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Weekly Desert Cross Update -
December 1, 2023
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Faith and life with pastor Andrea | |
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“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
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What makes you “ReJoyce?” Sometimes it’s just the little things. My taste buds recently rejoiced with the delightful surprise of berry basil lemonade sipped on the Desert Botanical Garden patio with my beloved family. Sometimes it’s the cool breeze that provides relief in the heat. Sometimes it’s the smile from a stranger on a hard day. If we’re sick maybe it’s the cool, soft sheets that hold us as we rest. Sometimes it’s a big event like a birth or a wedding that causes our hearts to rejoice with a surge of love. Whatever causes us to rejoice is a pure and many times unexpected gift!
Beloved author C.S. Lewis wrote in Surprised by Joy “... Joy, which is a technical term, must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and Pleasure. Joy has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again. I doubt whether anyone who has tasted joy would ever exchange it for all the pleasure in the world.”
This Advent 2023 we will ponder how to rejoice in this weary world we travel together. The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be a joy-bringer, that he would transform the world, that he would transform lives in despair. When Jesus came to us the angels rejoiced, Joy to the world! Before Jesus departed, he reassured his bereaved followers in John 16:22: “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
As the prophet Nehemiah says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” We can draw on that strength at all times. We may not feel happy. But we can still find small moments to rejoice in the little things that bring us joy. As C.S. Lewis once wrote: “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Remember this and remember it well, the Joy of the Lord is our strength in all circumstances.
ReJoyce,
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Congregational Budget Meeting 2024
As we near the end of this year, it's time for us to gather and chart the course for the future together. We cordially invite you to our upcoming Congregational Budget Meeting this Sunday, December 3rd, at 1 pm in the Tempe Sanctuary.
Whether you prefer to join us in person or online, we've got options for everyone. The meeting will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person, and online voting will be available.
For those opting for online voting, a Google account may be needed to ensure a smooth and secure experience. If you don't have one yet, it's easy to set up!
Your voice matters, and your participation in shaping our annual budget for 2024 is key to our shared success. We appreciate your dedication to our church community and look forward to seeing you on December 3rd.
Agenda:
- Welcome
- Opening prayer
- Financial update
- Update on special offerings
- Special projects
- 2024 Church Budget
- Closing prayer
Budget Highlights:
- Increasing continuing education funds for our staff
- Minimal increase to Operations
- Increase to Ministries, including increased maintenance for Gilbert
- Offering a comprehensive benefit package to our full-time lay staff
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An Update from the Church Council
The council is pleased to announce that Brent Borchers has accepted the position of Treasurer. The council voted him in last week and he will be officially elected into the position at the May congregational meeting. Thank you.
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Creative Spaces needs YOU!
Our tree in Tempe needs ornaments, so please come to the Tempe Sanctuary on Sunday, December 10, between the worship services (9:30 am) to make it beautiful!
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THANK YOU - Be Thankful Food Drive
The "Be Thankful Thanksgiving Food Drive" brought in 933 pounds of dry goods, plus 22 turkeys. That's 1/2 ton of food!
These food items went to the Kyrene Resource Center, Matthew's Crossing, and the Salvation Army. We wish you could have been with us to see the very grateful people who received this food.
On behalf of the Outreach Committee, we would like to thank you over and over for your generosity. You have helped add some brightness to our world for many.
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A Message from Herb Mardany
THANK YOU!
After 43 years as an engineer and manager, I will be retiring at the end of the year. Since the news got out, I have received a lot of love and appreciation from many people, but no more so than from the people of Desert Cross. Shelley and I have been here since 1994 and we are not going anywhere.
Thank you all for supporting me and my family through good times and our challenges during all these years. I just do not understand why more people do not regularly attend a church. I am convinced that they would be happier if they did.
Love and Thanks,
Herb Mardany
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Story Time!
Do you love The Moth Radio Hour where people tell stories from their lives around a particular topic? You’re in luck! The Lutheran congregations of the Fiesta Conference (that’s you!) are gathering for a Fiesta Story Hour on Sunday, December 3 at 6:30 pm at Fibber Magees (1989 W Eliot Rd, Chandler).
Each pastor will share a story they wouldn’t dare share in a sermon, and you are invited to share or simply listen to stories on the topic of “Holy, Hilarious Holidays.” Friends and family are most welcome!
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Adult Forum
Sundays 9:45 - 10:15 am
Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom
OR
Sundays 10:45 - 11:15 am
Gilbert Sanctuary
Meeting December 3 & 10
No Meetings on December 17, 24, or 31
We're choosing a monthly theme based on the lessons read during the worship services. We'll explore the theme by discussing the lessons and using the Adult Playlist posted each month on our Faith Formation Website.
For more information, contact Pastor Andrea at acain@desertcross.org
or Pastor Thadd at tbook@desertcross.org.
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Tomorrow's Church Today - ChristCare Retreat
See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:19
February 2 & 3
Friday, 6:30-9:15 pm
Saturday, 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Desert Cross Tempe
Open to All! All of Desert Cross Invited! Family and Friends Invited!
The culture around us is changing, and the Church is changing too. How can we be a Church that Listens to our neighbors? How can we be a Church that Acts in ways to serve our neighbors? How can we be a Church that Shares God's love with our neighbors? Pastor Andrea and Pastor Thadd will lead us as we explore these ideas and prepare for Tomorrow's Church Today where we listen for God's calling and follow the Spirit's leading.
Cost: $15.00 per person or $25 per couple
***Please do not make a payment until 2024
Scholarships Available
Includes Retreat Materials, Dinner Friday, Breakfast Saturday, and Lunch Saturday
RSVP by January 22
Contact Denise McClellan
dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600
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Meditation Group
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
Tempe Sanctuary
Meeting December 5
OR
Thursdays at 9:00 am
Tempe Community Center Youth Room
Meeting December 7
Do you want to try meditation? If so, please join Elaine Kraemer on Tuesday evenings or Thursday mornings. Elaine is hosting weekly meditation groups. Elaine has practiced "passage meditation" for many, many years. She'll share the whys and hows of meditation and help you get started with this faith-growing spiritual practice.
To sign up or for more information, please contact Elaine Kraemer at elainekraemer1892@gmail.com.
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How Does a Weary World Rejoice?
An Advent Devotional
As part of our Advent preparations, we're offering an Advent Devotional. The devotional includes scripture, art, poetry, songs, journaling, and reflections to help you prepare for Christmas. Use the link below to access the devotional.
If you prefer a hard copy, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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Join us on Advent Wednesdays
Holden Evening Prayer on:
December 6, December 13, and December 20
Tempe - with live stream:
Worship at 7 pm.
Gilbert:
Soup Supper at 6 pm; Worship at 7 pm.
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December 2-3
- Saturday at 5:00 pm (Tempe)
- Sunday at 8:30 am & 10:30 am (Tempe, with live stream)
- Sunday at 9:30 am (Gilbert)
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December 9-10
- Saturday at 5:00 pm (Tempe)
- Sunday at 8:30 am & 10:30 am (Tempe, with live stream)
- Sunday at 9:30 am (Gilbert)
December 16-17
- Saturday at 5:00 pm (Tempe, Bishop Deborah Hutterer presiding)
- Sunday at 10:30 am only (Tempe, Christmas Cantata, Bishop Deborah Hutterer presiding, with live stream)
- Sunday at 9:30 am (Gilbert, Children’s Christmas Pageant)
December 23:
- Saturday at 5:00 pm (Tempe, with live stream)
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Christmas Eve:
- Sunday, December 24 (Evening worship ONLY) at 5 pm (with live stream) and 7 pm
New Year's Weekend:
- Saturday, December 30 at 5 pm.
- Sunday, December 31 at 10:30 am ONLY (with live stream)
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Christmas Eve:
- Sunday, December 24 (No morning worship) at 3 pm and 5 pm
New Year's Weekend:
- Sunday, December 31 at 9:30 am
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I-Help News: Socks & Gift Cards for the Homeless
This Christmas, our I-Help Team wanted to do something special for our I-Help Guests. We first thought we would add tags to the Angel Tree but discovered that there are a lot of tags already and we don’t want to diminish the ministry to the kids at Concordia School.
So, between now and December 17th, you have an opportunity to share a packet of socks and/or a $20 gift card from Target/Walmart. Please mark on the gift cards “for I-Help”. The Gilbert Campus Hunger Jar offering on December 10th will also be used to purchase gift items for our I-Help guests. These gifts will be wrapped and distributed to the homeless community during a special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on December 26th, immediately after the I-Help Dinner.
So, as the Wise Men from the East came carrying gifts to the homeless Jesus, we too can experience a similar joy in sharing the love that God gave to the world that first Christmas evening.
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Tempe Angel Tree
The Angel Tree is up in the Narthex. Please take a tag or two, wrap the gift, and TAPE THE TAG securely to the gift. Each child, 15 and under, will receive two gifts: one toy or wish and one article of warm clothing.
There are tags for grocery gift cards for each family as well. Gift cards go in the container marked “Angel Tree Gift Cards”, or take them to the church office clearly marked for the Angel Tree.
Please note that we need the gifts by the morning of DECEMBER 17, as we will be sorting and distributing them to Kyrene Resource Center the morning of the 17th.
Thank you for helping make Christmas brighter for these needy children and our sponsored refugee family.
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Gilbert Angel Tree
This year, our angel tree will support two groups:
Concordia Charter School & I-Help Program. We will be making tags for both groups.
Our Desert Cross I-Help group will be serving dinner on the Tuesday after Christmas and we would like to share a gift for each guest.
The Angel tree will be set up on Sunday, November 19th and items are to be returned wrapped with the tag attached by Sunday, December 17th.
Please help us make this holiday season a little more special for these children and our homeless community by participating in our Angel Tree ministry.
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Join Us for Advent Suppers before Worship in Gilbert!
As we enter the joyful season of Advent, we invite you and your loved ones to come together for a special time of fellowship and worship. This year, we are hosting Advent suppers on December 6th, 13th, and 20th at 6 pm, followed by a special Holden Evening Prayer worship service and we would love to see you there!
We understand that the holiday season can be busy, especially for young families. That's why we've made Wednesday nights hassle-free for you. Join us for a delicious and stress-free dinner as we come together in anticipation of the birth of our Savior.
These Advent suppers are not just meals; they are an opportunity to connect with fellow members of our community, share in the spirit of the season, and prepare our hearts for the joyous celebration of Christmas.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Mark your calendars for 6 pm on December 6th, 13th, and 20th, and make these Wednesday nights a part of your Advent tradition.
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55+ Fellowship
Thursday, December 7 at 9:00 am
Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom
Join us on Thursday, December 7th at 9:00 am for a morning of fellowship. This is a great opportunity to connect with others and enjoy some refreshments in a relaxed and friendly environment. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Wise Guys
Mondays at 9 am
Tempe Fellowship Hall
Are you wise? Are you a guy? If so, then you are invited to this fellowship group that meets on Mondays for coffee and conversation.
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A Special Note regarding our Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Greetings,
Our director of Youth and Family Ministry, Katelyn Williamson, will be taking a leave of absence until the end of the year. Katelyn is still recovering from a cancer diagnosis this summer and just received news that one of her family members has entered palliative care. Katelyn will be going home to Idaho to be with family and continue to recover.
In a short time, Katelyn has been a blessing to the teenagers in our congregation. We are confident that this time away will allow her to rest, recuperate and recharge. In the meantime, youth ministry will still continue at Desert Cross. We will soon reach out to families regarding what that looks like in Katelyn’s absence. In the meantime, keep Katelyn and her family in your prayers. Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers.
Peace,
Pastor Thadd
Pastor Andrea
Angela Nannenga, council president
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Order Your Poinsettias Today
This Christmas we will be decorating the church with live poinsettias.
As in the past, you have the chance to purchase one of these lovely plants. Envelopes are available now and the cost of each plant is $20.00. Payment can be enclosed along with your dedication.
Dedications and payments must be returned to the office by December 3.
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The Gilbert Hospitality Ministry needs YOU!
If you've got a warm heart and a welcoming spirit, we want YOU on our team. Help create a friendly atmosphere, greet newcomers, and be a part of something special.
👉 Interested? Contact Dana Hargis at dhargis89@gmail.com.
Let's build a community where everyone feels at home! 🏡💙
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Communion Kits
If you are unable to attend worship in person and would like a communion kit to use as you watch the live stream, you can pick one up from the office in Tempe. We have gluten-free options available.
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If you are looking to become more involved in our Tempe and Gilbert Faith Communities, please click "Read More" and find out today where you can be of value. You'll find all the needed contact info right there on the page.
We are actively looking for more volunteers in all areas of service.
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If you are interested in having your child baptized, reach out to Pastor Thadd at tbook@desertcross.org. | |
Do you have a news item, event, or ministry story to share? Please send the information to Joni at jvanrossum@desertcross.org by the TUESDAY of the week that you wish to have it advertised. | |
May the Lord bless you in all your endeavors this week! | |
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For your convenience, we have online giving up on our website or you can use the button that says "GIVE" at the top of this email. As always, we continue to appreciate all who are continuing to support the many ministries of Desert Cross!
You can also simply text the word "GIVE" to 833.636.1502 and complete the payment information. It securely saves your information and makes it possible to donate in 5 seconds once it has been set up!
Lastly, you can scan the QR code included in our live stream services and in the weekly Worship Aid. Giving is easier than ever - check it out!
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