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Weekly Desert Cross Update -
March 8, 2024
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Faith and Life with Pastor Andrea | |
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Behold, I am doing a new thing … I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19
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Oh, Sky Harbor Airport! It’s like Richard Scarry’s Busytown come to life. I recently took a family member to the airport and all the ways you can go really stood out to me! There are sky trains, airplanes, buses, automobiles, roads, and bridges with people walking, driving, riding, and flying all at once. And everyone is in a hurry! Sometimes it’s hard to know which way to go.
It's like that in life. Sometimes we come to a crossroads, and we don’t know which way to go. This is especially true if we are seeking a change or something new. This also goes for the church. We can get frozen if we consider all the options and all the ways to go. The 13th-century prophet and mystic Rumi has wise words for us in the 21st century, “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” In other words, just start walking—and the way eventually appears instead of waiting for that eureka moment.
Even if the way is unclear, and we feel we are in the wilderness like the Israelites, God promises to make a way where there is no way. We are listening for the way at Desert Cross. We will start walking together to discover the new way God is leading us with Faithful Innovation groups that developed from our Christ Care Retreat. Step by step God will show us the way. Watch for more on this coming up!
On the way,
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WORSHIP AT DESERT CROSS DURING LENT: | |
Lent 4:
Saturday, March 9 at 5:00 pm Tempe
Sunday, March 10 at 8:30 am & 10:30 am w/livestream Tempe;
9:30 am Gilbert
Wednesday, March 13:
Holden Evening Prayer - Tempe 7 pm; Gilbert Soup Supper 6 pm, Worship 7 pm
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Lent 5:
Saturday, March 16 at 5:00pm Tempe
Sunday, March 17 at 8:30 am & 10:30 am w/livestream Tempe;
9:30 am Gilbert
Wednesday, March 20:
Holden Evening Prayer - Tempe 7 pm; Gilbert Soup Supper 6 pm, Worship 7 pm
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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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Don’t Trim Your Palm Trees
Please bring your palms to the Tempe church by Saturday, March 21st 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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HOLY WEEK AT DESERT CROSS DURING EASTER: | |
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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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 (date to be announced).
Open Roles:
- Church Council Executive Committee: Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
- Church Council: 2 Tempe At-Large positions, 1 Gilbert At-Large position
- Gilbert Chamber: Outreach, Finance, Facilities
- Endowment Committee: 3 open positions
The Church Council and Gilbert Chamber meet monthly, while the Endowment Committee meets quarterly.
If you're interested or have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Nominating Committee or shoot an email to councilpresident@desertcross.org.
Stay tuned for more details next week, including short descriptions of each role.
2024 Nominating Committee
- Stan Fernandes, Tom Selby, Michelle Reaban, Haley Perez, Brent Nannenga, & Tom Rewolinski
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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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Donut Day
Sunday, March 17, 2024
During our Education Time
We include a fellowship event each semester as part of our Faith Formation program. We'll gather at both sites for some extra fellowship time so folks of all ages can have some fun and make some connections.
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📢 Urgent Call for Donations:
School-Age Undies and Socks!
We are reaching out with an urgent request from the Kyrene Resource Center. They are in need of school-age underwear and socks to support children in our community.
Your contributions can make a significant difference! We have set up a designated container in the Narthex where you can drop off your donations.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
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🐰🥚 Hop into Easter Fun at Desert Cross Gilbert! 🥚🐰
Sunday, March 17th, 2024
10:45 am to 11:30 am
Desert Cross Gilbert
Get ready for an egg-citing Easter celebration! We're thrilled to invite you and your little ones to join us for a joyous Easter egg hunt right after worship on Sunday, March 17th, from 10:45 am to 11:30 am at the Desert Cross Gilbert campus.
But wait, there's more! We need your help to make this event egg-ceptional. We're seeking donations of candy (non-chocolate preferred) and other delightful treats to fill our eggs with surprises. Please consider contributing before March 10th, and we'll gather to stuff the eggs during fellowship on the 10th.
Invite your friends, families, neighbors, and even strangers to join in the festivities.
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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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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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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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Make your picks count...
The NCAA Basketball tournament starts soon! Here is your chance to compete against your Desert Cross friends for bragging rights about making the correct picks.
Join our FREE Yahoo League "Desert Cross Challenge" to participate. The league password is "DCLC2024".
https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/group/7406/invitation?key=95fccc6bad985547
Brackets and teams are announced on March 17th, so act fast before the games start.
Will you be our tournament champion?
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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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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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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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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 10--Spring Break
No Meeting March 17--Donut Day
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 12
OR
Thursdays at 9:00 am
Tempe Community Center Youth Room
Meeting on March 14
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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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
Sweet babies always need LOTS of diapers! So once again we will be helping 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. And that’s where DCLC can help! The list is short, but VERY important. Please consider donating any of these 4 items:
- Diapers sz. 1-4 (lots!);
- Baby toy;
- Baby rattle;
- Baby board book (bilingual if possible)
Also, all Hunger Jar donations from March 1 to March 29 will be used toward 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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Snack & Chat
When you attend one of our Sunday worship services in Tempe, don't forget to stop in at the Fellowship Hall after the 8:30 am service or come a little early for the 10:30 am service to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a cookie or two with your friends. You might even make a new friend! We hope to see you on Sunday!
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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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🍲✨ Join Us in Gilbert for Soup Suppers Every Wednesday During Lent! ✨🍲
On Wednesdays throughout the Lenten season, we invite you to join us at the Gilbert site for Soup Suppers at 6:00 pm, followed by Holden Evening Prayer at 7:00 pm.
All are welcome to attend!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Dana Hargis via email at dhargis89@gmail.com.
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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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