It’s “all hands on deck!” for God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday, September 8:

New Journey’s 10:00 a.m. service will include 3 hands-on projects. Please join us for a joyful and difference-making morning as we, together:

• Pack 200 lunches to be delivered to Wesley United Methodist Church in South Phoenix, one of 14 sites of Arizona Faith Network’s 2024 heat respite project. Like Grace Lutheran, and their partner First United Church of Christ, in Central Phoenix – where New Journey’s first 600 lunches of the summer were distributed – WUMC serves persons experiencing homelessness at their location and via smaller nearby hubs. Wesley’s heat respite coordinator noted last week: “Thank you so so much for all this. You guys have no idea how this has helped carry things.”

• Pack 24 Kindness Kits for Circle the City. Circle the City provides healthcare to individuals facing homelessness in Maricopa County. New Journey is joining with Northeast Valley Consortium partner, Christ the Lord – Carefree, to provide the kits so that those who receive care are able to take with them useful personal care items to bolster their health and well-being. This project is funded by a grant from Thrivent and a private donation.

• Once again, bring non-perishable food items for the annual Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona 9/11 memorial food drive. Our food donations will go to Extended Hands Food Bank, here in Fountain Hills. ISBA notes that this multi-faith event “demonstrates that the same spirit that drove the first responders and others to care for complete strangers on 9/11, is still alive by uniting our communities to provide food for the most needy.” The EHFB website lists mac ‘n cheese, fruit, peanut butter and jelly as high need items. The 9/11 drive site also lists additional items that can be contributed. If you bring items on Sunday 9/8, please place them in or near the EHFB barrel which will be placed in the worship area.

Dear fellow members of New Journey Lutheran Church,

The dictionary defines stewardship as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.“  As faithful followers, we recognize the wisdom in the book of Peter, 4:10-11:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Like many of you I find it hard to believe that we are more than halfway through the year and as we approach the season when we celebrate important holidays and milestones it is important as “careful managers” that the Council report on the progress of our 2024 Mission Spending Plan.

The New Journey fourth lunch pack wraps up the NEVC 2024 summer heat respite collaborative project, which has provided over 2,600 lunches, individual servings of electrolyte power, and 5+ pallets of water to save lives in our greater community. Funded by a generous grant from NEVC partner, Ascension Lutheran Church, the project’s success has benefitted from generous gifts of volunteer time for shopping, preparation, packing, delivery, and distribution.

What’s on the social ministry calendar for the balance of 2024?

9/29/24: 5th Sunday letter-writing – We will likely include thank you letters to our U.S. legislators for their continuing support of HR8940, Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement as well advocacy on crucial hunger legislation. If you have other ideas, please let Kris Bartanen or Liz Peterson know.

Mid-December: Imagine East Mesa School “Angel Tree” gifts.

We are excited to announce our upcoming ministry team meetings!

These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to come together, share our progress, and plan for the future. Your presence and input are invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our community.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Here are the dates for September:

• Stewardship—September 3

• Executive Council—September 5

• Congregational Council—September 10

The Phoenix Connectors of the Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest are a network of dedicated volunteer leaders across Phoenix and Southern Arizona. Their unwavering commitment to service is vital in linking congregations with the mission to uplift and support those in need.

We are especially proud to highlight that our very own Kris Bartanen is one of the LSS-SW Phoenix Connectors!

With the energy from the recent ELCA Young Adult Gathering still buzzing, there’s a new chance for young adults in the Phoenix area to connect and grow. Starting this September, young adults from the Grand Canyon Synod can join monthly events focused on connection, fun, and spiritual growth.