Living Water Lutheran reports that – thanks to NEVC partners, including New Journey – this summer there will be 2,862 books to give to kids in need! Pr. Shari Bernau writes, “You can be sure that these books will provide an opportunity for many children to enjoy a book-break during their hot summer, with special thanks for Sue Brash and Assistance League of Phoenix.” New Journey helped by provided 272 books!

Thanks to New Journeyans for completing two great lunch packs for Grace in the City heat respite! 18 and 20 participants, respectively, prepped 200 lunches each on Mondays June 17 and July 1. Lead partners from Ascension, Christ the Lord, and New Covenant were thankful for seeing the project in action on June 17 as they prepare to host nine Monday lunch packs over the next two months with their congregations.

Have you ever wondered how scripture passages are chosen for Sunday morning worship? Have you ever wondered why we read from three or four parts of the Bible—Old Testament, Psalm, Epistles, & Gospel—each Sunday? What does “lectionary” even mean?

Worship is an integral part of our shared life together.

Worship is where the good news of God’s love for the world in Jesus is proclaimed and shared in water, word, bread, and wine. It is time set aside in our weekly schedules to retreat with God in the company of a loving, welcoming and hospitable community. It’s also a place where our deepest needs, fervent hopes, urgent prayers and questions are brought before God in the safety of community.

For this month’s Pastor Pen, Pastor Beth shares a video about the upcoming worship series: “A Place for You”

Join Arizona Faith Network for an afternoon of community service. Together we will pack heat relief bags for community members and cooling centers to hand out to those in need of heat relief. Donations are needed!

For those who were unable to attend our recent Grand Canyon Synod Assembly in person or wish to revisit the discussions and celebrations, we have good news! All sessions of the assembly, including the special Diakonia Graduation, are now available to watch on the Love of Christ Lutheran’s Facebook page.

This post was shared from the Grand Canyon Synod’s website.

The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer was reelected June 14 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 13-15 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church, Mesa, Ariz.

This post was shared from the Grand Canyon Synod’s website.

The Grand Canyon Synod Assembly convened Thursday through Saturday, June 13–15, 2024, at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa under the theme, “Embody the Word.”

This post was shared from the Grand Canyon Synod’s website.

Next project? Imagine East Mesa School Supplies! We do not have a wishlist yet, but you can keep your eyes out for great sales!. We'll aim to deliver our contributions to IEM in mid-July.

Did you know that Afghan (and other) refugee women who are part of Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest's women's empowerment program have their own Etsy site where handmade items can be purchased?

More thanks! What a great crew of 20 New Journeyans to launch the 2024 Summer Heat Respite Lunch Pack Series for Grace Lutheran in downtown Phoenix!

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.

To read the approved May 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 is taking a break for the month of July and we are not meeting again until August 13th 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.

Towards the close of 2023, the congregation council articulated a vision for our community: “Telling the Story.”

When we began thinking about this vision and how it would direct us in 2024, we were, primarily, focused on celebrating 10 years as an organized congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

For the first quarter of the year, “Telling the Story” related to remembering the last 10 years of our shared ministry: the people whose gifts deeply shaped us, the pivotal moments that defined us as a community, and celebrating God who has accompanied us in this journey of faith.

When you subscribe to New Journey’s YouTube channel, you’ll receive timely updates on our worship videos. Plus, you can easily share these inspiring messages with others, helping us spread our faith-filled content.

Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to join us on this journey!

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Make a difference this summer by donating blood! Join us for not one, but two community blood drives this month.

Mark your calendars for New Journey’s 13th Food for Kidz Food Pack.  The 2025 event will be held on Wednesday, February 26.  The New Journey Lutheran Church Food for Kidz Team met May 29.  The following Goals were set for 2025:

In June, we honor Pride Month—a time when the LGBTQIA+ community celebrates their freedom to express their true selves. As a congregation, we extend a warm welcome to people of all races, cultures, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions, abilities, and economic backgrounds. At New Journey, our foundation rests on radical hospitality and openness. Through Christ’s teachings, we learn to love one another as God loves us, fostering growth in our faith.

Advocacy Alert: Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMAz.org) urges us to let our State legislators know that we oppose HCR 2060, which would essentially bring back 2010's SB1070 anti-immigration law that was declared unconstitutional.