled with meaningful discussions, inspirational worship services, and the opportunity to connect with fellow members from across the synod.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance communication and streamline our processes, I wanted to share an important update regarding our eNews frequency.

 For the past couple of months, we have adjusted the timing of our newsletters. Instead of sending the eNews out monthly, we are now sending it out twice a month on the first and third Fridays.

Thanks again to all who have participated in our "donor choice" projects in support of Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones asylum shelter and/or ELCA Good Gifts. These projects will conclude on Sunday, May 5. As of April 28, you have topped $1000 with $600 for Casa and $425 for Good Gifts. "Awesome!"

The NE Valley Consortium is collaborating to bring new and gently used books, preferably for children including teens, to Living Water Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School. Check your shelves and closets, maybe the 50 cent children's book basket at the Fountain Hills Library, or bargain bins elsewhere and bring books to church between May 12 and June 16. For some children and youth, this may be the first book they have ever personally owned.

Reminder: Our 2024 Summer Heat Respite Lunch Packs for Grace Lutheran kick off at 9:00 a.m. on June 17 in New Journey's fellowship space. All who wish to join are welcome; we should complete 200 lunches in 30-35 minutes. Our later dates are Monday, July 1; September 8 (God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday); and Monday, September 16.

This year, worship brought together Good Shepherd Sunday (April 21) and Earth Day (April 22) in a beautiful mash up.

We considered God, our Good Shepherd, as the source of all life, nourishment, and renewal and is the one who leads us all into right-relationship with creation. As people who live and benefit from the earth’s resources, what does it mean to live gently upon the earth?

On Tuesday, April 16, beloved friend and member, Bob Rosenthal completed his baptismal journey and joined God and all the saints in glory.

For those knew Bob, he is remembered as a gentle soul with a steadfast faith and generous heart. In life, Bob was active in service to his community, serving on the Fountain Hills Education Board, singing in community choirs, and contributing his gifts to God’s Church.

Pastor Beth

Current Ministry Projects:

• Presiding over Bob Rosenthal’s funeral and internment

• Pastoral Care visits

• Administrative tasks and ministry planning

Susan

Current Ministry Projects:

• Worship PowerPoints & Social Media Content

• Creating a Communication Strategy with Pastor Beth

• Website Updates