On Christmas Eve, the New Journey community and friends gathered to celebrate the gift of love through song, prayer, and candlelight. It was a night to remember God's promise of presence and care amidst our weariness. With God's help, a weary world found joy once more!

No worries if you missed the special Zoom meeting on Monday, January 6 at 5:30 pm. You can still catch up on all the important discussions and insights by watching the recording on YouTube below.

Join us after worship on Sunday, January 26, 2025 for our 2024 Annual Meeting. During this meeting, we will vote on the mission plan, elect new congregation council members, and address other church business.

Lutherans and friends of Lutherans from across the state will gather at the Arizona Capitol in Wesley Bolin Plaza for a day of advocacy on Monday, February 10, 2025 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm to learn, to witness, and voice our common needs in the public square, activating our faith in love.

Join the Grand Canyon Synod in honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a special Celebration of Diversity event on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 3-5 pm. This commemorative service will be held at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, AZ. The event will feature inspiring worship, reflection, and community gathering, with Bishop Yehiel Curry of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod preaching in Tempe.

Teranga, Hospitalidad, and the Spirit of Generosity

This Advent season, as we wait in hopeful anticipation for the gift of Christ’s birth, I find myself reflecting deeply on gifts and generosity. Not just the kind we wrap in paper and ribbons, but the kind we experience through the Spirit—the gifts of love, grace, and community that bind us together as one church, one body of Christ.

Ms. Cayce, who teaches 21 kindergartners at Imagine East Mesa School took us on a tour to “Kristin’s Closet” (the “Giving Gang” support to those in need), and IEM principal, Dr. Melynda Hache affirmed that IEM students are looking forward to joining the Food for Kidz food pack in February.

Thank you once again for the generosity of New Journey participation in the Angel Tree for a family at Imagine East Mesa School. The gifts were blessed at New Journey's December 15 worship service: "Bless these Christmas gifts, O God, and the hands that purchased and wrapped them. May Jonah, Jaliyah, Josiah, and their mother find wonder and happiness in their use, and may these gifts be a sign of your love to all people."

During Advent, our community came together for delightful soup suppers and midweek worship, centered around the theme: “Words for the Beginning.” Advent marks a time of both endings and beginnings, as the calendar year ends and a new church year starts. We embraced this season of transitions with Holden Evening Prayer and Community Soup Suppers on Wednesday evenings. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed soup and bread.

Your Congregation Council has been diligently working to produce a 2025 Mission Plan that prioritizes the mission and vision God has given to us: "an instrument of God's love for all."

Join us for a special ZOOM meeting on Monday, January 6 at 5:30 pm to present and discuss the proposed 2025 Mission Plan.

These documents outline our church's strategic goals and the key initiatives we will undertake to fulfill our mission and serve our community.

November Council Meeting Minutes

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

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

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.