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Weekly Desert Cross Update -
February 16, 2024
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Faith and Life with Pastor Andrea | |
Me and Grandma B., late 70’s | |
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“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:15
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Hello Joni,
My Grandma B. purchased a piano when she was 80 years old! She promptly began piano lessons, and her favorite music was from her United Methodist Book of Worship. Playing piano with Grandma was a joy because she took such delight in our mutual love of music. My favorite memory is Grandpa B. standing at the piano belting out his favorite hymn “How Great Thou Art” while Grandma accompanied. I guess you could say Grandma had beautiful feet because she brought good news to me.
Grandma showed me how important faith was to her. She wanted to pass on the faith to the next generations in her own ways. I recently came across a precious letter that Grandma B. wrote as a mentor to my mother sharing her ideas for being a good Sunday School teacher after my mother volunteered for the job. Grandma’s love for passing on the faith was palpable on the page. Grandma B. was by no means perfect, yet she could still share Jesus’ love in beautiful ways. She embraced life in the moment and was willing to learn new things. I always knew Grandma loved me no matter what.
We are all a lot like Grandma B. Imperfect beings with beautiful feet. We want to pass on the faith in our own ways as we share the good news of Jesus’ love for us, and we can do that in our own ways. As we journey together this Lent “Figuring out faith with Peter,” we can take time to reflect on our own faith journeys. We are a lot like Peter who had ups and downs while Jesus remained a steadfast friend. As we reflect, think back on who shared their faith with you. Who shaped your faith? And how do you pass on the faith these days? Where will your beautiful feet take you next? Let’s raise that up in prayer and see where God leads us to share the good news!
Step by step,
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WORSHIP AT DESERT CROSS DURING LENT: | |
Lent 1:
Saturday, February 17 at 5:00 pm Tempe
Sunday, February 18 at 8:30 am & 10:30 am w/livestream Tempe;
9:30 am Gilbert
Wednesday, February 21:
Holden Evening Prayer - Tempe 7 pm;
Gilbert Soup Supper 6 pm, Worship 7 pm
Lent 2:
Saturday, February 24 at 5:00 pm Tempe
Sunday, February 25 at 8:30 am & 10:30 am w/livestream Tempe;
9:30 am Gilbert
Wednesday, February 28:
Holden Evening Prayer - Tempe 7 pm; Gilbert Soup Supper 6 pm, Worship 7 pm
Lent 3:
Saturday, March 2 at 5:00 pm Tempe
Sunday, March 3 at 8:30 am & 10:30 am w/livestream Tempe;
9:30 am Gilbert
Wednesday, March 6:
Holden Evening Prayer - Tempe 7 pm; Gilbert Soup Supper 6 pm, Worship 7 pm
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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
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
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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Lent 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'd like a hard copy, contact Denise McClellan at dmclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
Wandering Heart Lenten Devotional
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🎉 Super Bowl Contest Results 🎉
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Super Bowl Contest! We're thrilled to announce the results:
- Niners: $323.88
- Chiefs: $193.55
- Other: $253.10
Total: $770.53
Thank you so much from our Community Outreach Committee for participating!
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📢 Gilbert Campus Town Hall Meeting 📢
Join us for a Town Hall Meeting at the Gilbert site this coming Sunday, February 25th, immediately following worship until 11:15 am. Your presence and input are highly valued as we discuss matters concerning our congregation.
Date: Sunday, February 25th
Time: After worship until 11:15 am
Location: Gilbert Campus
Let's come together to share ideas, address concerns, and strengthen our community bond. Your participation makes a difference! See you there!
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🍲✨ Join Us in Gilbert for Soup Suppers Every Wednesday During Lent! ✨🍲
Starting this Wednesday, and continuing 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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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 10:30 am service to embellish the Sanctuary. Thank you!
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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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Help Decorate our Sanctuary with Beautiful Blooming Plants
Once again, we will be decorating the Sanctuary in Tempe for Easter with live plants. As in the past, you have the chance to purchase one of these for the cost of $20. Order envelopes are available in the pews beginning February 10th. Please return these envelopes along with your payment to the church office by Sunday, February 18th.
Thank you for helping transform our place of worship into a beautiful space to celebrate Easter.
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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 February 18
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 February 20
OR
Thursdays at 9:00 am
Tempe Community Center Youth Room
Meeting on February 22
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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Desert Cross Annual Congregational Meeting Announcement:
February 25th, 2024 at 1 PM
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Tempe Sanctuary
February 25th, 2024 at 1 pm
We extend a warm invitation to our upcoming Annual Congregational Meeting scheduled for February 25th at 1 pm in the Tempe Sanctuary. This gathering serves as a significant occasion for us to come together, discuss pertinent matters, and collectively make decisions that shape the future of our congregation.
In recognition of the diverse circumstances our members may face, we will have the availability for online questions during our meeting to ensure that everyone's voice is heard. If you wish to participate online and pose questions, please ensure you have a Google account ànd that you are subscribed to the church's YouTube Channel. Detailed instructions for accessing the online session will be provided closer to the meeting date.
Furthermore, we are in the process of establishing a nominating committee and welcome all interested individuals to consider joining. If you are enthusiastic about contributing to this committee, please contact our Council President, Angela Nannenga, at councilpresident@desertcross.org no later than Friday, February 23rd.
Below is the agenda for our Congregational Meeting:
- Welcome
- Opening Prayer
- Finance Report
- Annual Report
- Special Projects
- Constitution Update
- Nominating Committee
- Synod Assembly
- Closing Prayer
- Adjournment
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🍲 Souper Bowl Food Drive - Tempe
Warm hearts and help fill bowls this February by participating in our Souper Bowl Food Drive! Throughout the month, we're collecting non-perishable food items to support two fantastic causes: Grace Lutheran and Kyrene Resource Center.
🥫 **How to Donate:**
Look for the big soup can placed in the narthex, ready to receive your generous contributions. Every can and box you donate brings us closer to making a positive impact in our community.
🤝 **Community Outreach Committee:**
If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to our dedicated Community Outreach Committee.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Tomorrow's Church Today Book Order & Study Groups
Are you interested in the future of the Church? Would you like to explore ways we might change how we spread God's message of love and hope? Our recent retreat was based on the book, Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, and Tessa Pinkstaff. The retreat was a first step in exploring the future of the Church and where the Holy Spirit is leading Desert Cross. We'll be forming groups to discuss the ideas in the book, and we'll be looking at ways to learn more about our Gilbert neighborhood and our Tempe neighborhood.
The book is $18.00. We have scholarships available. Let us know if you'd like a book.
We'll be forming study groups to learn more about our neighborhoods and try out some ways of reaching out to our neighbors. Let us know if you're interested in joining a study group.
For more information, contact Denise McClellan at Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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55+ Event (corrected)
Organ Stop Pizza
Sunday, March 3rd at 3:30 pm
All are welcome to join the 55+ Group at Organ Stop Pizza on Sunday, February 18th at 3:30 pm. Organ Stop is located at 1149 E Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ.
Please RSVP to Glenda Friesth by Friday, February 27th. A fun time will be had by all!!
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Breakfast Dudes - Valentine Breakfast
Saturday, February 17th, 2024 at 8 am
Gilbert Campus - Room 104
Breakfast Dudes and other Men of the Congregation, invite your spouse, a family member, or friend to join you for the Valentine Breakfast.
Please RSVP by Tuesday, February 13, 2024 to:
Donald Legacie
donaldlegacie@live.com
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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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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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