On November 1, Rev. David Pavesic joins the leadership in our Grand Canyon Synod Office as the new Director of Evangelical Mission. As DEM, Rev. Pavesic will play a vital role in leading and supporting the mission and outreach efforts across our synod, fostering growth in congregational vitality and nurturing new ministries. Please keep Pr. David in prayer as he navigates his new role.  

In observance of the one-year anniversary of the start of the current conflict in the Holy Land, Bishop Eaton offers prayers for peace, healing and justice for all people in Israel and Palestine, and the regions where the war has escalated.

It’s that time of year on Church Council for the planning of our Mission Spending Plan for next year. Numbers will be crunched, discussions will begin on what are the priorities for our future and we will begin to pray and listen to God’s voice that is always filled with wisdom as vast as the years of time.

Can we truly separate church business from God’s business?

God’s business is all encompassing. The vastness of our world and beyond. What a grand business to be in which lovingly cares for our world, making the sun shine, the rain to fall and the moon and the stars to light the dark skies.

And then God’s eye focuses on the smallest of creatures in his creation to the most complicated of all, human beings. Forever forgiving us, encouraging us, challenging and celebrating with us. What a gift to have God’s eye on us!

In honor of World Communion Day, the people of New Journey Lutheran Church and The Fountains UMC are worshipping and communing together on Sunday, October 6 at 9:30 am at The Fountains UMC.

Saint Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church is hosting their 14th Annual Charity Golf Tournament and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 26th, 2024. For complete information and to register, click this link.

Last year’s tournament raised $2,000 for Food for Kidz, and New Journey Food for Kidz will be applying for another grant for the 2025 food pack.

Please consider forming a foursome or signing up individually to golf or attend the dinner in support of this fundraiser. Denny and Gwen Rubenow will be hosting a Food for Kidz table at the event to raise awareness about volunteer opportunities at New Journey’s food pack.

We’d love to see some familiar faces there!

We will celebrate the life of Howard Osborn on Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 am in New Journey’s worship space.

Join us as we pray, remember, and commend Howard to the eternal care of God. An opportunity for family and friends to share a memory or remembrance of Howard will be offered during the service. Fellowship to follow, and the service will be live-streamed to New Journey Lutheran’s YouTube page.

We want to share some tips to help protect you from phishing attacks.

Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is a type of cyber attack where scammers try to steal your money or identity by tricking you into revealing personal information, such as credit card numbers, bank details, or passwords, through emails or websites that appear legitimate.

How to Recognize a Phishing Email:

• Urgent Call to Action or Threats: Messages that create a sense of urgency or fear.

• First-Time or Infrequent Sender: Emails from unknown or rarely contacted sources.

• Spelling or Grammar Errors: Poor language quality can be a red flag.

• Generic Greetings: Phrases like “Dear sir or madam” instead of your name.

• Mismatched Email Domains: Check if the email domain matches the sender’s claimed organization.

• Suspicious Links or Unexpected Attachments: Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking.

FAMILY PROMISE: Opportunity to partner with Fountains United Methodist Church colleagues in supporting families experiencing homelessness who are working to become re-housed.

• Program information:  HOME - Family Promise of Greater Phoenix (familypromiseaz.org)

• Fountains houses 3-4 families for one week, 4 times per year at their facilities; we can join them by:

  • coming over for a casual supper with the families, 6:00 p.m. one evening during the week of October 6-13;

  • helping to prepare the dinner one evening and joining the meal; or

  • learning about other volunteer options that make the host weeks possible.

• New Journey does not have facilities suitable for providing overnight hosting, despite clear need:  prior to Covid-19, 54 congregations were hosting families; that number has grown back 34 congregations, but is still a work-in-progress.

• New Journey is very generous in supporting people in need, but most of our work does not involve interaction with folks themselves. Recognizing that not every New Journey member is called to participate in every social ministry project, the Family Promise work at the Fountains offers – for those who wish – a chance to meet neighbors just down the street.

Here is your preview:

·         Expressing thanks to Senators Kelly and Sinema, and Representatives Schweikert and Gallego for their support of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement

o   Sample New Journey thank you letter

o   Background documents (2)

·         Urging legislators AGAIN to fully fund SNAP and other nutrition programs, as well as sustainable farming systems and protections for farm and food workers.

o   Bread for the World reported on September 12, 2024 that “new data just released by the USDA shows that in 2023 more than 47 million people, including nearly 14 million children, experienced food insecurity. This is up from 44 million people, including 13 million children, the year before and is the highest rate since 2024.”

o   ELCA update, September 5, 2024: “Ahead of Election Day, it is critical that lawmakers continue to hear that hunger, our food systems, and the vitality of our rural communities and our environment are of core concern for Lutherans across the U.S. In particular, highlighting the need to preserve and boost support for BOTH hunger programs AND our farming communities should be a critical priority – as these have become one of the last major points of contention in negotiations.” Read more at Farm Bill Engagement Updates - ELCA Advocacy » ELCA Advocacy - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

o   Sample New Journey letter

o   ELCA summary for legislators 23FarmBillLeaveBehind.pdf (elca.org)

14 Propositions! The November 2024 Arizona Ballot will be LENGTHY:

Tuesday, October 7 is the deadline for registering to vote (all forms of voting). Check your status and encourage family, friends, and neighbors to check theirs as well. Every vote counts!

Come, let us sing to the LORD;
 let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
 let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

(Psalm 95:1-2; NRSV)

Lift your voice and sing in the New Journey Choir! The choir, under Jamie Asmus’ direction, rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am from September through May.

All are welcome to join the choir and enrich our worship experience in song.

People of New Journey,

As we approach November 7, and navigate the complexities of this election cycle and beyond, our Grand Canyon Synod is committing to provide resources that foster understanding, respect and unity within our church communities.

Visit the Grand Canyon Synod’s Church & Society page for resources on navigating political discussions, information about Christian Nationalism, voting rights and civic participation, and to learn about upcoming events from the ELCA and the ecumenical community related to Church & Society.

The ELCA is developing a social statement on civic life and faith, the relationship of the church and state, and related matters, as called for by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

The feedback period will be open until September 30, 2024.

To download a copy of the draft social statement, click here.

Provide feedback on the social statement by clicking this link and filling out the task force’s survey.

All are invited to participate in a joint choir experience and life your voice in song in honor of World Communion Sunday, October 6 at 9:30 am with our friends at The Fountains UMC. We will bring our communities together for a joint choir piece: “A Place at the Table.” Click here to listen to the song on YouTube.

Anyone from New Journey who would like to participate in the joint choir opportunity for World Communion Sunday is encouraged to join rehearsal on Sunday, September 29 at 11:30 am at The Fountains UMC.

In honor of World Communion Day, the people of New Journey Lutheran Church and The Fountains UMC are worshipping and communing together on Sunday, October 6 at 9:30 am at The Fountains UMC.

THANK YOU to all who participated in God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday on September 8. Our small, but mighty crew prepared 24 Kindness Kits for CircletheCity.org and packed 200 lunches for Arizona Faith Network’s Wesley United Methodist Church heat respite center in South Phoenix. We also contributed food for the Islamic Speaker’s Bureau of Arizona 9/11 Memorial Multi-Faith food drive, with our contributions going to Extended Hands Food Bank.

Each year, on Pentecost Sunday, we hear the church’s birth story. It’s a joyful and festive day in which worship spaces are adorned in vibrant reds, and amazing images and sounds bring to life the frenetic energy of the Spirit’s activity in and through the church.

We are excited to announce our upcoming ministry team meetings!

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 September:

• Stewardship—September 3

• Executive Council—September 5

• Congregational Council—September 10

With the energy from the recent ELCA Young Adult Gathering still buzzing, there’s a new chance for young adults in the Phoenix area to connect and grow. Starting this September, young adults from the Grand Canyon Synod can join monthly events focused on connection, fun, and spiritual growth.

What’s on the social ministry calendar for the balance of 2024?

9/29/24: 5^th Sunday letter-writing – We will likely include thank you letters to our U.S. legislators for their continuing support of HR8940, Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement as well advocacy on crucial hunger legislation. If you have other ideas, please let Kris Bartanen or Liz Peterson know.

Mid-December: Imagine East Mesa School “Angel Tree” gifts.