The New Journey fourth lunch pack wraps up the NEVC 2024 summer heat respite collaborative project, which has provided over 2,600 lunches, individual servings of electrolyte power, and 5+ pallets of water to save lives in our greater community. Funded by a generous grant from NEVC partner, Ascension Lutheran Church, the project’s success has benefitted from generous gifts of volunteer time for shopping, preparation, packing, delivery, and distribution.

Dear fellow members of New Journey Lutheran Church,

The dictionary defines stewardship as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.“  As faithful followers, we recognize the wisdom in the book of Peter, 4:10-11:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Like many of you I find it hard to believe that we are more than halfway through the year and as we approach the season when we celebrate important holidays and milestones it is important as “careful managers” that the Council report on the progress of our 2024 Mission Spending Plan.

The Phoenix Connectors of the Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest are a network of dedicated volunteer leaders across Phoenix and Southern Arizona. Their unwavering commitment to service is vital in linking congregations with the mission to uplift and support those in need.

Pastor Gallen and New Journey Lutheran Church,

Without question, the most rewarding part of my work over the past year as your Interim Director for Evangelical Mission has been walking alongside more than a dozen strategic and ethnic-specific ministries across our synod. This role has provided me with a wonderfully unique opportunity to serve as a mentor, advocate, grant writer, evaluator, consultant, and friend to some of the most innovative and courageous leaders and faith communities you will ever meet.

Last month we welcomed Autumn Byars in worship to learn more about her work as an ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow this last year. Thank you, Autumn, for saying “yes” to sharing with us. We are blessed by your sharing and, through you, our communities know more fully God’s dream for a longer table where all are fed and nourished.

It’s “all hands on deck!” for God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday, September 8:

New Journey’s 10:00 a.m. service will include 3 hands-on projects. Please join us for a joyful and difference-making morning as we, together:

·         Pack 200 lunches to be delivered to Wesley United Methodist Church in South Phoenix, one of 14 sites of Arizona Faith Network’s 2024 heat respite project. Like Grace Lutheran, and their partner First United Church of Christ, in Central Phoenix – where New Journey’s first 600 lunches of the summer were distributed – WUMC serves persons experiencing homelessness at their location and via smaller nearby hubs. Wesley’s heat respite coordinator noted last week: “Thank you so so much for all this. You guys have no idea how this has helped carry things.”

·         Pack 24 Kindness Kits for Circle the City. Circle the City provides healthcare to individuals facing homelessness in Maricopa County. New Journey is joining with Northeast Valley Consortium partner, Christ the Lord – Carefree, to provide the kits so that those who receive care are able to take with them useful personal care items to bolster their health and well-being. This project is funded by a grant from Thrivent and a private donation.

·         Once again, bring non-perishable food items for the annual Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona 9/11 memorial food drive. Our food donations will go to Extended Hands Food Bank, here in Fountain Hills. ISBA notes that this multi-faith event “demonstrates that the same spirit that drove the first responders and others to care for complete strangers on 9/11, is still alive by uniting our communities to provide food for the most needy.” The EHFB website lists mac ‘n cheese, fruit, peanut butter and jelly as high need items. The 9/11 drive site also lists additional items that can be contributed. If you bring items on Sunday 9/8, please place them in or near the EHFB barrel which will be placed in the worship area.

On Sunday, August 25, our community will welcome Autumn Byars in worship to share about her experiences as the first Hunger Fellow to be placed in the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Arizona (LAMA) office.

You might be wondering: what is a Hunger Fellow?

It is a year-long experience through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that involves “leadership development and faith formation with impactful advocacy that move us (God’s church) towards an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed.” To learn more about the ELCA’s Hunger Advocacy Fellow program, click here.

The Northeast Valley Consortium’s 2024 Heat Respite lunch topped 2,000 lunches on Monday, August 12 as the location for delivery moved from Grace Lutheran Church and First United Church of Christ in central Phoenix to Wesley United Methodist Church and nearby heat respite hubs in south Phoenix. Grace's pastor, Rev. David Sivecz, provided the following note of thanks to all who have participated in the project to-date. 

Join us on Sunday, September 1 for a hymn sing in worship. We will “tell the story” of God’s good creation, the love of Jesus, the wild Holy Spirit, and the Church and our faith with our most favorite ELW hymns.

More details will be shared later this month.

On Sunday, September 8 we begin our our journey through the Narrative Lectionary (NL) in worship.

An alternative to the Revised Common Lectionary, the NL, is a four-year cycle of Bible readings. On the Sundays from September through May each year the readings follow the sweep of the biblical story, from Creation through the early Christian church.

What stories will we read together?

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

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

I was in first grade when I received communion for the first time. Before I could participate in the meal, though, I was required to attend classes and receive instruction from my pastor about the meaning of holy communion.

It occurs to me that you, beloved friends of New Journey Lutheran Church, likely received first communion instruction when you were a child, too. Perhaps you first received communion on the day you were confirmed around the age of 12 or 13. Church practices around holy communion have changed greatly in the span of 60 years. Not to mention how practices vary from denomination to denomination. As we’ve been exploring holy communion these last weeks in worship, I’ve wondered: to what extent does first communion instruction matter?

Pastor Beth

Current Ministry Projects:

• Pastoral care visits and support

• Administration projects

• Ministry team meeting leadership and support: FFKidz, Stewardship, Worship & Music

• Worship planning & Fall program planning

Susan

Current Ministry Projects:

• Worship PowerPoints & Social Media Content

• Help with FFKidz Promotion Team

Jamie

Current Ministry Projects:

• Attending Worship & Music Leadership & Team Meetings

• Worship leadership

University Lutheran’s (Tempe) Anti-Hunger team, invites our congregation to rummage through cupboards for new or gently used reusable water bottles. These will be distributed by Grace Lutheran Church and Native American Urban Ministry for our neighbors experiencing homelessness in the downtown Phoenix area.

Howard Osborn, beloved friend and member of New Journey Lutheran Church, completed his earthly life on July 23 at the age of 97, and now rests in God’s eternal love with all the saints in light.

With gratitude for his life, faith, and contributions to God’s world, we pray for his family and friends who are grieving his death.

There’s new content, from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Arizona LAMAz.org on ballot initiatives currently under consideration by Arizona voters. ELCA is a politically active church; you can continue (or begin!) preparations for important local, regional, and national votes in November. Want to be involved in crafting ELCA’s new social statement on civic engagement? Check out this opportunity at Civic Life and Faith - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org).

With a BIG box of school supplies for the Giving Gang Closet at Imagine East Mesa School, including a full week of uniforms, two pairs of shoes, and $70 in contributions to go to items of highest need. You help many families to have their students start the new year well-equipped and smiling!

Many thanks to the 17 volunteers who joined, on short notice, for a third lunch pack on Wednesday, July 17 to meet the need expressed by Grace Lutheran and First Church UCC for additional food. We were happy to see again Principal Lisa Ristuccia and student Bodhe, who are always helpful volunteers. Thanks, again, to Lou and Nancy for slicing ham; Jane for providing bread; Lou and Jane for transporting the lunches down to Grace; and to Harry and Sharon for providing Sunday bread pudding for July 21 Fellowship.

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 August:

On Sunday, August 25, our community will welcome Autumn Byars in worship to share about her experiences as the first Hunger Fellow to be placed in the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Arizona (LAMA) office.

You might be wondering: what is a Hunger Fellow?

It is a year-long experience through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that involves “leadership development and faith formation with impactful advocacy that move us (God’s church) towards an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed.” To learn more about the ELCA’s Hunger Advocacy Fellow program, click here.