Newsletter - Napa Valley Lutheran Church

SIGNS AND WONDERS

Throughout the month of August, the lectionary has us reading about Jesus’ miracles. Through Jesus thousands are fed with a meagre picnic offering, the disciples are spared a capsized boat when he calms a storm and are frightened by him walking to them on the water, and a woman’s daughter is healed of an unholy spirit tormenting her. We are told that Jesus performs these miracles so that those who see and hear may also have faith. We’re left asking a question, though. Do these miracles simply show us that Jesus is who he says he is, or has Jesus done these miracles to remind us just how unlimited God’s power can be when we allow God full reign of a situation?

Last November the Gifts and Service team asked us to Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do with Napa Valley Lutheran Church. I’ve asked a couple of times here in the newsletter whether you’ve been pondering. This month, let’s open the doors and windows so God can move us in unexpected directions! How big will we let God be? What desire or dream has been too scary to utter? How many baskets of bread and fish will God multiply into extra? It’s time to reach out and see what Jesus will do with us, through us, for us, in spite of us!

In anticipation,

Pastor Stephanie

pon·der \ ˈpän-dər \verb
1 : to think about or consider carefully, especially before deciding or acting
synonyms consider, contemplate, speculate, reflect, study, weigh, deliberate, debate, meditate, muse, brood, ruminate, digest, toy with, think over, play around with
example “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”

PONDER ANEW WHAT THE ALMIGHTY CAN DO

……Wait for it…….

On Sunday August 30^th ponder out loud with us

Come join in the dialog

NEW BOOK DISCUSSION BEGINNING AUGUST 19TH

Join Pastor Stephanie in discussing Richard Rohr’s book The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage
Wednesdays from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Luther Hall.

Pastor Stephanie would also like to gather those desiring to read and discuss this book who cannot meet during a weekday at a local café/coffee spot during an evening or Saturday morning time. If you wish to participate in this “off-site” group, please let Pastor Stephanie know before August 8 so she can organize a time and place to announce in worship.

Books can be ordered through Napa Bookmine, Barnes and Noble, Amazon or your favorite e-reader store. Large print and audiobook editions are also available.

BLESSING THE BACKPACKS AND THE BOOK BAGS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL!

Are you a student, teacher, administrator, professor or other school worker?

As the academic year begins, we’d like to send you off to your work with a special blessing. Join us on Sunday, August 9th – bring your backpack, lunch bag, briefcase or other item you might always make sure to take from home to school with you for a special blessing. Friends and neighbors are also invited to bring their gear to be blessed with us!

SECOND MILE GIVING FOR AUGUST – LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRIES

Each month we encourage you to offer extra support for one or more of our fine Synod, Churchwide, or Napa community ministries. This month our Second Mile offerings will go to three entities: Lutheran Campus Ministry, California Lutheran University (CLU) and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS). Lutheran Campus ministry serves college students at many campuses in our area, including UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Founded in 1959, CLU is home to more than 3,078 undergraduate and 1,324 graduate students who come from more than 49 countries and represent a wide variety of faiths. The mission of the university is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Since 1952, PLTS has equipped faithful leaders who enliven the church and care for the world. PLTS is one of eight seminaries of the ELCA. Colleen Windham-Hughes, Rector of PLTS, will join us for worship on Sunday, August 23^rd. Please keep Lutheran Campus Ministry, CLU & PLTS in your prayers this month and consider an additional offering toward its ministries. Checks can be made out to NVLC, with Second Mile Giving on the memo line, and include with your offering any time this month. Thank you!

ATTENTION: THRIVENT MEMBERS

As you probably know, a benefit of your membership is the chance to plan and carry out a “Thrivent Action Team”. Several of our members have taken advantage of this opportunity to gather a volunteer team of friends, family or neighbors to put on a fundraiser, educational event or service activity, such as organizing a drive to collect school supplies, winter gloves and socks, and canned food for the food bank. Thrivent provides the resources you need to get started, including up to $250 in seed money. Clients with benefit membership are eligible to lead up to two Thrivent Action Teams per calendar year. Think about what you want to do, and when you might schedule it. You might want to coordinate with second mile giving months, and avoid the Christmas season, so that conflicts are avoided and our generous members are able to participate.

MUSIC NOTES – David Hamilton

As we pass the halfway point of summer, it’s time to look forward to the fall and the return of… Choir!

Yes, after a well-received Lent and Easter season earlier this year, the Choir will be back starting in September to add their songs to our worship life here at NVLC. Singers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Practice is on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:15 pm, starting on September 1, with the goal of singing an anthem every other week (or so) and supporting the congregation’s singing every Sunday. With the Season of Creation, Reformation Day, and All Saints Sunday coming up, and Advent and Christmas already on the horizon, we’ll have the chance to sing some familiar songs and learn some new ones, too. Questions? Talk to David Hamilton, choir director, for more information. See you in September!

NVLC VOLUNTEERS AT THE NAPA FOOD BANK

Six of our members, David and Denise Hamilton, Bill Parks, Jim Warnock, and Tom and Carol Shirmang all helped pack boxes with dairy products and fresh fruit and vegetables that will go to families in Napa County. The food bank depends on volunteers to help get food to folks who have trouble affording healthy food for their families and delivers to seniors that may not be able to shop for groceries. Many people in our community depend on this resource.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Carol and she will help you get connected with the food bank.

She delivered 11 pounds of food to the food bank in July. Hunger and food insecurity are year-round challenges for many in our community, so please continue to contribute non-perishable items as you are able. Just leave items in the shopping cart in the narthex, and we will collect them to deliver to the food bank facility.

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE. THEN WHAT?

Starting last month, NVLC has a new janitorial team. After a conversation regarding our commitment to earth stewardship (as well as avoiding compliance fines from Napa Recycling and Waste), they are clear that whatever we place in a GREEN bin is a compostable item and should be emptied into our brown curbside bins; whatever we place in a BLUE bin is recyclable and will be emptied into our blue curbside bin; and anything we place in a BLACK or GRAY bin goes to the landfill and should be dumped along with the bin liners into our gray curbside bin. That being said, our team does not use green compostable bin liners because they degrade faster than is useful for a once a week service. So, even if you see a plastic trash bag in a bin for recycling or compost, please be assured that the contents of the bin is being disposed of properly and the bags themselves will be used for trash and not placed into the wrong collection.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE CORRECT BINS. If colors are a difficulty for you, please refer to the labels outside the bin that designate Compost, Recycle, or Trash.

Thanks for your assistance and stewardship in caring for our facility and God’s creation.

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

CHRIST IN OUR HOME: The July, August and September 2026 booklets are available now. If you would like to have one of these delivered to your home, please contact the church office at secretary@napavalleylutheran.org or 707-226-8166 to make arrangements.

THE WOMEN OF NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH are invited to meet together each month in Luther Hall. Our next meeting is Wednesday July15 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are interested, please notify Pastor Stephanie so she can make sure you are mailed your own copy of Gather, the quarterly magazine published by WELCA. During our meetings we discuss the themes presented in the magazine along with projects we may be interested in supporting or undertaking ourselves. Gather with us for community, prayer, and partnership in the Gospel. Please also let Pastor Stephanie know if you wish to be included but are unable to attend our monthly meetings.

LUNCH BUNCH will be on Thursday July 23 at 12:45 PM at Hop Creek, in the Browns Valley Center. Call Carol Holmes for reservations.

SYNOD WOMEN’S RETREAT

SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat will be held September 11–13, 2026 at the San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, CA. Join us for a meaningful weekend of community, reflection, and renewal. Stay tuned for more details about guest speakers, workshops, and possible discounts!

Thank you to the members of our congregation that have been sending in your contributions to the church office. It is much appreciated. Your financial giving to NVLC is still necessary for us to meet the needs of the congregation. Remember, that although we did not provide boxes of offering envelopes, as in past years, we still have the opportunity to make special offerings for special occasions, any occasion that is special to you!

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