Join us this Christmas Eve as we remember and celebrate the joy of our Savior’s birth in worship. Following worship, all are welcome and invited to bring a favorite cookie to share for a cookie and cocoa fellowship time.  

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm

In her Christmas message, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls our attention to the word “joy” in the angel’s proclamation to the shepherds. “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11).

Pastor Beth

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Midweek Advent Bible Study

  • Midweek Advent Worship & Soup Supper

  • Annual Meeting Preparation

  • Pastoral Care Visits

  • Christmas Eve Worship

  • Vacation: December 15; December 25-January 3

Susan

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Supporting Advent & Christmas

  • 2024 Annual Report

  • 2025 Calendar Planning

  • Food 4 Kidz Marketing Projects

Jamie

• Current Ministry Projects:

  • Christmas Preparation

  • Choir Rehearsal Leadership

  • Worship Leadership

  • Vacation: December 30-January 4

Explore the Grand Canyon Synod’s 2024 Advent & Christmas Hub! This dedicated section offers a wealth of worship resources, event calendars, and inspiring stories to enrich your Advent and Christmas season. Whether you're looking for devotionals, worship ideas, or community events, you'll find it all here. Visit gcsynod.org/2024-advent-christmas to discover more and share in the joy of the season.

The women of New Journey, “Hands to Hearts”, will gather Monday, December 16 at 10:00 am for fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and updates on our outreach efforts. We conclude our study on “Uncertainty” and share ideas for 2025 studies. Bring your Bible, ideas, a snack or treat to share, and a friend.

The NEVC Steering Committee met on December 4. Agenda items included:

• A consortial approach to the ELCA Region II 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge; an update on the water project at Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission at Rock Point; potential strategic conversations about both NEVC goals and the role of congregational communication directors; and a challenge issued by Christ the Lord to the Ascension, Living Water, and New Covenant congregations to join CTL in bringing a full table each of 10 volunteers to Food for Kidz 2025.

• Pr. Steve Kruse of New Covenant and Kris Bartanen of New Journey were elected steering committee co-chairs for 2025.

• Upcoming events include: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day worship at King of Glory Lutheran in Tempe, 3:00-5:00 pm, January 19, with Bishop Yehiel Curry, chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, as guest preacher; as well as Lutheran Day at the State Legislature, February 10.

• New Journey’s next letter-writing Sunday will be January 12, 2025.

• Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMAz.org) priorities for 2025: (1) hunger, (2) civic engagement, with specific focus on “informed Christian engagement” – inclusive of supporting public schools not only as educational resources, but sites for food and safety for children; and (3) immigration, particularly in light of Arizona’s passage of state Proposition 314.

• Lutheran Day at the Legislature: February 9, 2025. A full day of speakers and potential opportunities to meet with Legislative District 3 officials is being planned. If you would like to participate, please contact Solveig Muus at director@lamaz.org.

New Journey is the only NEVC congregation not to have a representative to this Grand Canyon Synod group, which meets monthly by Zoom to share and coordinate hunger related work in our region. Want to volunteer? Let Pastor Beth know of your interest.

Thank you, also, to all those who signed on to bring gifts for our Imagine East Mesa family’s Christmas joy. Please return your wrapped gifts by December 15, with the “ornament” gift tag taped to the outside. If you would like to join in delivering the gifts to the Chandler area for our 10-year old boy, 14-year old girl, 18-year old young man, and their mom, please be in touch with Kris.

You definitely cleaned closets, cupboards, and drawers to produce six bins of clothing and small toiletries for the Grace Room. Our central Phoenix neighbors-in-need are most grateful!

Our New Journey Lutheran community made financial gifts on Food for Kidz Giving Day totaling $6,950!  With the matching $2,000 donation, New Journey’s financial support totals $8,950.  We are well on our way to our $15,000 goal.   

Please be advised that there will be a plumber on site on Monday, December 9 to attend to some plumbing maintenance in our building between 9:00 am-12:00 pm.

Thanks for you understanding and patience.

If you make financial contributions through New Journey’s online giving platform, Vanco—thank you! If you made changes to your financial contribution for 2025, this is your annual reminder to update your Vanco profile with your new giving information.

We are excited to inform you that our church has a new phone number! Please update your records and feel free to reach out to us at:

New Phone Number:

(480) 761-9005

Pastor Beth will be on vacation the following dates:

• December 15—Pastor Stoney Bowen Weiszmann will guest preach and preside.

• December 25-January 3

Pastor Beth will return to worship on Sunday, January 5.

Advent is our opportunity to be counter cultural.

There is a tremendous amount of pressure on this time of year: buy all the gifts, deck all the halls, string all the lights, bake all the cookies, and attend all the holiday parties. Prior to the start of December, I caught myself adding a substantial list of holiday activities into my calendar so that my family gets to experience “the magic of the season.”

You do not need to live year-round in Fountain Hills to participate in New Journey letter-writing! And, if you have a particular issue you would like us to address, please let your NJLC LAMAz.org representatives (Liz or Kris) know of your interest. Thanks!

Welcome back! A new, developing collaboration to help our neighbors is New Journey’s support to Family Promise at Fountains United Methodist Church. The Fountains hosts 3-4 families at the church who are enrolled in the Family Promise program to exit episodic homelessness; they stay overnight here in Fountain Hills for one week during October, December, February, and May.

Come and enjoy the seasonal events happening in Fountain Hills, AZ! From "Stroll in the Glow" to "Photo with Santa," there's festive fun for everyone.