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Our congregation's purpose statement: Called and empowered to proclaim the radical love of Christ through lives of service.

May 11, 2025

Dear Siblings in Christ,

As we journey through this season of Easter, we hear the stories of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives by choosing to follow Jesus and "The Way." N.T. Wright once wrote that the Tabithas of the world, our follower in this Sunday's story from Acts, was an example of "the beating heart of the people of God."

Many of us have stories of people we, too, would describe as ordinary people, living extraordinary lives - through their actions, their love, their faithfulness. I invite you to participate in my sermon this week by sharing your story with me and our community. Share a story of someone you know (keep it brief, please!) and I will share as many as I can during the message - others will be displayed in the narthex or shared in our Facebook group with your permission.

Click on the link below to use the form to share your story!

https://forms.gle/SipVK9Bhvyo5uGw89

Faithfully yours,

Pastor Naomi

"Tabitha" by Sarah Beth Baca Art, sarahbethart.com. Used with permission.

Sunday Bulletin

and Online Worship Link

Click here or the picture above to access the Sunday 10:00a worship bulletin.

Click here for live-streaming of the 10:00a worship service.

Calendar

This Sunday, May 11 ~ 4th Sunday of Easter (Mother's Day)

+8:00a -- Gospel Discussion + Communion (formerly Discussion Eucharist): Learning Center.
9:00a to 9:45a -- Adult Faith Formation: Activities Room.
9:00a to 9:45a -- Kindergarten-5th grade Sunday School: Learning Center.
+10:00a -- Sunday Celebration: Sanctuary. (In-person and live-streamed on YouTube)
11:15a -- Fellowship Time: Join us for conversation and refreshments in the narthex and front patio.

+ Service includes Holy Communion.

Monday, May 12

The church office is closed on Mondays.

Tuesday, May 13

Tuesday through Friday, 9:00a to 3:00p -- Church Office is open: Use the south entry door and ring the doorbell if the door is locked.

Wednesday, May 14

Noon -- Articles are due for "Weekly Footnotes": Church Office.
2:00p to 3:00p -- Neighborhood Interaction Team: Activities Room.
4:30p to 6:00p -- Los Campaneros handbell rehearsal: Activities Room.

Thursday, May 15

10:00a to 11:30a -- Thursday Journey: Activities Room.

Friday, May 16

3:45p -- Primavera Men's Shelter hot stew items due: Bring food items to the kitchen area and put a checkmark beside your name on the signup sheet.
5:45p to 8:00p -- AA PreWeekenders & Al-Anon Sunset: Activities Room. (Community Groups)

Saturday, May 17

10:00a to 12:00p -- Marsha Rianda celebration of life and reception: Sanctuary and Activities Room.

Coming Up

May 18 -- Welcome & Inclusivity team meeting
May 18 -- Ji-Young Piano Studio Recital (Community Group)
May 19 to 23 -- WEST HALLWAY & OFFICES CLOSED for tile installation. Use the east front doors for access.
May 19 -- Pray Without Ceasing at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church chapel
May 20 -- Council meeting
May 31 -- Don Schultz memorial service

Celebration of Life for Marsha Rianda

The Rianda family invites you to a celebration of life for Marsha Rianda on May 17 at 10:00a. A luncheon reception will be held immediately after the service in the Activities Room. Volunteers are still needed to bring sides, desserts, and help with serving and clean up. The signup sheet is located on the Activities Counter.

~The Hospitality Team

Community Service

May and June Community Service Emphasis: Interfaith Community Services

Interfaith Community Services (ICS) in Tucson, Arizona, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing pathways leading people to live more stable and self-sufficient lives. ICS serves older and disabled adults, as well as individuals facing financial crises. The organization collaborates with over 100 diverse faith communities and relies on a broad network of volunteers. Notably, over 36% of ICS's volunteers come from its member faith organizations. ICS believes that by “working side by side, we can accomplish more than any single organization could do alone. Together, we are a strong resource, helping those in need with Love, Cooperation, and Service.”

Here’s a synopsis of ICS’s key activities and services:

Support for Disabled and Older Adults: ICS offers programs that help older adults and individuals with disabilities maintain their independence at home. Services include transportation to medical appointments and grocery stores, home-delivered meals (Mobile Meals), and ICS Help at Home, which, among other services, provides friendly visits to combat isolation.
Emergency Assistance: ICS offers a safety net for individuals and families facing financial hardship. Services include emergency financial assistance for essential needs like rent and utilities, a food bank that provides nutritious food, and a mobile food bank for those with transportation limitations. Additional support includes help with obtaining IDs and birth certificates, small car repairs, and back-to-work expenses.
Life Advancement Programs: ICS fosters long-term stability through programs focused on employment assistance, financial literacy, and job coaching. Notably, the Single Mom Scholars Program supports single mothers in pursuing higher education.
Volunteer Engagement: Volunteers are central to ICS’s mission, contributing time and talents across various programs. ICS offers a variety of volunteer opportunities and provides training and support to ensure a meaningful experience.
Food Security Initiatives: In addition to its regular food bank, ICS operates a Mobile Food Bank to reach underserved areas and hosts Free Produce Giveaways from May through November to provide access to nutritious food.
Financial Stability Focus: A key goal for ICS is to help individuals and families move beyond immediate crises toward greater self-sufficiency through a range of support services and financial literacy courses.

In the fiscal year 2024, ICS served over 60,000 people in Pima County, showcasing the significant impact of their comprehensive services on the local community. The organization operates efficiently, with a low administrative and fundraising cost, thanks to the dedication of its volunteers.

Call to action - ICS can use your support in many ways! Please consider any of the following:

Donate money at church or online here.
Volunteer your time through many different volunteer opportunities.
Contribute to the food drive. We have a box for food donations year round in the narthex.
In July LCF contributes to the Peanut Butter Party Food Drive and bring in your jars of peanut butter.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit the ICS Volunteer Page.

It's Not Too Late to Make a Difference This Spring!

You are invited to one of TIHAN's (Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network) Spring Volunteer Orientations. This is your chance to learn about the incredible volunteer opportunities at TIHAN. Whether you're passionate about direct service, administrative support, or fundraising, they have a spot just for you!

The next volunteer orientation is Saturday, May 10, from 9:30a to 12:00p at their new offices at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1200 N. Campbell, Tucson. TIHAN is recruiting for over a dozen volunteer roles, including:

Operations Assistants - help with the front desk and general office support.
Link Specialists - provide vital information, referrals, and support to people living with HIV.
Community Ambassadors - represent TIHAN at events, sharing resources and information with the community.

Advanced registration is required. Contact TIHAN at 520-299-6647 or email volunteering@tihan.org

Signups Still Needed for the Primavera Hot Stew Delivery May 16!

Our next opportunity to provide a hot stew dinner at the Primavera Men's Shelter is May 16. You can participate by signing up on the clipboard on the Activities Counter or calling the church office to indicate that you will prepare the food in your home kitchen, provide side dishes and desserts, or serve the meal at the Shelter. As of this newsletter, the following are still needed:

1 signup for hot stew
3 signsups for salad and salad dressing
2 signups for 2 dozen soft rolls
1 signup for dessert

Remember, menu contributions need to be at the church on or before 3:45p so our serving team has time to pack the items for transport to the Shelter (which is on Benson Highway near the Veterans’ Hospital) and to set up the buffet table for service beginning promptly at 5:00p. Note that the church building closes at 3:00p, and the south entrance will be open briefly at 3:45p when the serving team arrives to start packing your food contributions.

Please bring items in at serving temperature and in covered disposable containers (except the stew is brought in the LCF stew containers with lids). Put your menu contributions in the kitchen area and make a checkmark beside your name on the sign-up sheet when you bring in your food.

Thank you for your participation in this ministry! For more information contact Sylvia Strauss-Kolb.

~ Community Service Team

Life Together

You are invited to a special birthday celebration May 11!

Dorothy Loescher, a long-time member of our congregation, is celebrating her 99th year of a wonderful life! Her actual birthday is May 10, but we're celebrating on Sunday, May 11. Join us immediately after the 10:00a service in the Activities Room for birthday cake and an opportunity to share congratulations with Dorothy.

~Hospitality Team

Photo by Lan Gao on Unsplash

Let’s Take God’s Love

Into the Neighborhood

Join the Conversation – Wednesday, May 14

at 2:00 p.m.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Is your heart on fire to serve—burning as brightly as the Arizona sun?
Do you have ideas for how Lutheran Church of the Foothills can show our Tucson neighbors that God loves them—and so do we?
Are you looking for ways to step beyond the church walls and make a real difference in our community?

If you said “yes” or even “maybe,” then this meeting is for you.

You’re invited to gather with the Neighborhood Interaction Team on Wednesday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Activities Room. We’ll be brainstorming and planning for the rest of 2025—imagining new ways to connect, to serve, and to share the radical love of Christ through our actions.

So far this year, we’ve organized a group to attend Lutheran Day at the Legislature and are rallying volunteers for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix this summer. Looking ahead, we’re dreaming up joyful opportunities like Tucson Meet Yourself, Pride in the Desert, the SANDS Walk, and more.

But we need your energy, ideas, and passion. Come help shape our shared mission:

To build relationships with our neighbors
To respond to real needs with grace and generosity
To live as inclusive, justice-focused followers of Jesus

Whether you’re full of ideas or just curious about how to get involved, we want you at the table. Can’t make it? Share your thoughts ahead of time with Kristen Birner or Leslie Johnson.

Let’s go beyond the building—and let God’s love shine in Tucson.

~ Leslie Johnson, leader

Neighborhood Interaction Team

Thursday Journey Featured Speaker May 15: Dr. Gene Hoyme on "The Genetics of Gender"

During the month of May, the Thursday Journey discussion will involve the current topic: Loving My Neighbor. On May 15, the series will focus on the LGBTQIA+ community with a presentation by Dr. Gene Hoyme entitled, "The Genetics of Gender."

Join us as we continue to explore the question "Who is my neighbor?" in bold new ways, and how we can love them when the needs of so many people are currently at risk. As a Reconciling in Christ church, we welcome all to our community, and in doing so, we invite them to bring their whole selves, their story, their joys, and challenges. Knowing our neighbors' stories is an important part of being able to welcome them to our community.

Thursday Journey meets every Thursday from 10:00a to 11:30a in person in the Activities Room at church.

West Hallway and Office Closure: May 19-23

The offices and west hallway of the church will be closed for tile installation May 19-23. Community and church groups must use the front doors to access the church. Volunteers are needed to help with packing boxes on May 16 and unpacking boxes on May 24. Hired movers will be moving the boxes, equipment, and furniture to the Activities Room on May 19. For more information, contact Bethany Boyd or Marty Lueking.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

“Miss Benson’s Beetle” at Read & Yak on May 24, 12:00p to 1:30p

You are invited to join us on Saturday, May 24, as Karen Nickey leads a discussion of Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. This is a poignant fictional novel set in 1950. It follows Margery Benson, a downtrodden schoolteacher who embarks on a life-changing adventure in search of her childhood obsession: the elusive golden beetle of New Caledonia. The novel explores themes of female friendship, courage, and self-discovery as Margery teams up with another woman to navigate challenges and discover their best selves together.

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. Bring your lunch to enjoy as we yak, and join us either in person in the Activities Room at church or online via Zoom. 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:

📖 June 28: Why Fathers Cry at Night – Kwame Alexander (Memoir)

📖 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)

📖 September 27: The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History – John Barry (Nonfiction/History)

~ Leslie Johnson,

for the Read & Yak Book Discussion Group

What Part Can You Play in a Changing Church?

Each Sunday (except Easter Sunday) through May 18th from 9:00a to 9:45a in the Activities Room, journey with renowned author and emergent Christian leader Brian McLaren in the video series, "Seeking Aliveness: Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation." Drawing on the themes from his book We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation, he will offer up much food for thought for small groups both inside and outside the walls of the church, encouraging us to walk boldly into new forms and possibilities that are before us.

"Where Two or More Are Gathered: Flourishing in Relationships" Bible Study with Rev. Brooke Petersen

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the bonds we form with others provide strength, inspiration, and growth. This summer, delve into a profound exploration of the dynamics of human connection. Rev. Brooke Petersen, author of the Summer 2025 Gather Bible Study, will share tips on leading the 3 sessions of the study and some insights that will enhance the learning experience for everyone!

Hosted by the Women of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, this event will be held online via Zoom on Saturday, May 17 from 9:00a to 11:00a. You can join on your own for a $10 fee or gather as a group for $25. Click here to register online.

If you haven't already subscribed to the award-winning Gather magazine, you can do so for a reduced fee of $9.95 for the first year. Each year, you will receive 6 issues in the mail and digital access to the magazine. Go to https://www.gathermagazine.org to subscribe today!

Refugees still need our help

Look for the “Refugee Crisis” display on the Activities Counter at church to learn about the many ways you can help Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) continue its commitment to help refugees become self-sufficient in their new homes in Tucson and Phoenix. For even more information, visit Refugee Crisis Page — Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (www.lss-sw.org), or talk with others at LCF who have experience volunteering with their Refugee and Immigration Services.

~Community Service Team