I’ve always given to this ministry and had taken my kids when they were little to purchase the items for the baskets, but I really didn’t realize how much joy it brought to the recipients until I witnessed it myself. Years ago, I drove my 4 year old daughter to one of the care homes, as she was singing with Grace Notes (Donna Bosley was her teacher). The children helped pass out the baskets and it was amazing to see how happy they all were.

So, when Pastor Jeff called me to ask if I would get involved with this ministry, I gave him a quick "Yes, I’ll do it!" He said, "Well, do you want to think about it?" I said, "No, I truly love this beautiful ministry and how it brings so much happiness and joy to those in assisted living." I give Doris the credit because she came up with this truly wonderful idea. Sure, the seniors and Veterans are the recipients of these totes, but the true gift is within us ~ our congregation giving back to so many and truly showing God's love when doing it. For that I am grateful.

We would love for more of you to partner with us! Click here to volunteer.

The Children’s Choir is already working hard on their Palm Sunday song, “I Will Rejoice” which is a very cute song that reinforces legato singing.

Another song they recently learned is called “Go Fish!” and the lyrics are wonderful and metaphoric.

Do you have a child interested in singing with us? We rehearse on Wednesdays from 5:45-6:15pm. Sign up here.

Heidi Derbak

I have been an alto with the choir for a few years. Aside from the joy of singing, other favorite aspects of the choir include the diversity in personalities and the communal acceptance and care we have for one another. Many folks don’t realize we have singers of different faiths who do not have choral opportunities at their home churches. Truly the Lord sends us where we are needed.

We are so blessed and spoiled to have our talented music staff here at La Casa de Cristo. Although certainly no Dr. Jeremy, I enjoyed my time playing piano for the Grace Notes children’s choir and helping at VBX. Did you know that, at one time, we had four different aged choirs for young people? Demographics have changed in our neighborhood!

In my former life, I was gainfully employed as a commercial interior designer, adding careers of mom, homemaker, retail employee, and piano teacher. My most recent and best-of-all role is grandmother!

I grew up in rural Missouri and had plenty of time for many of the things I enjoy, namely: cooking, reading, and gardening. I met my wonderful husband, Greg, who is originally from St. Louis, right here in Phoenix. We have two daughters living here and two grandsons, ages 3 and 8.

One of my most loved hymns is “Without His Cross.” Often the music and words we sing express our hearts’ feelings with an immediacy that just speaking or thinking does not. May the Holy Spirit come to us in these words and melodies!

Without His tears, there is no comfort;

Without His death, there is no life;

Without His blood, there is no pardon;

Without His cross, there is no crown.

If sound comes out of your mouth, and you have a good sense of humor, come join us in the choir!

But first~ Easter! This is a beautiful opportunity to invite those around you to join us here at La Casa de Cristo. Invest in lives and invite in; this will be our rally cry as women. Look around you. Who can you be loving on, investing in, and inviting into Easter and beyond? Let’s start there.

Escape. What does that word mean for you? The word can entice us so effectively because it promises something that we want: Relief. Comfort. Security. It’s something that we face every day. There’s nothing wrong with resting or wanting to get away to somewhere beautiful. However, there’s a difference between escaping life’s hardships and trusting God with them.

We began our new Ignite Kids series for Easter: Escape the Tomb. Earth was the the ultimate escape room, a place where all God’s people were going to die from sin. Then God sent us a Savior, someone to show us the way out. Jesus didn’t promise us a pain-free life, but he DOES promise us just that as we trust and rest in Him. When we do, we can experience a peace that is deeper than any escape the world tries to tell us is better.

This month, we are excited to have many people from our community on our campus for our annual Egg Hunt. While the egg hunt is a fun activity, we pray that the Easter story we share with the families who attend will lead them to know who Jesus is and to trust Him in all that they do. We pray that they, too, find their escape in trusting God.

Staci Medina, Director of Children's Ministry

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

Before I give some thoughts about this verse, I would like to circle back to January’s Cristo Connection and remind us what Ryan Callahan shared with us -- a practice he enjoyed doing in the past.

I decided to take this challenge. Now to be honest, the topic picked me; I did not pick it. Psalm 46:10 - He says, “Be still, and know that I am God."

On January 11, I had knee replacement surgery and, basically, this surgery stops any plans one might have. I was not looking forward to the healing process. One reason is because it is a huge interference in my life. Before the surgery, a great friend and mentor tried to have me look at it differently.

We need to not just read and move on, but meditate on His words and clear our minds to what He wants us to learn. I am going to learn all I can in 2024 about Psalm 46:10 and, with God’s help, by 2025 I will be better at being still, knowing He is God!

Suzan Scudder, Director of Jr. High School Ministries

On Tuesday, March 12 at 1 pm in room B, we will kick off a new group here at La Casa de Cristo called Love of Learning (LOL). This group is open to all men and women who enjoy learning new things. Each month will cover a different topic. The March workshop is called 'Succulents for Small Spaces' and will be presented by Stephanie Halcrow, Master Gardener. If you want to decorate a small space, succulents are a perfect choice for an apartment or condo. Explore what makes a plant a succulent, their geographic origins, and why they are great options for indoor small spaces. You’ll learn all about light, water and soil requirements for successfully growing succulents. The class will include a hands-on repotting of a succulent which you will get to take home. Sign up here to attend so we have supplies ready for you.

Another ministry that is growing is Grace Growers Gardening Group. Join us in the conference room on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 10am and find out how you can help us beautify the campus.

Perhaps you are doing the Christ Walk and your legs are tired from all that walking! If so, take a virtual stroll through the Rijksmuseum (home of the Dutch masters), Amsterdam, Netherlands from your easy chair. Click here to view the collection of the Rijksmuseum’s medieval garden. Enjoy some time looking at some of the God given talents of these artists. If you would like to see more art or display your own art here at La Casa, join us for the Art Show here on La Casa’s campus on Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 9am-noon.

One may observe God’s accuracy in the hatching of eggs…

Those of the canary in 14 days;

Eggs of ducks and geese in 28 days;

Those of the mallard in 35 days;

The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.

Notice they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!

See God’s wisdom in the making of the elephant….

The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction.

No other quadruped is so made.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first.

A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first.

How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!

Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.

Each orange has an even number of segments.

Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.

Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.

The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.

The lives of each of us may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if we will only entrust Him with our lives. If we try to regulate our own lives, we will only have mess and failure. Only God, who made our brains and hearts, can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

When you carry the Bible, Satan has a headache; when you open it, he collapses; when he sees you reading it, he loses his strength, and when you stand on the Word of God....Satan cannot hurt you.

I pray God blesses you in ways you never ever dreamed!

Watch the weekly "What's Happening" e-news for all kinds of happenings in Health Ministry! Hope to see you at an event!