Extended Hands Food Bank is facing a critical need for turkeys to help families enjoy a holiday meal during a challenging season. With uncertainty in food assistance programs, many neighbors are struggling to put food on the table.

In New Journey’s tradition (since Fall 2023), we will hold our 8th letter-signing on Sunday, November 30, raising our Lutheran voices in the public square on the topics of climate and immigration. Draft letters are posted on the Red Door at church and linked below.

New Journey’s pastoral Transition Team invites members currently in Fountain Hills to sign up for a small-group listening session, to be held at church, between November 24 and December 16. The purpose of the listening sessions is to provide broad input for our self-study, in preparation for calling a next pastor.

Thanks to the faithful mission support of congregations like New Journey Lutheran Church, the Grand Canyon Synod is celebrating a record-breaking milestone: six ordinations in 2025, with a seventh scheduled for December—the most in our synod’s history! For the first time, we’ve also welcomed two deacons into Word and Service Ministry.

We need a few extra hands to support our streaming ministry. Right now, our team is down to just a couple of people—and with recent health challenges, we could really use your help!

The role of Treasurer is essential to the life of New Journey Lutheran Church. This position ensures responsible financial management in accordance with our Financial Policy. Key responsibilities include:

The season of hope, peace, joy, and love is here—let’s gather and rejoice together!

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the New Journey office will be closed Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28.

We wish everyone a safe, joyful, and blessed holiday weekend filled with gratitude, family, and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at New Journey!

The Grand Canyon Synod invites all congregations and ministry partners to share their seasonal worship services, community events, and reflections on the 2025 Advent and Christmas page.

We’re grateful to share that the Northeast Valley Consortium Heat Respite project has once again been funded for 2026 by Ascension Lutheran Church. This support will make it possible to prepare at least 16 lunch packs, just as we did in 2025.

Fifth Sundays are our shared opportunity to bring voices of faith into the public square. Whether you're a year-round or seasonal member—or a friend of New Journey—you’re invited to participate in expressing our hopes to policymakers.

New Journey did a fantastic job on God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday—you filled the food donation barrel to overflowing! Thank you!

As we move into November, even if partial government contingency funds for SNAP and WIC are released, they will take time to reach those in need. So let’s keep the momentum going. Please consider filling the barrel again this Sunday, November 9, to help neighbors facing food insecurity get through the month.

When I was a child going to our Children’s Chapel, I would put my coins into a small church envelope for offering. As the years went by, the envelope got bigger and so did the coins going into it. Then it was checks into the envelope and today, it’s online giving.

Times change but not my commitment to give to my church home. I bless my parents for raising me to go to church and instilling in me a servant’s heart.

Dear New Journey Friends and Family, 

1 Peter 4:10 reminds us: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 

With grateful hearts, we recognize the many gifts given to us and through us. God is guiding us together on this journey, and at New Journey, we continue to faithfully use our time, talent, and treasure in service to others. Let us reflect on how we’ve done so over the past year: 

Thanks to everyone who helped make Reformation Sunday special! Enjoy these snapshots from a joyful day of worship and community.

Please mark your calendars and plan to participate in an important weekend with New Journey’s Transition Consultant, Pastor Dominic Palacios. His visit is a key step in helping us envision the future of New Journey Lutheran Church and prepare for calling our next pastor.

To read the approved October Congregation Council Meeting minutes, click here.

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

Greetings, fellow sojourners!

I’d like to invite anyone who wants to learn a little bit about the upcoming Sunday lessons to stop by the church at noon on Wednesdays. It’ll be an informal time to look at the readings and talk about them together. You’re welcome to bring a bag lunch if you’d like.

Enjoy a joyful afternoon of music and community at the fourth annual Sing-Along of Handel’s Messiah, presented by The Arts at Ascension.

Hunger Advocacy in Action

New Journey’s Red Door now features updated ELCA World Hunger resources, including a report from Kris Bartanen on the 2025 ELCA Hunger Leadership Gathering held in Columbus, Ohio.

Highlights from the Gathering: