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Desert Cross Weekly Update
October 31, 2025
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"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Romans 12:12
| The once prolific monarch butterfly is rapidly disappearing from our world. So a surprise sighting of this iconic monarch feeding on vibrant, purple flowers is a sign of hope! Hope is present faith directed toward the future. As we navigate these days, God is with us and shows up in unexpected ways. As we enter the fall season, trust God and look for signs of hope around us. Wonder, how we can be a sign of hope to others? Share these signs of hope. Remember many things in life are uncertain, but we have sure and certain faith in Jesus Christ, in whom we put all of our hope. Even when life is rocky and unsure, trust in Jesus Christ, the solid rock on which our hope stands! | |
Desert Cross Family Reunion – Save the Date!
You’re invited to our upcoming DCLC Family Reunion! We will be gathering this Saturday, November 1st, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Tempe Campus Community Center. This special evening is all about celebrating our church family with food, fellowship, and fun!
We’ll be sharing a potluck dinner, and we’d love for everyone to bring a dish to share! To make sure we have a variety, please bring the following based on the first letter of your last name:
- A – E: Appetizers
- F – L: Sides
- M – R: Main Dishes
- S – Z: Desserts
| | | Come ready to enjoy a warm evening of community and connection as we gather around the table together. We can’t wait to see you there! For more information, please contact Angela Borchers at ambredsox@gmail.com. | | | |
Desert Cross Serves Event
Sunday, November 2nd
Tempe: 8:45am – 9:15am
Gilbert: 10:45am – 11:15am
All ages are invited to gather at both sites for a Desert Cross Serves event on Sunday, November 2nd. We'll be packing snack bags and sharing them with folks in need we see around town.
Gifts to the Hunger Jars on October 4th/5th, October 11th/12th, and October 18th/19th will go towards supporting this project. Thank you for your donations, and we hope to see everyone at the event!
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MS Bike Ride 2025
Art Krzyzewski is riding in his 34th consecutive Multiple Sclerosis bike ride on November 8th and 9th.
You can donate online at Bike MS Arizona 2025's website by clicking the button below. You can pay through Venmo, Apple Pay, PayPal, e-checks, or credit card.
Art will be at the Tempe site every Saturday and Sunday until the bike ride. He can take pledges and donations then, or you can contact him at krzyarty@cox.net.
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Be Thankful Food Drive
Tempe Campus: The Tempe Campus “Be Thankful” Food Drive has started and will be ongoing through November 23rd.
For a shopping list of the most-needed items, please click the button below. Gift card donations are also welcome.
Tempe donations will benefit the Kyrene Resource Center and Matthew’s Crossing.
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Gilbert Campus: The Gilbert campus Be Thankful Food Drive will start on October 26th and also run through November 23rd.
Gilbert donations will benefit the Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry.
For more details and a shopping list, click the button below.
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Feed Your Neighbor 💜 Feed the Planet 💜 Feed Your Soul
Borderlands Produce Rescue at Desert Cross Tempe Site
Distribution Date: November 15th
Distribution Time: 8:00am – 11:00am
Volunteers Needed at 6:00am
*** Volunteer Orientation ***
Sunday, November 2nd at 11:00am
Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom
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It's official... Desert Cross will serve as a distribution site for Borderlands Produce Rescue for their upcoming season! What does this mean? Once a month on a Saturday morning, a truck will deliver rescued produce to our Tempe Site. Volunteers will gather early in the morning to prepare boxes for distribution. Then folks from our neighborhoods and congregation will drive into the parking lot and receive up to 70 pounds of rescued produce loaded into their cars for a $15 cash donation. We'll be keeping good food out of the landfill, we'll be stopping greenhouse gases, we'll be saving our water resources, we'll be providing healthy food at an affordable price, we'll be helping our neighbors!
Our first distribution date is November 15th, and we need a lot of helping hands! If you'd like to volunteer in this new ministry, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600. We'd love to have you join us!
Please come to our Volunteer Orientation on Sunday, November 2nd at 11:00 am at our Tempe Site in the Community Center Adult Classroom.
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Youth Group Meetings
Next Meeting: Sunday, November 2nd at 5:00pm
The Youth Group, grades 6-12, meets on Sundays from 5:00pm – 6:00pm. We will meet in Room 104 at the Gilbert Campus.
If you have any questions, please email Tessa Faust at tfaust@desertcross.org.
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Pastor Class with Pastor Steve
Jesus as Wisdom Teacher
October 16th – November 20th
Thursdays at 7:00pm
Tempe Campus Fellowship Hall
Jesus was neither a priest or a prophet but was most often addressed as Rabbi, a term that was not used in the Old Testament. His wisdom teachings grew out of the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Scriptures; books like Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and a few of the Psalms.
In the class we will take a closer look at those wisdom books and at the wisdom teachings of Jesus.
For more information, or to sign up, contact Pastor Steve at sholm90@gmail.com.
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Faith Formation Adult Forum
Desert Cross Serves Project – November 2nd
Next Meeting: Sunday, November 9th
Sundays at 8:45am – 9:15am
Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom
OR
Sundays at 10:45am – 11:15am
Gilbert Sanctuary
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Pastor Class with Pastor Thadd
Share a Meal with Matthew
October 29th – November 19th
Wednesdays
Potluck Dinner at 6:00pm; Class at 7:00pm
Gilbert Campus
You're invited to a four-week class with Pastor Thadd called "Share a Meal with Matthew," beginning Wednesday, October 29th at the Gilbert campus.
Each week, we'll start by sharing a meal at 6:00pm, then we'll dive into the Gospel of Matthew together from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. We'll explore key themes from the gospel of Matthew that will be the primary text for much of the next church year.
Whether you're new to the Bible or a longtime reader, this is a chance to dive deeper into Matthew's Gospel in community. Come with your questions, your curiosity, and definitely your appetite – for Scripture, for connection, and for what God is doing among us.
To RSVP, contact Pastor Thadd at tbook@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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Meditation Group
Tuesdays at 7:00pm – Tempe Sanctuary
Next meeting: November 4th
OR
Thursdays at 9:00am – Tempe Community Center Youth Room
Next meeting: November 6th
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Do you want to try meditation? If so, please join Elaine Kraemer on Tuesday evenings or Thursday mornings. 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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Advent Wednesday Soup Dinner & Fellowship
**BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!**
Join us for warm soup and even warmer fellowship on Wednesdays before our Advent Services!
December 3th, 10th, and 17th
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Tempe Campus Fellowship Hall
We’d love your help! Please sign up in the Narthex to bring a pot of soup, bread, or dessert. You can also speak with Shelley Mardany or Karen Koslow before or after church.
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Advent Devotional
Humble and Holy
Advent begins November 30th and we invite you to join us on our Journey to the Manger.
This Advent, we are using Humble and Holy, an Advent devotional from Augsburg Fortress which is the publishing house of the ELCA. Each day includes a Bible reading, an image, a reflection, and a prayer. It's a beautiful book to accompany you through the Advent Season. The cost is $3.50, and we always have scholarships available.
To order your copy, please contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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In this space, you will find the musical offerings for the upcoming worship services. Please come and enjoy!
TEMPE CAMPUS
NOVEMBER 2nd (All Saints Sunday)
No special music offerings. Join us on our All Saints Sunday as we honor our loved ones who have recently passed.
NOVEMBER 9th
Ringing Praise – Breathe
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GILBERT CAMPUS
NOVEMBER 2nd (All Saints Sunday)
Junior Choir – Shall We Gather at the River?
NOVEMBER 9th
Instrument Ensemble – Jesus Shall Reign
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music..."
Psalm 95
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Snack & Chat Host Needed
After 3 years of faithful service, Ann Thomas is retiring as Host of Snack & Chat on November 30th. We are so thankful to Ann for providing a welcoming fellowship time at 10:30am, Tempe Sundays!
Do you love hospitality? Ann will train you in, and then you can recreate Snack & Chat how it would work best with your leadership!
Please contact Pastor Andrea at acain@desertcross.org or talk to her if you are interested in being the next Host or team member starting December 7th.
Thank you!
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Taking Faith Home
Available for Home Study
Taking Faith Home is a weekly study guide you can use at home for individual study, with your family, or with your friends. It's based on the Revised Common Lectionary and includes scripture readings, conversation starters, devotional readings, and service ideas. It is available in the "old school" format of a hard copy in your church mailbox.
If you'd like to sign up to receive this study tool, please contact Wendy Williams in the church office at wwilliams@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.
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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. Gluten-free options are 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 on that page.
We are actively looking for more volunteers in all areas of service.
| | | | If you are interested in having your child baptized, please reach out to Pastor Thadd at tbook@desertcross.org. | | Do you have a news item, upcoming event, or ministry story you'd like to share? Please send the information to Wendy at wwilliams@desertcross.org. The deadline is TUESDAYS for same-week inclusions. | | May the Lord bless you in all your endeavors this week! | | |
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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