Newsletter - Napa Valley Lutheran Church

If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. – John 8:31b-32

As we commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, we are reminded of those powerful words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” In other words, God grants every human being a chance to live freely, radically, and abundantly. To deny this opportunity to any other human being is to restrict the freedom God has ordained. To live or govern in a way that strips another or groups of others of their God-given potential for, not simply survival, but “to have life and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10)” is to directly act against God’s will.

In this passage from John 8 I hear echoes of the woman who gets water from Jacob’s Well. When Jesus tells his disciples “then you will know the truth and the truth will make you free”

I anticipate the question, “but Jesus, what is this truth and how can I know it so that I can be made free?” Jesus identifies an innate sense of bondage we all feel within these human bodies and this life of inequity and injustice. Jesus hears and feels our yearning without one single person in the crowd asking to be saved. As with the woman in Samaria, Jesus answers the question within the statement that prompts it. We are told to “continue in [his] word.”

It is no coincidence that at the time we celebrate these hallowed words of our history the very concept of truth is being questioned. We are told to doubt what our own eyes and minds tell us is true while at the same time we have people trying to twist the Gospel to benefit their own selfish pursuits.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as Jesus’ disciples and bearers of his Gospel we must continue in his word of justice, peace, equity, love, and mercy for all people. We must remember God’s words spoken through the prophet Micah that makes God’s call to each of us so obvious: “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8).” In Jesus’ Gospel, the complexities of civil ethics become plain. The more excuses that are made and the more convoluted the excuses become, the greater the falsehoods attempting to be buried. Friends, we do know the truth! Speaking that truth, living that truth, defending that truth on behalf of those who are unable to for themselves does make us free. And we are free indeed!

Pastor Stephanie

COUNCIL UPDATES

The church council met on June 11. This was the first meeting for both President Linnéa Laufer and Vice-president Jeff Mays. Pastor Stephanie reported on upcoming dates she will be out of town. Plans are continuing for the church + community picnic on July 26. It was voted to not hold a meeting in July due to several expected absences. Council will reconvene on August 13th. The minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the narthex for more details.

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.

SECOND MILE GIVING FOR JULY

Each month we encourage extra gifts to be given to a ministry partner either here in Napa or from our Synod and Churchwide connections. This month we designate our “Second Mile Giving” to our Sierra Pacific Synod Companion Synods, which include the Lutheran Churches in Rwanda, El Salvador, and Taiwan. If you would like to donate to support the ministries of these companion churches, 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.

SUMMER BOOK GROUP UPDATE

We’re taking the summer off but we hope you’ll join us for our next read together, The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage by Richard Rohr. This book is available to order in hardback, audiobook, ebook and large print. You are encouraged to place your order this summer to be prepared when we resume in late August or early September.

This is a book that some who can’t join us on Wednesday mornings may want to discuss, so Pastor Stephanie will plan 2 times each week to meet. If you have a preference for a weeknight evening or a Saturday time (after 10), please let Pastor Stephanie in know so she can schedule these discussions for the most participation.

SIERRA PACIFIC SYNOD ASSEMBLY NEWS

On June 13, Pastor Stephanie, Leanne Martinsen and Jill Jameson attended the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly Business Meeting on Zoom. Below is a summary provided in the Synod Newsletter. It was announced that the 2027 meeting will be held in-person in Sacramento. You are encouraged to consider being one of our voting delegates…we will be selecting our delegates at the annual congregational meeting in February!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly Business Meeting. Your engagement, thoughtful discernment, and commitment to our shared ministry strengthen our life together as the body of Christ.

During the meeting, we elected a new Synod Vice President, Sal Espino (Resurrection Lutheran, Granite Bay), and gave thanks for the faithful leadership of outgoing Vice President Simon Wong (Hope Lutheran, El Sobrante). We also elected Beth Williamson (Davis Lutheran) and The Rev. Dr. Gabriele Schroeder (Faith Lutheran, Meadow Vista) to serve on the Synod Council.

Assembly participants approved resolutions on compensation for rostered leaders and organizing for climate action. We heard a compelling call from Pastor Daniel Solberg (St. Paulus Lutheran, San Francisco) to faithfully resist tyranny and authoritarianism. Treasurer Scott Taylor (St. Mark’s Lutheran, San Francisco) shared news of a clean audit and preparations for the September budget assembly, while Jim Kowalski (St. Francis Lutheran, San Francisco) highlighted the transformational impact of the Synod’s Generosity Team.

As we conclude this year’s assembly, we give thanks for all who served, led, and participated. May God continue to guide the Sierra Pacific Synod as we walk the way of Jesus together!

This webinar might be a good follow-up for NVLC members that read the book Dear Church – A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US by Lenny Duncan earlier this year.

GRATITUDE!

To Napa Valley Lutheran Church:

On behalf of the NCHS Board, our volunteers, and our staff, I want to personally thank you for your generous donation of $1,000.00. Your support is vital as we continue our mission in the preservation, discovery, and presentation of Napa County’s history and heritage…Thank you again for your support and stewardship. You help keep history alive in Napa County.

With much gratitude,

Kaitlyn Scott Moxon

Executive Director, Napa County Historical Society

Editors note: NCHS is the financial sponsor of the Napa Valley Black History Month Celebration. The 10^th annual celebration is being planned for February 2027.

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!

Carol Shirmang reports that she delivered 11 pounds of food to the food bank in May.

Thanks to all who contributed!

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!

# # #