Dear Siblings in Christ,

At some point, we all find ourselves facing moments of change, grief, or uncertainty—personally, communally, or within the life of the church. In these times, it’s natural to want to offer the right words—something to ease the discomfort or bring clarity. But often, there simply aren’t easy answers. And in trying to help, we may unintentionally say things that deepen the hurt.

So, what can we say when we don’t know what to say? Start with presence. Your quiet companionship often speaks louder than explanations or solutions. A simple, honest, “This is hard, and I care about you,” or “I’m here with you,” can go a long way.

Avoid the urge to minimize or make sense of what someone is feeling. Phrases like “It will all work out” or “At least…” can unintentionally dismiss real pain and struggle.

Instead, let compassion guide your words:

• “This isn’t easy. I don’t have the perfect words, but I’m with you.”
• “Would you like to talk, or just sit together?”
• “You’re not alone in this.”

And when words fail, show love through actions: a note, a meal, a kind gesture, or simply showing up.

We follow a Savior who sat with the grieving, walked with the confused, and shared in the burdens of human life. Jesus didn’t offer quick fixes—he offered presence, truth, and love.

Sometimes the most faithful thing we can say is, “I don’t know what to say—but I’m here.” That is enough. That is grace. That is the beginning of healing.

Faithfully yours,

Pastor Naomi

Thank You for Your Faithful Support!

Since January 2025, Lutheran Church of the Foothills has donated 192 pounds of non-perishable food items to Interfaith Community Services (ICS). Thanks to all the faithful grocery shoppers! Place your non-perishable food items in the basket at the west end of the Activities Counter.

As a reminder, the ICS peanut butter drive is coming in July--start stocking up! Once again they hope to collect 10,000 jars of peanut butter for food insecure families. Last year we donated over 200 jars of peanut butter. Thank you.

~Beth Daum

“As Much As We Can For As Long As We Can”

On June 4, Beth & Bryan Daum, Karol Marshall, and Leslie Johnson attended a meeting updating how Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) is helping refugees. Since January 24, 2025, when federal funding ended and refugee arrivals sharply declined, LSS-SW has relied heavily on community support to sustain its refugee services.

The overwhelming message of that meeting–as expressed by staff members including CEO Connie Phillips, the Director of Refugee Services, and the President of the Board of Directors–is how grateful LSS-SW is for the support of its donors and volunteers during this time of uncertainty and upheaval.

Thanks to this support, LSS-SW has been able to continue its services to 70 refugee families in Tucson (and another 120 families in Phoenix). From January through May, in Tucson alone LSS-SW made over $100,300 in utility and rent payments to prevent evictions. In addition, the number of volunteers has increased both by individuals and by groups who agreed to be co-sponsors of refugee families (as our Resettlement Team at Lutheran Church of the Foothills did a few years ago).

Sadly, none or very few of the 878 refugees who on January 24 had been scheduled to come to Arizona will now be able to enter the country. But for those who arrived before that date LSS-SW intends, with your help, to continue serving them–as much as they can and for as long as they can. 

Go to https://www.lss-sw.org/ to donate your money or volunteer your time to support Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest continue its work of helping refugees settling in Arizona become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. 

~ Leslie Johnson and Beth Daum

Baby Items Needed by June 12!

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) is holding a Baby Shower to honor their Refugee Clients in Tucson. They are accepting donations this week so they can give each expectant family items to care for their newest member.

Donations for shower gifts are due to LSS-SW by Thursday, June 12 at their office on the north side of Broadway one block west of N Alvernon Way. The delivery address is Refugee Services, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, 3777 East Broadway Boulevard, Suite 100, Tucson AZ 85716. The June 12 deadline will give LSS-SW staff time to prepare the gift bags for the event. Items needed are:

• Diapers
• Swaddles
• Baby Wipes
• Board Books
• Stuffed Animals
• 12 Strollers
• Bassinets
• Toiletries
• Baby Clothing
• Diaper Bags
• Carriers
• $25 Gift Cards

You can shop in person locally and deliver the items yourself, or go online and have your purchases delivered directly to LSS-SW by Thursday, June 12. (For your convenience, here is the link to the “LSS Baby Shower” Wish List at amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/37KGGTWYMD24A?ref_=wl_share )

If you would like to attend this joyous occasion, you must RSVP to Reilly Phelan at rphelan@LSS-SW.org so she can send you the details.

~ Leslie Johnson

Link to Grand Canyon Synod Assembly Home Page

Follow the happenings of the Grand Canyon Synod Assembly this weekend, June 12-13, at Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Click here to visit the Assembly home page and access the quick links to obtain attendee vital information, watch the live stream on Community Lutheran Church's website, read information about the special events, and more.

Be a Part of Shaping the Future of Our Denomination

Our Grand Canyon Synod is hosting the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix this summer, and needs up to 100 volunteers to help make this gathering a success. Volunteering your time and talents will give you an opportunity to meet fellow Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Christians from all over the United States and the Caribbean, and will give our guests a friendly and positive experience while in our Synod. You’ll be helping the voting members of the Assembly elect our new churchwide bishop and churchwide secretary (terms are expiring), discern and decide policy, and partake in worship services. Churchwide Assemblies are held every three years at various locations around the nation, and it is an honor to be involved in whatever way you can.

Volunteers are needed at the Phoenix Convention Center from July 26 through August 2, 2025. There are many ways you can give a “hot” Grand Canyon greeting to our guests–sign up now to volunteer for a few hours or several days and choose to assist with registration, hospitality, worship support, or tech support. To explore your options and learn the details, follow this link: Volunteer: 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly — Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA. There you will find volunteer days, times, and tasks that you can sign up for; information about hotel discounts; and answers to frequently asked questions. Please join other volunteers in this opportunity to practice radical hospitality and contribute to the work of the church in a meaningful way. 

~ Leslie Johnson, Leader

Neighborhood Interaction Team

Donors and Donees Meet

Representing our Hellene Henrikson Legacy Fund, on June 3, Kristen Birner and Leslie Johnson attended the Spring 2025 CORE Grant Celebration at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA). Through our participation in this year’s CORE Grant program, the Hellene Henrikson Legacy Fund Board granted a total of $61,500:

• $30,000 to Flowers & Bullets (this was their entire grant request).
• $20,000 to Native American Advancement Foundation (the Topaz Fund contributed additional dollars to complete their grant request).
• $11,500 to Native Seeds/SEARCH (an Anonymous Donor and the Reuling Family Native American Programs Fund completed their grant request).

Kristen and Leslie were seated with two representatives from Flowers & Bullets, and they enjoyed sharing stories about Hellene Henrikson’s legacy and about what Flowers & Bullets is doing and plans to do for their neighborhood.

CORE Grants are offered each spring by CFSA to provide general operating support to nonprofits across Southern Arizona. This year 61 nonprofits received CORE Grants of up to $30,000 each. 

The Hellene Henrikson Fund Board chose “Our Native American Neighbors” as their focus for these CORE Grants. This coming fall, the Fund will offer project-specific grants, again in partnership with CFSA.

~ Leslie Johnson, board member

Hellene Henrikson Fund

Honoring All Graduates

If you or a loved one graduated in January or has graduated this spring, including from any grade level or specialty school, please give the name to the church office so we can honor all of our graduates in our "congratulations" list in the June 15 Weekly Footnotes. Please submit the graduate's first and last name, your name and relationship to the graduate, and the type of certificate. You may also include the school's or institution's name and the graduate's future plans. You can also sign up on the clipboard on the Activities Counter. Sign up deadline is June 11.

~ Stacy Bade

Coffee Talk (formerly Thursday Journey) Meets Every Thursday

Through the end of August, Thursday Journey changes its name to Coffee Talk during the summer and meets informally at 10:00a each Thursday at Bruegger's Bagels (at the corner of Swan and Sunrise) for a little food, beverages, and engaging conversation on current events. Thursday Journey will resume in September with a topic yet to be determined.

“Why Fathers Cry at Night” at Read & Yak on June 28, 12:00p to 1:30p

You are invited to join us at noon on Saturday, June 28, for a discussion of Why Fathers Cry at Night by Kwame Alexander. Bring your lunch to enjoy as we talk. Join us in person in the Activities Room or via Zoom. Click here to join the Zoom discussion. Meeting ID: 822 7558 0676 Passcode: 844657

Why Fathers Cry at Night is a genre-bending memoir in poems and prose that explores the themes of love, loss, and life. Kwame Alexander shares his personal stories of growing up, grieving, and finding home with candor, warmth, and grace.

If you are looking to expand your friendships, to join in meaningful conversation, and to have an excuse to enjoy reading a good book, then give this group a try. Whether or not you’ve completed reading the book, whether or not you are affiliated with Lutheran Church of the Foothills, and whether or not you are living in Tucson, you are welcome to participate.

Upcoming Reads:

📖 July 26: The Personal Librarian – Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Historical Fiction)

📖 August 23: House Made of Dawn: A Novel – N. Scott Momaday (Fiction)

~ Leslie Johnson,

for the Read & Yak Book Discussion Group