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Lent 2026 – Unbound: Longing for Wholeness

Desert Cross, Tempe – Labyrinth

"...Return to me with all your heart..."

Joel 2:12

Lent is not a season for spiritual perfection but a holy invitation to become unbound – to name the quiet places where we feel tangled in regret, hurry, or grief, and to bring that longing for wholeness before God. If you picture a labyrinth – its winding path looping back and forth, drawing you slowly toward the center – you begin to see the shape of this season. A labyrinth is not a maze meant to trick or trap you; it is a single, intentional path that invites slow walking, reflection, and trust. So it is with Lent. We may feel as though we are circling old struggles or revisiting familiar doubts, yet God is gently leading us inward, toward the center where Christ waits. In these forty days, we move step by step, sometimes doubling back, always invited deeper. Jesus promises that what binds us does not define us; God’s mercy does. And as we walk this winding path, longing for wholeness, we discover that we are not lost – we are being led, slowly and lovingly, into freedom.

With all my heart,

Pastor Andrea

Help Us Fill Eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt!

📅 Sunday, March 8th

🕢 10:30am (after worship)

📍 Desert Cross Gilbert Campus

Because there is no education this weekend due to Spring Break, we would love for the community to join together and help fill the eggs with treats for the Easter Egg Hunt! The hunt is being held on Palm Sunday, March 29th.

We have over 450 eggs to fill and with many hands helping, it will go quickly – and be a lot of fun! The eggs and treats will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Join us for Lenten worship Weekends & Wednesdays for “Unbound: Longing for Wholeness” by Church Anew.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and carries us to Easter. Our Unbound theme asks us, “What if the opposite of being bound is being whole?” Our world is filled with things that hold us captive. These things that bind us prevent us from living the whole, abundant life that God has promised us. Through the stories of regular people encountering Jesus, and being drawn to the wholeness that Jesus provides, we can learn about our own longings and be drawn into wholeness.

Contemplative Prayer Practices for Lent

As part of our Unbound: Longing for Wholeness theme for Lent, the materials include Contemplative Prayer Practices of Lent. What's contemplative prayer? Here's a quote from the introduction: Contemplative prayer is an ancient and simple discipline. At its heart, it is an opportunity to slow down, to create space, and to notice the presence of God. When we slow down, we can hear the inner stirrings a little clearer and we start to notice the ways God is already at work in our lives and in the world. Contemplative prayer practices help us be in the world with solid footing, clarifying our understanding of how God is calling us to serve our neighbor. Use the link below to download the materials.

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

Lent 3 (March 7/8)

Theme: Longing for Relationship

Verses: John 4:5-12

Lent 4 (March 14/15)

Theme: Longing for Community

Verses: John 9:1-41

Lent 5 (March 21/22)

Theme: Longing for Authenticity

Verses: John 11:1-45

Midweek Wednesday Services follow Joseph's story from Genesis:

Week 3 (March 11)

Theme: Bound by Dishonest Systems

Verses: Genesis 39:1-20

Week 4 (March 18)

Theme: Bound by Family

Verses: Genesis 41 & 42

Week 5 (March 25)

Theme: Bound by Guilt

Verses: Genesis 50:15-21

STOP! Don't Trim Your Palms Yet!

Please don’t trim your palm trees just yet! Once again, we'll be using palm fronds to decorate for Palm Sunday. So if you're planning to trim, wait just a bit longer and bring them to the Tempe Campus by Thursday, March 26th.

Thank you for helping us prepare for our Holy Week celebrations!

Lenten Soup Suppers (Tempe)

Wednesday evenings: March 11th, 18th, & 25th

5:30pm – 6:45PM (before worship service)

Tempe Fellowship Hall

Join us on Wednesdays before our Lenten services for our Lenten Soup Suppers, a meaningful time of fellowship and shared meals as we journey through the season of Lent together. These gatherings offer a relaxed space to connect with one another, enjoy simple food, and prepare our hearts for worship.

If your small group is interested in helping host a supper, please reach out to Shelley Mardany at shelmardany@gmail.com or 602-478-6945, or Karen Koslow at kkoslow@msn.com or 813-748-3191 for more information.

🐰🐣 Hop into Easter Fun at Desert Cross Gilbert!

📅 Sunday, March 29th (Palm Sunday!)

🕢 10:40am (after worship)

📍 Desert Cross Gilbert Campus

Easter is coming and all children are invited to the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Gilbert Campus following worship on Palm Sunday. Join us for worship and the hunt, then stay for crafts and fellowship. It’s sure to be a ton of fun!

Invite your neighbors and friends! We hope to see everyone there!

This Lent, we invite you to participate in the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge, a simple yet meaningful way to deepen your faith through daily practices of prayer, generosity, and reflection! The challenge encourages intentional living throughout the 40 days of Lent.

Learn more and find helpful resources at lentenchallenge.org (you can also click the image above to access the website). Thank you!

Borderlands Produce Rescue

Next Distribution Date: March 21st

Desert Cross Tempe Site

Distribution Time: 8:00am – 11:00am (first come, first served)

Volunteers Report at 5:45am (Volunteers must sign up ahead of time – see below for more details)

Desert Cross is partnering with Borderlands Produce Rescue. They rescue delicious, healthy produce and distribute it throughout Arizona. If you'd like to volunteer for an upcoming event, you can sign up through Borderlands volunteer sign-up program. For more information, use the link below.

You, your family, and your friends are invited to come pick up a produce box at our event. A $15 cash donation 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 healthier food? Then come pick up a box! Do you want to stretch your food budget? Then come pick up a box!

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 have any questions, please contact Denise McClellan at dmcclellan@desertcross.org or 480-730-8600.

SHOWER NEWBORN BABIES WITH LOVE! 👶🏼🌟

March Community Outreach Mission

Once again we are assisting Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, as they partner with The Family Resource center in Mesa to host their annual Community Baby Shower. Many parents of newborns have no family support, so the goal is to set them up for success. In addition to parenting workshops, services, and ongoing coordinated care, each family will be given a fully stocked diaper bag.

And that’s where DCLC can help! Our hope is to provide items still needed to help supply their 60 diaper bags. Here is the Family Resource Center’s list of needs:

• Baby receiving blanket
• Board books
• Diapers size 1 - 4 
• Baby rattles or toys
• Diaper bags

Hunger Jar donations help too! Just $4 buys a toy, $10 buys a baby blanket, or $15 buys lots of diapers!

Donations will be accepted anytime from March 1st – March 29th.

At our Tempe Campus, place your donations of needed items in our designated box in the Narthex, or donate through the Hunger Jar. At our Gilbert Campus place your items in the donation area set up in the Fellowship Hall, or donate through the Hunger Jar.

Thank You!

Thanks to all who donated personal hygiene products, as well as donating in the Hunger Jar for the past couple weeks! Kyrene Resource Center will be providing the donations to those in need.

We are so grateful for the incredible ongoing generosity of our congregation!

– The Outreach Committee

Memorial Garden & Columbarium Update!

There’s been a lot of buzz and anticipation happening in and around the Memorial Garden and Columbarium. HAVE YOU NOTICED THE BEAUTIFUL TILING ON THE FOUNTAIN? There will soon be construction to install shade sails over the structure and refreshment of landscaping around the immediate area outside the wall structures (see sample photo above).

These plans were approved some time ago and with generous designated gifts, we are moving forward to installation and completion of the plans.

Please be respectful and be careful around construction areas. Thank you!

– Memorial Garden/Columbarium Renewal Committee

Grand Canyon Synod Grant

We are happy to announce that Desert Cross is receiving a Grand Canyon Synod Grant to cover the cost of some items needed for our partnership with Borderlands Produce Rescue! To make the work of hosting a Borderlands event a bit easier and safer, we purchased tables, carts, gloves, safety vests, a-frame signs, stop signs, etc. We are receiving a $5,000 grant in 2026, and we'll make periodic reports to the synod on our new ministry.

Thank you to the Grand Canyon Synod for your gift, and thank you to Desert Cross for your support of Borderlands Produce Rescue!

Vacation Bible School

Mark your calendars ...

VBS is scheduled for June 8th – June 12th, 9:00am – 12:00pm!

This VBS is going to be an amazing adventure! Rainforest Falls VBS will be a week of wonder as we explore the powerful nature of God!

Kids 3 years old through 5th grade are welcome to participate.

We need lots of volunteers to make this week successful! Thank you for considering!

More details, registration, and volunteer forms are available on our website at the link below.

Kids Connect!

Sunday, March 22nd

1:00pm – 2:30pm

Gilbert Campus, Suite 104

All children, ages Kindergarten through 5th grade, are welcome to join us for some fun and games! Bring a friend!

Youth Group Meetings

Next Meeting: Sunday, March 8th 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.

ChristCare Small Groups ... on the Move!

***Elaine Kraemer's ChristCare Group – New Day & Time

Elaine's group is moving to a new day and time. The group now meets Wednesdays at 8:00am – 9:30 am in the Tempe Youth Room.

For for more information, contact Elaine Kraemer at elainekraemer1892@gmail.com.

***Dave Landstrom's ChristCare Group – Meeting at Both Sites

Dave and the guys in his group are now meeting alternate weeks at our Gilbert and Tempe Sites. The group meets Thursdays at 7:00am – 8:30am.

For more information, contact Dave Landstrom at dave.landstrom@gmail.com.

Pastor Class with Pastor Steve

Lenten Perspectives on the Life of Jesus

March 12th, 19th, & 26th

Thursdays @ 7:00pm – Tempe Fellowship Hall

During this five-session class we'll examine the meaning of Jesus' baptism, wilderness experience, ministry, death, and resurrection.

As part of our study we'll be asking difficult questions, considering some answers, and perhaps arriving at a new and refreshing way of expressing faith in him as our Lord and Savior. There is no book to read, but do bring your bibles. We'll be comparing gospel passages and looking at the record left by Jesus' earliest interpreters.

For more information and to sign up, contact Pastor Steve at

sholm90@gmail.com.

Donut Day!

Sunday, March 15th

Tempe & Gilbert Campuses

Our Faith Formation Team likes to include some fun Fellowship Time into our schedule. Sunday is Donut Day! Please join us after service at both locations for a sweet treat and some great conversation.

Vitalant Blood Drive

📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th

🕢 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!

🔗 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

In keeping with the theme of Lent and our Wednesday night Soup Suppers, this month we are featuring a Crockpot Chili recipe. We invite everyone to join us on Wednesday nights before Lenten service at both campuses for some soup and fellowship!

Crockpot Chili

Submitted by: Laurie Selby

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (cooked) or protein of choice

2 cans red kidney beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 large can stewed tomatoes

1 package dry chili mix

Approx. 1 cup water

1 can Hatch green chilis*

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a crock pot.

Cook 3-4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

Enjoy!

That's it, super simple and always a crowd pleasure!

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

TEMPE CAMPUS

MARCH 8th

Ringing Praise – There is a Fountain

MARCH 15th

Sanctuary Choir – Psalm 23

GILBERT CAMPUS

MARCH 8th

Chancel Choir – Peace Like a River

MARCH 15th

Keziah Miner, vocals & piano

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

Psalm 95

From Your Parish Nurse

DID YOU KNOW that Tempe Community Council offers FREE tax preparation services just down the street from EnVision Center, at Gracie's Village?

Schedule your appointment today (click the button below) for free tax prep through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. Tax preparation services are available through April 15th, three days per week. Services are free for those who qualify (made less than $69,000 in 2025 or are a senior 65+, veteran, or individual with a disability)

Gilbert Hospitality Volunteers Needed

We are seeking volunteers to help with hospitality at the Gilbert campus. This includes assisting with Sunday service fellowship setup and cleanup, as well as providing support for special events that involve hospitality. Volunteers may serve on a weekly, monthly, or special event-only basis, depending on availability.

If you’re looking for a way to help and connect, we would love your support! To volunteer, or with any questions, please contact Dana Hargis via call or text: 480-708-5984.

Volunteers Needed!

We are currently looking for volunteers to help with funeral receptions and/or provide cookies or bars as needed!

If you’re interested in lending a helping hand, please text Carol Hageman at 480-444-9684.

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.