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Weekly Desert Cross Update -
March 22, 2024
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Faith and Life with Pastor Andrea | |
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In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…
Philippians 1:4
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I was recently gifted an Apple watch from my family. It was something I never wanted but didn’t know I needed! This little marvel of technology is bringing me small joys each day with the interactive Snoopy watch face displaying Snoopy’s playful spirit. Snoopy interacts with Woodstock and the hands of the watch to bring the time of day, time of year, and the weather to life. Each time you check, Snoopy and Woodstock are frolicking across the screen jumping rope together, flying through space, or playing golf. Many times Snoopy is somehow helping Woodstock.
Snoopy has always been my favorite character. As a child, I loved reading the Peanuts™ comic strips and watching the once-per-year TV specials. Snoopy was sassy and funny and such a good friend to Woodstock. Now I get to see Snoopy all the time. Every time I check the time, no matter what is ahead, it makes me smile, and a small joy fills my spirit no matter what is happening. It really is such a small thing that can bring a smile and some joy each day even in the hard times! Seeing Snoopy and Woodstock connects me with childhood joys and reminds me about being a good friend and helping others.
There is so much heaviness in the world and in our lives. We could all use little moments of connection and joy each day. What brings you joy? How could you find a simple way to enjoy a small joy on a more regular basis? We need small joys to get through each day and to feel hopeful about our lives. My prayer is that we each find time to find small joys each day.
Keeping time,
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HOLY WEEK AT DESERT CROSS: | |
Palm Sunday:
Saturday, March 23 at 5:00 pm Tempe
Sunday, March 24 at 8:30 am & 10:30 am w/livestream Tempe;
9:30 am Gilbert
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Maundy Thursday - March 28
Tempe: 7:00 pm (with live stream) w/First Communion;
Gilbert: 7:00 pm
Good Friday - March 29
Tempe: 12:00 pm & 7:00 pm w/livestream;
Gilbert: 7:00 pm
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Saturday, March 30
NO WORSHIP
Easter Sunday, March 31
Tempe: 8:30 am Outdoor; 10:30 am Livestream
Gilbert: 9:30 am & 11 am
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Don’t Trim Your Palm Trees
Please bring your palms to the Tempe church by Saturday, March 23rd for Palm Sunday decorations. You're welcome to stay after the Saturday service to embellish the Sanctuary. Thank you!
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Lenten Devotional
Wandering Heart: Figuring Out Faith with Peter
A Sanctified Art has a Lenten Devotional to go along with our theme for Lent. The devotional includes scripture, poetry, commentary, reflection questions, artwork, and notes from the artists. The online devotional even includes music links inspired by Wandering Heart. Just click and listen!
You'll find a link to the Lenten Devotional below. If you have any questions, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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We Could Really Use Your Help!
Interested in being part of the Church Council, Gilbert Chamber, or Endowment Committee? Great news – we have some spots up for grabs in the 2024 elections where you can represent our congregation. These positions have 3-year terms and will be chosen at our upcoming Elections Meeting on May 5th.
Here’s a short description of each open role:
- Council Vice President – Assist and represent the Council President in overseeing the work of all committees, and handles special duties as assigned. Serve as a member of the Executive Committee. Rotation includes 1 year in each role, VP, President & Past President.
- Secretary – Record/take minutes at each Council & Congregational meeting. Present the final draft to the Council President for review and submission to the Church Administrator for filing purposes/posting to the website. Serve as a member of the Executive Committee.
- Treasurer – Oversee prompt payment of congregation’s expenses, and ensure all reporting is completed timely and accurately. Chairs the Finance Committee and serves on the Executive Committee.
- 2 Tempe At Large/1 Gilbert At-Large – Supports the general oversight and life and activities of the congregations. Support Executive Committee in special projects as assigned. Gilbert At-Large member also serves as co-leader of Gilbert Chamber.
- Gilbert Chamber – Outreach, Finance, Facilities – All work with the church staff to continually create opportunities through events and other venues for reaching new people in the community to support the Gilbert site. Outreach focuses on events within the community, Finance is part of the Finance Committee to help present the needs of the congregation, and Facilities supports the general maintenance and upkeep of Gilbert Campus.
- Endowment – 3 positions – Committee meets quarterly and consists of 5 members serving in different capacities with the team elections. The purpose is to provide support in the following areas: Missions of the ELCA, Outreach into the community and synod, Capital improvements, debt reduction, and building programs of Desert Cross.
If interested reach out to a Nominating Committee Team Member for more details. All candidates need to be identified by April 16 and submit a photo with a biography to be presented to the congregation for elections.
Your Nominating Committee Members – Stan Fernandes, Tom Selby, Michelle Reaban, Haley Perez, Brent Nannenga & Tom Rewolinski
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Snack and Chat closed
Snack & Chat will be closed on Easter Sunday, March 31st. We will reopen again on Sunday, April 7th. Have a joyous and blessed Easter!
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Saints with Skills
Exciting news – we're forming a new group dedicated to taking care of those odd jobs around our Tempe campus. If you've got a knack for fixing things and want to lend a hand, this is your chance!
We'll be tackling tasks that are perfect for a DIY approach, from wielding a screwdriver to giving things a good power wash. So, if you have a skill and a love for the House of God, come hang out with us for our first meeting in the Tempe Fellowship Hall on Saturday, April 6th at 10 am.
Got any questions? Reach out to Shelley Mardany.
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📄🔥 Get Ready to Shred-it Up! 🔥📄
Mark your calendars because we're hosting a Shred-a-thon on Saturday, April 20th, at our Tempe campus from 11 am to 1 pm.
Bring all your paper piles, old documents, and files that need shredding. It's time to clear out the clutter and have a blast doing it!
Let's shred it up and protect our privacy together. See you there!
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Hymn Fest & Potluck
April 21st, 2024
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Desert Cross Gilbert
Join us for a Hymn Fest and Potluck at Desert Cross Gilbert on Sunday, April 21st, from 4 to 5 pm. Enjoy singing timeless hymns accompanied by our music groups and a special appearance by the Handbell Choir from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Bring a dish to share for the potluck at 5 pm. There will also be a free-will offering for Sanctuary updates.
Please contact Carolyn Perkins at carolyn.perkins77@gmail.com with any questions.
See you there!
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Join us for a delightful fiddle concert featuring The Gilbert Town Fiddlers!
April 5th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Tempe sanctuary
The Gilbert Town Fiddlers is a nonprofit organization based in Gilbert, AZ, that provides extracurricular music education for youth. This fiddle group studies and learns folk music from a variety of different cultures and they learn most of their music by ear!
This will be an evening filled with wonderful music and fellowship. We will have a free will donation that will support the music program here at Desert Cross. Following the concert, there will be an array of delicious cookies and refreshments for you to enjoy. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to enjoy some fiddle tunes and fellowship here at Desert Cross!
The concert will be on April 5th at 6:30 pm in the Tempe sanctuary. We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions, please contact abnannenga@gmail.com.
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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 March 24
No Meeting March 31--Easter
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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Meditation Group
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
Tempe Sanctuary
Meeting on March 26
OR
Thursdays at 9:00 am
Tempe Community Center Youth Room
Meeting on March 28
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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I-Help News -- March 2024
For the latest news about our I-Help Ministry, please click the button below. Thank you for staying informed and connected with us!
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Scholarship Grant Awards for DCLC College-Bound Students
The DCLC Endowment Fund is accepting scholarship grant applications for graduating high school seniors, class of 2024. Applications may be downloaded from the DCLC website HERE (Mission tab, Endowment Fund).
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Completed paperwork may be returned to the church office or emailed to endowment@desertcross.org.
To qualify for a scholarship grant award the student must:
- Complete the application form.
- Submit the form by June 15.
- Submit a one-page Faith Statement with the initial application.
- Be a communing member of DCLC, as defined in the church constitution and by-laws.
- Have participated in DCLC activities such as youth group, worship service, nursery aide, etc.
For students continuing their college educations, scholarship grants may be renewed, for a total of 4 grants. Those requesting a scholarship renewal at the college level shall submit an unofficial copy of their current transcript showing a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship renewal requests do not need a second faith paper.
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Reaching Out, Supporting Our Neighbors
Do you have a passion for helping others? 🌟
Got a passion for lending a helping hand? We're super excited to invite you to join the Gilbert Outreach Committee at Desert Cross Gilbert. Let's make a real difference together! 🌍✨
Jean O’Donnell has agreed to chair this important and dynamic ministry in 2024 and 2025, and we couldn't be happier about it. 😊
At Desert Cross Lutheran Church, we're all about spreading love and support in our community:
- 🦃 Thanksgiving food drives
- 🥫 Souper Bowl Sunday soup barrels
- 🎁 Angel trees during the holidays
- 📚 School supplies in August
- 💳 Gift cards for I-Help participants
- 📦 Feed My Starving Children packing events
- 💙 Weekly Hunger Jar offerings
...and so much more!
Joining the committee is easy, with just 2-3 planning meetings and some coordination efforts. Jean knows firsthand the passion our members have for giving back.
Ready to make a difference? We'd love to have you on board! Reach out to Jean at jaodonn@aol.com.
Together, we can spread kindness far and wide. 🌈🌟
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Feed My Starving Children Packing Event
Save the date for a Feed My Starving Children Packing Event. We'll gather at the FMSC packing site in Mesa. Use the link below to reserve your spot.
If you have any questions, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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Vitalant Blood Drive
📅 Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
🕢 Time: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm
📍 Location: Desert Cross Community Center in Tempe
💉 Donation Options:
- Whole Blood
- Power Red
🅰 Urgent Need for:
- Type O Negative
- Type A and B Positive
🎁 Rewards Await:
Earn points for prizes with each donation!
🔗 Schedule Your Appointment:
Visit Vitalant.org and use sponsor code "desertcross" (all one word)
👤 Contact for Sign-Ups:
Art Krzyzewski will be reaching out to past donors.
📋 Sign-up sheet available in the Narthex at the Tempe site
📧 Email: krzyarty@cox.net
Let's come together to save lives and make a difference. Your contribution matters!
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March Mission - Community Baby Shower
300 is a big number!!! But that’s typical of how many diapers a sweet baby goes through in just the first month of life. For many months thereafter they’ll still need LOTS of diapers, and DCLC can help!
Once again we’re working with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, as they partner with The Family Resource Center in Mesa to host the annual Community Baby Shower. Many expectant parents of a new infant have no family support, so the goal is to set them up for success. In addition to workshops, services, and ongoing coordinated care, each family receives a fully stocked diaper bag. The plan is to cover 60 babies with what they need. The list is short, but still a VERY important part of helping to fill each diaper bag.
Please consider donating any of these 4 items:
- Diapers sz. 1-4 (lots!);
- Baby toy;
- Baby rattle;
- Baby board book (bilingual if possible)
Also, our Hunger Jar donations from March 1 to March 29 will be dedicated to purchasing items from the list, especially diapers! Place your donations in our designated box in the narthex. Thank you for helping so many sweet babies!
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Serve 40
Desert Cross Celebrates 40 Years of Ministry!
In celebration of our 40 years together, let's each commit to serving 40 hours outside the walls of Desert Cross in 2024. Keep track of your volunteer service hours out in the neighborhood. When you reach 40 hours, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600. We'll announce how many of us Serve 40 at the end of the year.
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March Madness Viewing Party
Come gather for good conversation and watch a Round 2 March Madness game. The Riensches are hosting the event on Saturday, March 23rd starting at 4:00 pm. We will have hot dogs and all the toppings, vegetarian and gluten-free options as well, and popcorn. Those attending are encouraged to bring a favorite dish or dessert to share.
Basketball will be on in several areas for those wanting to watch or there will be many areas for just those looking to gather and talk. Kids of all ages are welcome.
There will be a sign-up sheet in both Gilbert & Tempe, please put your name and email on it if you are interested and we will send an Evite to you with all the details!
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Book Group
Thursdays 2:00 pm -- Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom
OR
Thursdays 7:00 pm -- Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom
April 25 - May 16
We're going to read The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan. First published in 2006, the book tells the true story of Bashir Khairi, a Palestinian, and Dalia Eshkenazi Landau, an Israeli, and the friendship the two of them form.
Book Fee: $18.99
Scholarships Available
To sign up for the afternoon group, contact Lola Peterson
lolabluebirds@gmail.com.
To sign up for the evening group, contact Denise McClellan
dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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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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Prayers for Pastor Doris
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Pastor Doris. She is starting a new chemo regimen and welcomes your prayers. Pastor Doris keeps Desert Cross in her prayers and misses everyone, as we miss her! Thank you for your faithful prayers.
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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!
All financial information is encrypted and stored by Tithe.ly's banking partner to PCI DSS Level 1 compliant standards, which is the highest possible rating one can get in the electronic payment processing industry.
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