The liturgical season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which is March 6 this year. It goes for 40 days (not counting the Sundays in Lent) and comes to an end on Easter Sunday, April 21. You’ll notice that 40 sounds familiar: the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years; Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. 40 days signifies a good long time. Time long enough to feel unmoored from life as it was prior to the experience of wilderness, time long enough to challenge assumptions of what could be depended on to preserve life. Both for the Israelites and for Jesus, it became clear fast enough that the only thing, the only One, who could sustain them in their wilderness time was God. All … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – January 31, 2019
On February 2, 2019, New Journey will officially be five years old. On that day in 2014, 43 members and associate members signed the charter of our congregation. It was a day that celebrated the official beginning of a new ELCA congregation in Fountain Hills, a congregation that was open and affirming of people regardless of age, sex, race, ability, and sexual orientation. It was a leap of faith that God had something distinctive for this group of people to be and do in this community - that is, be an expression of the expansive love of God for all people. It was a leap of faith that God would provide what this fledgling congregation needed so that it could fulfill that purpose.In these five … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – December 31, 2018
On Saturday, January 5, New Journey begins offering a second worship service. It’s both exciting and a little anxiety producing. Exciting because our worship is so full from January through March that we need to make space for new guests. Exciting because we have an opportunity to offer a worship service that is more contemplative but still grounded in Scripture and the Eucharist. Exciting because the Grand Canyon Synod is partnering with us, providing financial support for this additional service. Exciting because we trust that God will be at work through both of our worship experiences in ways we can’t yet know. I suppose that reality, not knowing how God will work through our … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – November 30, 2018
You don’t need me to tell you that this is a busy time of the year. Once Thanksgiving passes, we are off to the races. Some of us are already shopping for Christmas. Others are in the process of getting Christmas decorations up. Christmas gatherings fill many of our schedules. We here at New Journey will be adding Wednesday night soup suppers and the singing of Marty Haugen’s “Holden Evening Prayer” to our activities. And of course, there is the planning of who will be where and with whom for Christmas Eve worship and family Christmas celebrations. These are not bad things. Our spirits soar as we anticipate Christ’s coming anew this year and as we anticipate special music and worship. Our … [Read more...]
Pastor Adele’s Message – October 31, 2018
I want to thank the members of New Journey who attended the prayer service at the Chabad Jewish Center this past Sunday. We remembered those who were murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania. We gave thanks for the response of communities around the country to their Jewish neighbors. We offered up our prayers to God who is with us through such troubling times. The rabbi was clearly moved by the presence of other people of faith. There were not enough chairs for everyone who came to share their respects and to let our Jewish neighbors know that we are with them. Whether you are currently in Fountain Hills or somewhere else, please make an attempt to get to … [Read more...]