2605 S Signal Butte Rd

Mesa, AZ 85209

480-396-8300

What's Going on at Spirit of Hope?

View/Download/print a copy of the calendar here: March 2026

From Pastor Kevin's Desk

Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church community,

God is with you! We continue our journey through the season of Lent. This is a time of reflection, repentance, and prayer. The 40 days of Lent connects us to the biblical significance of 40 – Moses on Mount Sinai for 40 days, Israel in the wilderness for 40 years, Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the wilderness for 40 days. For your Lenten pilgrimage, I would invite you to consider joining in the Grand Canyon Synod’s participation in the 40-40-40 Lenten challenge. More information is found in this newsletter below.

Our Holy Week services info is included below.

I will be at a required First Call Accompaniment at the Franciscan Renewal Center on April 14-16 with all pastors and deacons who are serving in their first three years of ministry from Region 2 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Region 2 includes congregations from New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, most of Wyoming, parts of Texas, and all of Hawaii.

We encourage you to ensure your contact information is up-to-date with Spirit of Hope.

Additionally, the Spirit of Hope office hours are as follows:

• Closed Sunday (Worship at 9:30AM with fellowship after service)
• Closed Monday
• Tuesday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
• Wednesday: 12:00PM – 5:00PM
• Thursday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
• Friday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
• Saturday: 1:00PM – 4:00PM (Fellowship at 4:30PM and worship at 5:00PM)

Grace and peace,

Pastor Kevin Anderson

Office: (480) 396-8300

Emergency After Hours (call or text): (480) 359-7048

Email: prKevin@spiritofhopelutheran.com

Church Work Day THANK YOU!

A big thank you to those of you who came out to help with the yard work this past weekend! You are so appreciated!

Dee Wilson, longtime member of our church community, passed away peacefully last week. Dee always had a smile on her face and a love for Jesus and this church. She was actively involved with Seniors Rock and loved helping during church rummage sales. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her!

Holy Week Services

Maundy Thursday worship with communion will be on 4/2 at 5:30PM.

Good Friday worship will be on 4/3 at 5:30PM.

Saturday Easter Vigil with communion will be on 4/4 at 5:00PM

Easter services with communion will be on 4/5 at 6:30AM and 9:30AM.

Choir!

Our choir will be singing on Sunday mornings! Please join us for rehearsals on Thursdays at 3:30PM. You are welcome to join! No experience necessary!!

Easter Sunrise Service

We will have an Easter Sunrise Service at Spirit of Hope!!! The service will be at 6:30AM. More details to come.

Wednesday Lenten Services

Our Wednesday evening Lent services continue this week at 5:30PM. We will have soup after service.

If you are considering bringing a soup to share, please sign up using the sheet in the narthex.

Woodworking with Spirit of Hope

The woodworking crew will have a brief meeting on Sunday, April 12 at 10:45AM. Those with any interest at all are encouraged to attend.

Tea Party at Spirit of Hope

Our Tea Party is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at 12:30PM. You are encouraged you bring a friend! If you are interested in attending, please sign up in the narthex so the committee can begin planning according. Tickets are $10 per person and will be on sale in April.

LDS Easter Pageant

Our LDS neighbors have invited folks from Spirit of Hope to attend their annual Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple Grounds. The pageant runs March 6 through April at 8 PM. Please sign up ASAP in the narthex so we can let them know how many of our folks are attending.

Outreach Ministry Team Happenings

The February food delivery was made to the Superstition Food Pantry, Apache Junction - egg cartons and 42 lb. of groceries.

The “Undies & Socks” drive was completed on March 1. March 5th, Senior Rock assisted the Outreach committee in sorting hundreds of items. Below is a picture as they were being sorted. The women’s and children’s undies and socks were delived to CAAFA New Left and the men’s items were delivered to Project Genesis. Both agencies were extremely appreciative. Thanks to Max & Alice Tiede for continuing to promote this project.

Please continue to support our food bank donations during this time, as it is a year long project. 

Beginning mid-May, we will start the Sack Lunch project for the homeless. This will continue throught August. This year we will be making 100 sack lunches each week, which contain a peanut butter & strawberry jam sandwich, chips, energy bar and an apple. Donations needed are as follows: creamy peanut butter, strawberry jam, energy bars and chips. We will have a weekly sign-up sheet for anyone wishing to donate the bread or apples.  

40-40-40 Lenten Challenge - Register Now!

Lord, When Did We See You? A STRANGER? NAKED? SICK? IN PRISON?

40-40-40 LENTEN CHALLENGE 2026

Matthew 25:37-40. “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’”

The challenge is to participate in some personal and community spiritual practices during Lent which will focus on stretching our learning, care and advocacy muscles on behalf of underserved communities. The six weeks will be divided according to the gospel text, with participants focusing on what we know and think about these siblings in Christ, as well as how we act in support and on behalf of these communities.

Why Lent? Lent is a time to reflect, remember our dependence on God and one another, and look forward to the ways God calls us to be. Adding one or more of these practices to your observation of Lent might help you feel more connected. The challenge could help our synods be the Church together, and to see God’s vision and invitation for us to be a church for the world and share the good news of Jesus Christ. LEARN MORE & Register using the link at the bottom of this article.

How is this a challenge? This a friendly competition among the 5 Region 2 synods for a good cause. Our goal is for individuals representing 50 congregations per synod to participate -- most participants ‘wins’.

What are the 40-40-40 Lenten practices? We encourage you commit to 3 of the 4 (or all 4!) practices during the 40 days of Lent, 2026. Develop your own plan,or check the website for practical ideas for spiritual practices on the theme.

• Daily Devotion. Subscribe to receive devotions every day of Lent via email. These short reflections represent diverse voices and circumstances.

• Daily Learning. Read ELCA social teachings. Study and pray on Matthew 25. Join ELCA networks like AMMPARO, PRAN, LRC, ELCA World Hunger. Participate in a group study on advocacy. Learn about current events and legislation. Journal.

• Daily Action. Volunteer at a food bank. Donate clothes and sundries. Clean up your local watershed, visit someone in the hospital. Pray for elected leaders. Plan a prayer vigil. Meet your legislator, write a letter. Donate books to a prison.

• Daily Donation. Pledge to give $1 a day (or more) to ELCA World Hunger during Lent.

Participating Synods: Sierra Pacific (2A). Southwest California (2B), Pacifica (2C), Grand Canyon (2D) and Rocky Mountain (2E).

Click Here to Register

The 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge for 2026 — Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona

Watch the newsletter for updates!

Serving in March

Saturday PM Readers

March 7 Daryl Wilton

March 14 Craig Thomas

March 21 Melody Oliver

March 28 Pete DeMars

Saturday PM Sound Board

March Steve Ostermann

Saturday PM Communion Assistant

March 7 Wendy Sontag

March 14 Wendy Sontag

March 21 Sandy Odmark

March 28 Sandy Odmark

Saturday PM Setup & Takedown

March Melody Oliver

Sunday AM Readers

March 1   Steve Crofton      

March 8   Martee Sauer

March 15  Margaret Anderson   

March 22 Debra Kravec        

March 29  Karen Gowan

Sunday AM Greeters

March 1 Bob and Marilyn Johnson

March 8  Allen and Diane Thompson

March 15 Colleen and Greg Crow

March 22   Hans and Diane Reinhardt

March 29  Dave and Paula Slone

Sunday AM Sound Board

March 1     Eric Shelbourn

March 8   Steve Crofton

March 15   Steve Crofton

March 22   Eric Shelbourn

March 29 Eric Shelbourn

Sunday AM Communion Assistant

March 1      Debbie S & Martee S

March 8   Debbie K & Connie

March 15    Colleen P & Diane L

March 22    Colleen C & Eric T   

March 29 Debbie K & Debbie S

Sunday AM Setup & Takedown

March Karen G & Linda W

March BIRTHDAYS!

1 - Debbie Hall

8 - Diana Ajluni

8 - John Rung

14 - Michael Snyder

16 - Theresa Foster

17 - Ruby Klick

18 - Reagan Ward

19 - Gerie Davis

22 - Peter DeMars

24 - Elain Brynsaas

24 - Connie Lovell

26 - Nick Gehling

29 - Wendy Sontag

31 - Duane Gilson

Immerse Yourself in The Word!

Spirit of Hope currently offers 3 bible studies weekly. See below for your options and join us anytime!



Bible Study with Pastor Kevin

Pastor's bible study meets on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 AM in the Large Classroom. We take a closer look at the Old Testament reading and the Gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday.

All are welcome!

Bible Study – “Too Big For Starbuck’s”

Currently doing a study on the Prophets, beginning with Isaiah.

Start your day off with us! Men and women are invited to join us on

Thursday mornings at 6:30 AM at Church. Bring your Bible and your coffee.

Led by: Bobbi Edwardson 

Women's Thursday Afternoon Bible Study

This bible study is held on Thursday afternoons at 1:00 PM in the church classroom.

New members are always welcome as together we grow in God’s GRACE and LOVE. 

Led by: Dar Stucke

Did You Know???

The Grand Canyon Synod (which Spirit of Hope is part of) is a very active community of 89 churches in Arizona, Nevada and Utah. There is always much going on. The Synod has a website that posts all the news of the synod. The link to the website is here: Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA and if you click on "News" in the toolbar, you will find a link called "Get Our Newsletter". The Bishop's office puts out a weekly newsletter chock full of GCS happenings! And you can have it sent right to your email!

When you get a chance, take a look and see all the good things happening in Our Church!

Spirit of Hope communicates electronically in many ways!

First - this newsletter is created weekly! You can receive it electronically via email or view the current and past newsletters on the Church Website www.spiritofhopelutheran.com under the "Newsletter" link. You can register to receive the newsletter on the main church website page - www.spiritofhopelutheran.com. Click on the "Click Here to Subscribe to Our Weekly E-Newsletter" button.

Second - Our website has so much useful information and is a great source of all things Spirit of Hope. You can see what's going on, view the 9:30 church service live, or view past services, or find a list of helpful resources.

Third - Spirit of Hope has TWO Facebook pages! One is public and you can find it by searching in Facebook for Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church. Don't forget to click on "Follow". The other Facebook page is PRIVATE, meaning you need to request access or be invited. Search for Spirit of Hope and/or contact Tina Gilson with questions (tinag963@gmail.com).

Fourth- the church website has an app for your phone! In the Apple App Store or Play the Android Play Store and search for the "Our Church" app. Once downloaded you will be prompted to search for your church. You will have the church website in a phone-friendly format at your fingertips! Pretty cool, huh?

Phone: 480-396-8300

Email: admin@spiritofhopelutheran.com

Website: www.spiritofhopelutheran.com