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Desert Cross Weekly Update
June 5, 2026
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"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18
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Wouldn’t you give just about anything for things to feel ordinary? Well the church is delivering Ordinary Time to you all summer long! We have entered the long, green liturgical season of Pentecost or “Ordinary Time” which symbolizes new life. This season marks the transition from celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into a prolonged season of spiritual growth and faithful living. The liturgical color shifts to green to symbolize this development, making it a perfect time to meditate on scriptures that cultivate spiritual maturity, endurance, and grace. Kind of like Kermit the Frog reminds us to be hopeful, kind, and faithful friends. Each time you see the green paraments in church be reminded that we are in Ordinary Time that gives us space to grow in grace. Take a deep sigh of relief and remember that God is with us at all times.
It ain't easy bein' green,
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Mission Moment: Refugee Youth Mentoring Program
📅 Date: Sunday, June 7th
🕢 Time: 9:30am during service
📍 Location: Tempe Campus
Join us on Sunday, June 7th during our 9:30am worship service at the Tempe campus for a special mission moment highlighting the new LSS Refugee Youth Mentoring Program. Deniece Lopez, LSS Mentorship Program Volunteer Liaison, will be sharing about the need for mentors who are interested in being matched with a refugee youth, ages 15-24, for approximately four months.
Deniece will also be available after worship to answer questions and help get you connected with the program!
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Vacation Bible School is NEXT WEEK! 🌿🦜
📅 June 8th – June 12th
🕢 9:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Desert Cross Tempe
This year's VBS is going to be an exciting adventure! Rainforest Falls VBS is next week, and we are so excited for an amazing week together! We can't wait to welcome all of the children who have registered for this fun-filled adventure.
Thank you to everyone who donated food and supplies, and those who are volunteering their time to help make this ministry possible.
We are looking forward to a wonderful week celebrating Jesus' love and learning about the powerful nature of God with all of our VBS kids!
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Temporary Office Hours
Please note that from June 1st – 12th, the church office hours will be adjusted due to staff vacations. During this time, the office will be open Monday – Thursday from 9:00am to 3:30pm and closed on Fridays.
Regular office hours will resume in mid-June. Thank you!
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A New Chapter for Keziah!
With deep gratitude and a bit of sadness, we want to share that Keziah Miner will be leaving Desert Cross in July, with her last Sunday at our Gilbert campus on June 28th.
For the past three years, Keziah has served Desert Cross faithfully through her music, leadership, and warmth in worship. She has helped lead our Gilbert congregation in song, helped our youth grow as musicians, and brought a spirit of joy and care to Sunday mornings. We are so thankful for the many ways she has shared her gifts with our congregation at both sites.
Keziah will be moving to Texas to finish school, and we are excited for this next step in her life and calling. She would also love to find another worship leadership opportunity at an ELCA church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and we trust that her gifts will continue to bless another congregation just as they have blessed us.
Desert Cross has begun the process of looking for our next Gilbert Campus Worship Leader. As our Gilbert campus continues to grow, we are confident that God is already preparing the right person to step into this role and help lead worship into the next season.
Please join us in giving thanks for Keziah’s faithful ministry among us, praying for her as she prepares for this transition, and surrounding her with love and encouragement in these final weeks.
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Borderlands Produce Rescue
Next Distribution Date: June 20th
Desert Cross Tempe Site
Distribution Time: 6:00am – 8:00am (first come, first served)
Volunteers Report at 3:45am
*** Please note the new times for the summer season.
Desert Cross is partnering with Borderlands Produce Rescue. They rescue delicious, healthy produce and distribute it throughout Arizona.
We need your help with our June distribution event!
How can you help? Spread the word! You, your family, and your friends are invited to come pick up a produce box at our event. A $17 cash donation (exact change preferred) gets you up to 70 pounds of produce.
Do you want to keep good produce out of the landfill? Then come pick up a box!
Do you want to eat healthy food? Then come pick up a box!
Do you want to stretch your food budget? I think you see where we're going with this ... come pick up a box!
This program is open to all!!
You can preorder and reserve a box beginning the Monday before our distribution event. It'll cost a little more, but the box will be waiting for you. Use the link below for more information.
| If you'd like to volunteer for our June event, you must sign up through the Borderlands volunteer sign-up program. For more information, use the link below. | For more information, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600. | |
Youth Group Meetings
Next Meeting: Sunday, June 7th 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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Yesterday's Kids (55+ Fellowship)
Summer Details + An Invitation to Breakfast!
The Yesterday's Kids group will be taking a break for the summer, and will not be meeting in June, July, or August. We will start up again on Thursday, September 3rd with a Coffee and Conversation meeting!
HOWEVER . . .
We are planning to meet for breakfast at 9:00am on Thursday, June 18th at TC Eggington's in Mesa. We would love to invite members of the congregation to join us! The address is 1660 S Alma School Rd #129, Mesa, AZ 85210.
If you wish to join us, please call Glenda Friesth at 480-262-9906 by June 16th to make a reservation. We're looking forward to seeing you for a fun morning!
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Meditation Group
Tuesdays at 7:00pm – Tempe Sanctuary
Next meeting: June 9th
OR
Thursdays at 9:00am – Tempe Sanctuary (changing locations temporarily due to VBS)
Next Meeting: June 11th
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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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C3
PLEASE NOTE: C3 will be taking our annual summer break! We will NOT meet in June, July, and August.
C3's next gathering will be on September 8th at 10:00am in the Gilbert Fellowship Hall. The theme will be 'WASSUP'.
We hope everyone has a wonderful summer!
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Take Me Out to the Ballgame ⚾️
📅 Friday, August 7th
🕢 Game time is 6:40pm
📍 Chase Field in Phoenix
We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting our 5th annual DCLC Arizona Diamondbacks outing on Friday, August 7th. Game time is 6:40pm versus the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Tickets are $69 each – located in the lower level.
Are you interested in joining us? If so, please email Tom Rewolinski at adshckyfan@aol.com with the number of attendees as soon as possible, as seats are very limited.
Payment instructions and deadline will follow at a later date.
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🔗 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
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Vitalant Blood Drive (Tempe)
📅 Date: Saturday, June 27th
🕢 Time: 7:30am – 12:00pm
📍 Location: Tempe Community Center
💉 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!
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Vitalant Blood Drive (Gilbert)
📅 Date: Monday, June 29th
🕢 Time: 3:00pm – 6:30pm
📍 Location: Gilbert Fellowship Hall
💉 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!
Join us at our Gilbert Site to help save lives!
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🔗 Schedule Your Appointment:
Visit Vitalant.org
👤 Contact for Sign-Ups:
📞 Call Meghan Lundberg at 480-528-6459 or Susan or Glenn Tischaefer at 920-539-1364.
| | With end-of-the-school-year celebrations, summer gatherings, and pool parties just around the corner, this month’s recipe is the perfect dish to share! Check out the recipe below, and try it for yourself! A delicious dip that’s easy to make and great for any get-together.
Email your own recipe to Vicki at victoriacollins123@gmail.com | |
Crab Dip
Submitted by: Suze Scott
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Ingredients:
1 (8oz) package cream cheese
2 Tablespoons milk
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
Slivered almonds
1/2 teaspoon horseradish
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 oz crab meat
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Instructions:
Beat all ingredients together.
Bake at 375° for 30 minutes.
Serve with rough wheat crackers (such as Triscuts) and enjoy! This can be served hot or cold!
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In this space, you will find the musical offerings for the upcoming worship services. Please come and enjoy!
TEMPE CAMPUS
**There are currently no upcoming special music offerings.**
Please enjoy our blended traditional/contemporary service at 9:30am in person or on livestream!
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GILBERT CAMPUS
June 14th
Leanna Ihlefeld, violin solo – Be Thou My Vision
June 21st
Carolyn Perkins & Kelly Kaiser Borning, vocal duet – Children of the Heavenly Father
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music..."
Psalm 95
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🎓 Invest in Your Future!
Are you ready for the next chapter? We are excited to announce that scholarship applications are now open for the upcoming academic year!
Whether you are a graduating high school senior heading to campus for the first time or a returning university student continuing your degree, we want to help support your journey.
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Who Should Apply?
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Class of 2026 Seniors: Kickstart your freshman year with financial support.
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Current College Students: Keep the momentum going with continuing scholarship money.
How to Apply:
Deadline: June 15, 2026
Apply at: https://www.desertcross.org/mission/endowment-fund
Don't leave money on the table – get your application in today!
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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!
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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