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Faith and Life with Pastor Andrea

“When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead-end— Because I am God, your Savior.”

Isaiah 43:3 (The Message Bible)

This Dead-End sign is posted in the corner of my yard. I go for walks almost every day and never notice it. But this week the sign jumped out at me and hit me like a ton of bricks! It was all I could see. Dead End. Why haven’t I ever taken note of this sign in my yard before, I wondered?  

Sometimes in our lives we feel like we are approaching or are already in a dead end with nowhere to turn. Sometimes we keep walking to see what’s ahead. Sometimes we turn around and go the other way into open ended paths. Sometimes it takes a while to realize that we are in a dead-end, whether it’s a relationship, a job, a situation, or a conflict. But then it hits us, and with lots of prayer, we have a decision to make. Walk ahead or turn around on a different path.

The Israelites in Isaiah were in a dead-end situation and full of fear. God recognized that awful feeling of being between and a rock and a hard place. It’s uncomfortable. But God gave the Israelites hope with a promise that no matter where they walk, God will walk with them. 

God gives us hope and a promise in Jesus, too. Even when you’re in that hard place, it’s not a dead-end, because God opens doors that lead to new opportunities. Sometimes you just have to turn around. Sometimes you have to walk right through it and keep going. God is always with you showing you the way. If it feels like you are in a dead-end, hear the good news. Our Savior leads us down new paths and walks with us in the dead-ends and through the open doors.

With open hearts,

Pastor Andrea

Mission Moment - The Children's Home Project

November 16 & 17 -- All Worship Services @Tempe Site

November 17 -- Adult Forum at 9:45 am @Tempe Site

November 24 -- Worship Service @Gilbert Site

The branches of God's love and connections spread far and wide. Soon you'll be hearing how those branches spread from Ohio to Texas to Arizona to Honduras. Jenny Kast from The Children's Home Project will be sharing a Mission Moment at our Tempe Site November 16 & 17 and at our Gilbert Site November 24. Jenny is friends with Pastor Thadd and Laura Book. They met through their mutual friend, Pastor Megan Elliott. Pastor Megan and the Books met at seminary in Ohio, and now she serves a congregation in Texas. When the Book family moved to Arizona, Megan connected them with Jenny. Jenny founded The Children's Home Project in Honduras, and she's coming to share her story with Desert Cross. You can find out more about the home before Jenny's visit by visiting The Children's Home Project website.

Farewell to Spirit of Joy

One of our sister churches, Spirit of Joy, has been renting space and sharing their equipment with us at our Gilbert campus. They are embarking on a new ministry adventure as they soon launch a new coffee shop in Gilbert. Their last Sunday with us is November 24, and they will be moving out through December 3. 

We give thanks for the shared ministries over these years such as the Maundy Thursday Last Supper drama, combined choirs, and more. We give thanks for their generous donation of painting and improving Suite 104. The model of sharing space with other churches is part of our history, and we continue to share space with the Korean Presbyterian Church. There is room for all in God's church, and we love to share our space and our ministry!

Please be sure to bid Spirit of Joy farewell and best wishes in their new endeavors as an innovative ELCA congregation in Gilbert and the Grand Canyon Synod! 

2024 Angel Tree - Tempe Campus

The Angel Tree in Tempe will be set up in the Narthex starting November 16! Here's how you can help bring joy to a child this Christmas:

1. Choose a Tag: Take one or two tags from the Angel Tree.

2. Shop and Wrap: Purchase a gift for each tag you take. Each child (ages 15 and under) will receive two gifts—one toy or special wish item, and one piece of warm clothing. Be sure to wrap the gift and securely tape the tag to it.

3. Grocery Gift Cards: Some tags are for grocery gift cards to support each family. Please do not wrap gift cards. Place them in the container marked “Angel Tree Gift Cards” or drop them off at the church office clearly marked for the Angel Tree.

Deadline: All gifts and gift cards are needed by the morning of December 15. We’ll be sorting and distributing the gifts that day. If gifts arrive after the 15th, they may not reach the child until after winter break.

Thank you for making Christmas brighter for children in need!

All Aboard the StewardSHIP

Thank you for your commitments to Desert Cross!

Your support is invaluable, Together we make a difference every day!

Just keep swimming,

The Stew Crew

Thank You from Kyrene Resource Center

Kyrene Resource Center sends a big thank you to Desert Cross for the jackets that were donated during our September outreach. Kathy Diekelman's SUV was filled to the brim with bags of jackets of all sizes. With the weather changing now, children will have a resource to find warm clothing. 

Thank You Desert Cross!!

🎶 Join Us for a Christmas Celebration Like No Other! 🎶

Come experience the awe and wonder of Christmas at Desert Cross! This year, our Sanctuary Choir invites you to a special Christmas Cantata, "Night of the Father’s Love: The Awe and Mystery of God with Us" by Pepper Choplin. 

🕥 When: Sunday, December 15th, 2024, at our 10:30 am service  

🏛️ Where: Desert Cross - Tempe Sanctuary

This beautiful musical journey will fill your heart with the joy and peace of the season, as we celebrate the miraculous story of Christ's birth. You won’t want to miss the chance to sing along with the choir on select songs and be part of a truly moving worship experience.

Invite family, friends, and neighbors, and let’s come together to make this Christmas season unforgettable. Let the music of the "Night of the Father’s Love" fill our Sanctuary and our hearts. 🎄✨

Gilbert Advent/Christmas Cantata: "O Holy Night"

Join us at Desert Cross in Gilbert for a heartwarming evening celebrating God's love through beautiful music and inspiring scriptures! Our Advent/Christmas Cantata will feature Canticle of Joy, performed by our talented Desert Cross groups, with a special solo of "O Holy Night" sung by Sam Loose. 

Bring friends and family who could use the uplifting message of God’s love this season. 

📅 Date: Sunday, December 15  

🕓 Time: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.  

📍 Location: Desert Cross - Gilbert Campus  

🎄 Christmas Cookie Reception to follow!

Calling Creative Volunteers! We’re looking for a decorator to create a nine-pillar candle display for the altar and readers to participate in the event. If interested, please reach out to Carolyn at carolyn.perkins77@gmail.com. 

Come and share in the spirit of Christmas with us!

Children's Christmas Musical: "A Rockin' Royal Christmas…A Calling to a Higher King"

Get ready to celebrate Christmas with a fun and lively musical at Desert Cross in Gilbert! Join us as our young performers tell the story of Herod and Sherlock Watson on a unique mission to investigate the genealogy of Jesus.

📅 Sunday, December 22, 2024  

🕤 9:30 a.m. Worship Service

📍 Desert Cross - Gilbert Campus  

Calling All Kids!

Rehearsals are in full swing, and it’s not too late for kids to join the fun! Come sing along and be part of this memorable pageant.  

Rehearsal Schedule: 

• Saturdays from 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.  
• Last three Saturdays: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.  

For more info or to sign up, contact Carolyn at carolyn.perkins77@gmail.com. 

Come be a part of the celebration—it's going to be a rockin' royal Christmas!

Desert Cross Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Thanksgiving Food and Blanket collection boxes are out at the Gilbert and Tempe campuses. Desert Cross once again is being very generous and filled the Gilbert boxes to overflowing. So, we’ll transport the items each week to the donation site so there’s room for more. Thank you to all those who have donated early in the drive.  Let’s keep the boxes full each week through Sunday, November 17.

A box in Gilbert is marked for fleece blankets that can be donated to keep our neighbors warm. Many stores currently have them on sale as the weather gets cooler. 

Both campuses will collect items until November 17th. For a shopping list of the most needed items, please click the button below. Monetary donations are also welcome.

The drive supports Concordia Charter School families, Kyrene Resource Center, Lutheran Social Services, Matthew’s Crossing, and the Salvation Army. Thanks for helping our neighbors!

55+ Fellowship - Yesterday's Kids

Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 9:00 am

Tempe Community Center Classroom

Please join us for our Game Day on Thursday, November 21st at 9:00 am in the Community Center Classroom. We will be playing Bingo and ask that you bring a "White Elephant" gift to share; nothing expensive. We have a good time of fellowship and lots of laughter!

This Game Day will include a Soup Lunch, YUM, after we're finished playing Bingo. So make plans to come and have a fun Thursday morning with all of us "Kids"!!

Advent Devotional: Words for the Beginning

Advent begins Sunday, December 1. Our theme for Advent is Words for the Beginning. Use the button below for the online devotional book. 

If you'd like a hard copy, contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.

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