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Faith and Life with Pastor Andrea

Photo by Wenhao Ruan on Unsplash

"...Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

Ephesians 4:3

St. Francis of Assisi is my favorite saint of the church. He was a 13th century Italian friar who created the Franciscan order with a simple rule: “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” Everything he did in his life followed this simple rule. He was devoted to peace, charity, and God’s creation. He is usually depicted in a garden with birds on and around him to whom he is said to have preached. His gentle spirit attracted animals and people alike as he valued all people and creation as loved by God. 

Many are feeling unsettled, uncertain, and unsure these days. What would happen if we followed the rule of St. Francis? What would that look like if we intentionally checked our thoughts, actions, words, and interactions against this rule of St. Francis living a life of service and giving? Perhaps we would feel less helpless and more equipped to respond in love to our hurting world. As we navigate these difficult days, following in the way of Jesus is more important than ever. 

May this be our prayer as Christians today who seek peaceful community in the way of Jesus:

PRAYER OF PEACE – St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Follow the Way,

Pastor Andrea

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."

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Hello all,

We had a successful capital campaign for the Gilbert Parking lot, and in in the coming weeks, we should be securing a contractor to complete the work. Thank you to all who have made this possible. 

Below is a snapshot of the total revenues versus total expenses through the end of February 2025.

Blessings,

Brent M. Borchers, Treasurer

Desert Cross Lutheran Church

University Lutheran Church is Hiring!

University Lutheran Church’s Lutheran Campus Ministry at ASU is hiring a part-time Campus Ministry Associate to work with the Campus Pastor to oversee, implement, and lead the campus ministry program at the ASU Tempe campus.

Desired skills include organization, social media, and communication. Must have a Bachelor's degree. Worship leadership with some preaching, leading Bible studies, and recruiting students are included in the job description. This is a part-time position with flexible hours and great incentives (including greatly reduced tuition at ASU!)

The role will begin August 13, 2025. Start date is flexible. Interested? Please email your resume and a cover letter to Pastor Arhiana Shek Dill at info@ulctempe.org.

Click the button below to see the full job description!

LENTEN WEEKENDS

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)

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

LENTEN WEDNESDAYS

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

April 2nd & April 9th

Tempe – 7:00pm Worship

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

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!

🐰🐣 Hop into Easter Fun at Desert Cross Gilbert!

📅 Sunday, April 13th

🕢 10:30am to 10:45am

📍 Desert Cross Gilbert Campus

Get ready for an egg-citing Easter celebration! We're thrilled to invite you and your little ones to join us for a joyous Easter egg hunt right after worship on Sunday, April 13th, from 10:30am to 10:45am at the Desert Cross Gilbert campus.

Invite your friends, families, neighbors, and even strangers to join in the festivities!

Help Decorate our Tempe Sanctuary with Beautiful Blooming Plants

Once again, we will be decorating the Tempe Sanctuary for Easter with live plants.

As in the past, you have the chance to purchase one of these lovely plants. The price for one of these plants is $17.50. Order envelopes are available in the Narthex.

Please return these envelopes along with your payment in the offering or to the church office by April 13th.

Thank you for helping transform our worship space into a place that celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus!

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!

HOLY WEEK AT DESERT CROSS:

PALM SUNDAY – April 13th

Tempe: 10:30am ONLY (livestream)

Sanctuary Choir Cantata: "What Wondrous Hope"

Gilbert: 9:30am

MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17th

Tempe: 7:00pm (livestream)

with First Communion

Gilbert: 7:00pm

GOOD FRIDAY – April 18th

Tempe: 12:00pm & 7:00pm* Prayer Around the Cross

Gilbert: 7:00pm

Tenebrae with Body of Christ

EASTER SUNDAY – April 20th

(No worship Saturday, April 19th)

Tempe: 8:30am (Outdoor worship - BYOC!)

& 10:30am (Sanctuary worship w/ livestream)

Gilbert: 9:30am & 11:00am

MARCH COMMUNITY OUTREACH MISSION

🌟👶🏼 BE A BLESSING TO 60 TINY BLESSINGS! 👶🏼🌟

With ONE weekend left, there’s still time to donate those much-needed items for the annual Community Baby Shower hosted by Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest at Mesa’s Family Resource Center. Many parents of newborns have no family support, so the goal is to set them up for success with parent services, coordinated care, and a fully stocked diaper bag for their new little one. 

Our goal is to provide some of the supplies for 60 diaper bags… and you have already been a huge help with your donations. Many thanks, as we now have enough onesies!

Here is the updated list of primary needs:

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

Just $4 buys a toy or board book, $6 buys a lotion, or $10 buys a baby blanket!

Donations will still be accepted on March 29th and 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).

Once again... bless you for helping so many tiny 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 30th 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.

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.

Pastor Class with Pastor Steve

Glimpses of God in the Psalms of Lent

NO CLASS April 3rd

Final Class: April 10th @ 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.

55+ Fellowship - Yesterday's Kids

Thursday, April 3rd at 9:30am

Tempe Community Center Classroom

Please join us for our planning meeting on Thursday, April 3rd. We will start with prayer requests and social time and then discuss special events and/or service projects we may want to do. All suggestions are welcome!

Yesterday's Kids invites all who are young at heart to join us! We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 9:30am. The 1st Thursdays are our planning meetings, and the 3rd Thursdays are our game days, filled with fun and fellowship! We will have coffee and delicious treats.

We hope to see all you "Kids" there!

Book Group

April 24th – May 22nd

Thursdays at 2:00pm or 7:00pm

Tempe Community Center Adult Classroom

Join us for the next set of Book Group meetings! We will be finishing up Jane Smiley's trilogy by reading Golden Age. This is the final book following 100 years of the Langdon family.

Book Fee: $16.00 Scholarships Available

To sign up for the afternoon group, contact Lola Peterson at lolabluebirds@gmail.com.

To sign up for the evening group, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.

Pastor Class with Pastor Thadd

Dinner with Acts

May 7th, 14th, 21st, & 28th

Wednesdays – Dinner @ 6:00pm; Class @ 7:00pm

Desert Cross Gilbert Site

What lessons can we learn from the early church? What challenges did the apostles face that are still applicable to us today? How does their boldness, unity and perseverance speak to our present circumstances. Come to Pastor Thadd’s class on the Book of Acts to wrestle with these questions and any others you have on the sequel to Luke’s gospel. We will gather at the Gilbert campus on four Wednesday evenings in May beginning May 7th. A potluck dinner starts at 6:00pm, and the class will take place 7:00-8:00pm. 

For more information and to sign up, contact Pastor Thadd at tbook@desertcross.org

🔗 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.

📧 Email: krzyarty@cox.net

Vitalant Blood Drive – Tempe

📅 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!

Blood Drive Coming to Gilbert Site!

Vitalant Blood Drive – Gilbert

📅 Date: Monday, April 28th

🕢 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!

🔗 Schedule Your Appointment:

Visit Vitalant.org 

👤 Contact for Sign-Ups:

Speak with Meghan Lundberg or Susan or Glenn Tischaefer.

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.

Get Ready to Shred-it Up!

📅 Date: Saturday, 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

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

TEMPE CAMPUS

MARCH 30th

Sanctuary Choir, 8:30am – As the Deer

APRIL 6th

Jane Yost, 8:30am – He Will Hold Me Fast

Sanctuary Choir, 10:30am – As the Deer

GILBERT CAMPUS

MARCH 30th

No special music during service.

Hymn Sing! @ 4:00pm – It is Well With My Soul

(See more details in the "News for This Week" section above)

APRIL 6th

Children's Choir – Every Morning's Sun

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

Psalm 95

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!

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.