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Faith and Life with Pastor Andrea

Photo by Tokyo Kohaku on Unsplash

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Philippians 4:6

We have 40 days set aside to be in the moment with God. To be prayerful and notice the wonder of the small things. To listen for God in the quiet and in the noise. To notice the beauty around us in both people and nature. To hang onto hope in hard times. To be renewed. To serve, serve, serve. And most of all, to pray, pray, pray. This is a special time to connect with God. Part of this is just remembering to pay attention. To listen. This is how poet Mary Oliver lived her life and wrote her poems. Her instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. 

Don’t lose sight of beauty in God’s world found in small things. Be thankful. Then share the good news.

Praying by Mary Oliver

It doesn’t have to be

the blue iris, it could be

weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

small stones; just

pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try

to make them elaborate, this isn’t

a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which

another voice may speak.

Amen,

Pastor Andrea

Donut Day!

Sunday, March 16th

Tempe & Gilbert

Our Faith Formation Team likes to include some Fellowship Time into our schedule. Sunday is Donut Day! Please join us for a sweet treat and some conversation.

Help Make Churchwide Assembly Happen!

The Grand Canyon Synod is excited to host the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly from July 28th to August 2nd, at the Phoenix Convention Center! This important gathering, held every 3 years, brings together church leaders for worship, discernment, and decision-making that shapes the future of our shared ministry.

Up to 100 volunteers are needed to assist with registration, hospitality, worship support, tech assistance, and more.

Interested in helping? Click the button below for more information or to sign up to volunteer!

Have questions? Please contact Mary Beth Baron at mbbaron@gcsynod.org. Thank you for helping us welcome the ELCA to Phoenix!

LENTEN WEEKENDS

Lent 2

Theme: Faith & Works

Saturday, March 15th – 5:00pm (Tempe)

Sunday, March 16th – 8:30am & 10:30am* (Tempe);

9:30am (Gilbert)

Lent 3

Theme: Rest & Growth

Saturday, March 22nd – 5:00pm (Tempe)

Sunday, March 23rd – 8:30am & 10:30am* (Tempe);

9:30am (Gilbert)

Lent 4

Theme: Lost & Found

Saturday, March 29th – 5:00pm (Tempe)

Sunday, March 30th – 8:30am & 10:30am* (Tempe);

9:30am (Gilbert)

Lent 5

Theme: Righteousness & Mercy

Saturday, April 5th – 5:00pm (Tempe)

Sunday, April 6th – 8:30am & 10:30am* (Tempe);

9:30am (Gilbert)

Palm Sunday

Theme: Shouting & Silence

Saturday, April 12th – No Worship Service

Sunday, April 13th – 10:30am* ONLY (Tempe)

Sanctuary Choir Cantata: "What Wondrous Hope"

9:30am (Gilbert)

* 10:30am services (& others as marked) are also available on livestream

LENTEN WEDNESDAYS

God's Word, Poetry, & Art with Desert Cross Evening Prayer

March 19th, March 26th, April 2nd, & April 9th

Tempe – 7:00pm Worship

Gilbert – 6:00pm Soup Supper; 7:00pm Worship

Enter Holy Week with "What Wondrous Hope"

A Service of Promise, Grace, and Life

We warmly invite you to join us on Palm Sunday, April 13th, for a special service featuring the "What Wondrous Hope" cantata. This musical journey, under the direction of Joni Van Rossum, beautifully narrates the story of Christ's ministry and passion, blending traditional hymns and contemporary worship songs.

Throughout the service, there will be many opportunities for everyone to sing along, making you an integral part of retelling this wonderful and life-changing story. We encourage you to invite friends, family, and neighbors to experience this beautiful music, accompanied by a group of wonderful musicians.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, April 13th

Time: 10:30am

Location: Desert Cross, Tempe Sanctuary

We look forward to worshipping together and entering Holy Week with hearts full of hope and voices raised in song!

Don't Trim Your Palm Trees!

Please bring your palms to the church by Wednesday, April 9th for Palm Sunday decorations.

You're welcome to stay to embellish the Sanctuary. Thank you!

Lenten Devotional Book

Lent begins Ash Wednesday, March 5th. We're offering a Lenten Devotional from A Sanctified Art. Everything in Between: Meeting God in the Midst of Extremes is available online. You'll find the link below.

We'll also have a limited number of hard copies available. If you prefer a hard copy, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600 to reserve a copy.

MARCH COMMUNITY OUTREACH MISSION

🌟👶🏼 A BABY IS A BLESSING! 👶🏼🌟

But those little blessings need lots and lots of TLC!

Once again, we will assist Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, as they partner with The Family Resource center in Mesa to host their annual Community Baby Shower. Many parents of newborns 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 will be given a fully stocked diaper bag.

And that’s where DCLC can help! Our hope is to provide part of the supplies for 60 diaper bags.

Here is the Family Resource Center’s list of needs:

• Baby Shampoo or Baby Wash (large size)
• Baby Lotion (large size)
• Diaper Rash Cream (large size)
• Baby Blanket
• Baby Onesie
• Baby Rattle or Toy

Just $4 buys a toy, $6 buys a lotion, $8 buys a onsesie, or $10 buys a baby blanket!

Donations will be accepted any time March 1st – March 30th.

Place your donations of those needed items into our designated box in the Narthex (Tempe) or the donation area in the Fellowship Hall (Gilbert). Or feel free to donate through the Hunger Jar.

Bless you for helping so many little blessings!

Gilbert Outreach Notes

• 🍼 Thank you to everyone's continued support of the LSS-SW Community Baby Shower! Your donations of onesies, blankets, rattles, baby wash, shampoo, lotion, and contributions to the Hunger Jar are truly appreciated. Let's keep it going! Donations can be placed in the Gilbert Outreach bins throughout March.

• 🫙 Concordia Charter School is collecting USED pint and half-pint canning jars or empty pickle jars to support their April Family Night. If you have any to spare, please drop them off at the Gilbert Outreach Center!

• 📚 Does your book collection include extra Dr. Seuss books? Concordia would love to give them a new home through their reading programs! Donations can be dropped off at the Gilbert Outreach Center.

Thank you for helping these students and their families have fantastic school experiences!

Youth Group Meetings

Next Meeting: Sunday, March 16th at 5:00pm

The Youth Group, grades 6-12, will be meeting on Sundays from 5:00pm - 6:00pm. We will meet in the Youth Room in the Tempe Community Center. We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please email Tessa Faust at tfaust@desertcross.org.

Youth Group Chat

We are excited to announce that our youth are invited to join the Youth Group Chat on Band! This is a great opportunity to stay connected, receive youth group updates, and be part of the fun.

To join, please scan the QR code below.

Any questions or concerns? Please feel free to contact Tessa Faust at tfaust@desertcross.org.

Breakfast Dudes Meeting

📅 Saturday, March 15th

🕤 8:00am

📍 Desert Cross – Gilbert, Room 104

Men of the congregation, come and enjoy our time together as we share Food, Fun, Faith, & Fellowship. Glen Stadler will share a life/faith moment that impacted his life. Invite a friend, a neighbor, or a relative to join us!

Coffee, juice, fruit, and danish will be provided. Please bring any additional food and beverage items you'd prefer.

We choose 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.

If you have any questions, contact Pastor Andrea or Pastor Thadd at acain@desertcross.org or tbook@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.

55+ Fellowship – Yesterday's Kids – Game Day!

Please join us for our game day on Thursday, March 20th at 9:30am in the Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom. It will be a morning of fun and fellowship! Refreshments will be served, of course.

Hope to see all of you “young at heart kids” there!

Pastor Class with Pastor Steve

Glimpses of God in the Psalms of Lent

March 20th & April 10th

Thursdays @ 7:00pm – Tempe Fellowship Hall

The psalms have been called the "Prayerbook of the Bible." During the four sessions of this class, we'll be looking at the context and content of eight psalms that have been traditionally read during the season of Lent. When we see how each psalmist related to God in various life situations, we'll be able to see how God continues to be present in every circumstance of our own lives. Each session will last about one hour, and will provide time for questions and reflection.

For more information and to sign up, contact Pastor Steve at sholm90@gmail.com.

Mark your calendars for future meetings:

April 15th & 29th

May 13th & 27th

C3

Meeting every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month

10:00am – 11:30am

Gilbert Fellowship Hall

C3 is a Discussion/Fellowship group for ANYONE. When you bring preschool children we will figure out whatever is needed.

The group is open to ALL. Treats are always welcome.

Next Meeting is Tuesday, March 25th

Theme: 3-D Art, Sculpture, etc. Facilitator: Bennett Henrikson

Get Ready to Shred-it Up!

📅 Date: Sunday, April 26th

🕢 Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm

📍 Location: Desert Cross Tempe Campus

Mark your calendars for our annual Shred-a-thon!

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!

Acceptable Items:

• Paper-based items (cancelled checks, statements, letters, etc)
• File Folders including cardstock
• Staples and small metal items like paper clips

Unacceptable Items:

• Hard-based items (cardboard, plastic, styrofoam)
• 3-Ring binders
• Toner cartridges
• Hard drives/flash drives
• VCR tapes
• Cell phones

It is Well With My Soul

📅 Sunday, March 30th

🕢 4:00pm - 5:00pm

📍 Desert Cross Gilbert Campus

Join us for our Hymn Sing that will lift and inspire you! Bring a friend!

Participating musicians include the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, Desert Cross Chancel Choir, Members of the Tempe Sanctuary Choir, Junior Choir, Accompanist Marta Hatch, and more! A free-will offering will be available to help refresh and update our worship space.

Join us afterward for a selection of homemade pies and ice cream.

"Experience renewal of the soul, where scriptures and loved hymns strengthen faith and restore inner peace at this Lenten season."

FMSC Packing Site Location

1100 West Grove Parkway

Tempe, AZ 85283

**Parking is limited so please carpool if possible!

Feed My Starving Children Packing Event

📅 Saturday, April 26th

🕢 2:30pm - 4:00pm

📍 FMSC Packing Site in Tempe – 1100 W Grove Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85283

Desert Cross has spots reserved for a FMSC Packing Event on Saturday, April 26th! We'll gather at the new FMSC Packing Site in Tempe to pack meals for hungry people around the world. Save the date and reserve your spot now by clicking the button below!

March 29/30, April 5/6, April 12/13, and Tempe April 19/20 Hunger Jars will support this event.

If you have any questions or need help making your reservation, please contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.

Serving Pancakes!

📅 Sunday, March 23rd

🕢 6:30am - 8:30am

📍 Grace Lutheran Church – 1124 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Desert Cross has supported the homeless programs at Grace Lutheran Church for many years. One of the ways that we do this is by serving pancake breakfasts approximately once a month on Sunday mornings. There are large and small jobs available for folks young and old!

For more information, or if you would like to serve, please contact Joy Petroff at joylpetroff@gmail.com.

🔗 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 Tempe.

📞 Call Art at 602-292-0663

📧 Email: krzyarty@cox.net

Vitalant Blood Drive

📅 Date: Saturday, April 26th

🕢 Time: 7:30am - 12:00pm

📍 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!

Let's come together to save lives and make a difference. Your contribution matters!

In this space, you will find the musical offerings for the upcoming worship services. Please come and enjoy!

TEMPE CAMPUS

MARCH 23rd

Ringing Praise Bell Choir, 8:30am – As the Deer

GILBERT CAMPUS

MARCH 23rd

Instrumental Ensemble – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music..."

Psalm 95

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 Wendy at wwilliams@desertcross.org by the TUESDAY of the week that you wish to have it advertised.