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

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

People of New Journey,

During January's Annual Meeting, the Congregation Council made you aware of our lease agreement expiration and shared our intention to discern pathways forward for our congregation’s location. We shared our intention to reach out to members of our congregation for input, feedback, and wisdom. This letter is our first attempt at inviting you into the discernment of our congregation’s space and future.

Enjoy these photos from our recent Lenten Wednesday Night Soup & Study session and our new congregational council:

New Journey’s Church Council has determined that a new ministry team needs to be established titled: Nominating Ministry Team. The Nominating Team is a dedicated group of church members tasked with the responsibility of identifying and recommending qualified individuals for various elected and non-elected positions, including but not limited to the congregation council, ministry leaders, and other key volunteer roles. The team works prayerfully in identifying congregation members to guide and lead our church’s ministries, fostering an environment of faith, love, and service.

Differentiating “Mission Plans” from “Budgets”

This is the second in a series of short articles presenting the current philosophy of the congregation council and their strategic planning activities. Last month’s discussion provided an overview of New Journey’s strategic planning activities. These efforts are influenced by the work of scholars and practitioners at the Luther Seminary and elsewhere that can be described as the “pivot in posture” movement. The goal of this approach is to position congregations and the church at large to meet current and future challenges to the health of organized religious practice. There are four aspects of pivoting.

You can still sign-up today! The focus of the challenge is on positive commitments for self and our neighbors. All details are at www.lentenchallenge.org and also posted on the Red Door at New Journey.

New Journey members and friends have twice written in recent years to support Bread for the World’s annual offering of letters. In light of current federal budget cuts to national and international nutrition programs, and the Grand Canyon Synod’s #1 priority of addressing hunger, our upcoming letter focuses on domestic and world funding for hunger relief. Download a copy of the letter here.

“Right now, Congress is in discussion around the Federal budget. One big factor on the table is cuts to Medicaid, which provides healthcare to around 80 million Americans. The proposed budget would cut $880 billion over a 10 year period. Why is this happening, who would it affect, and what can we do? Here are some basic statistics on who receives Medicaid:

A hard copy of information about the refugee situation, based on the work of Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and Global Refuge (former Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services) is posted on the bulletin board to the left of New Journey’s nametag rack. More resources are available here.

This proposal, which would allow eligible church property to be used for new rental housing is heading for a vote. ELCA has supported these bills in other states in an effort to address shortage of housing and to address homelessness.