The Oasis Cross in the Desert UMC Monthly Newsletter

April 2019

Welcome to Cross in the Desert UMC

“Where God’s Love Transforms Lives”

The people of Cross in the Desert United Methodist Church welcome you to our church. We are a vibrant community that loves God and each other. We live out our faith by worshipping

Calendar

April 2 Trustee Meeting

April 4 UMW Leadership Team Meeting

April 6 East District UBUNTU Day (UMW)**

Men on a Mission

April 8 Dinner with the Choir at the Habit**

April 9 UMW Outreach Circle Meeting

Staff Parish Committee Meeting

Devotions & Dinner**

Cactus Sweetwater Neighborhood

Community Block Watch Meeting

April 10 Congregational Care Meeting

Choir Officers Meeting

April 11 Mary Martha Circle**

April 12 Kids’ Night Out

Fish Fry at NSUMC**

April 14 Palm Sunday

April 18 Bookworms United **

Maundy Thursday Service

April 19 Good Friday Service

April 20 Empty Nesters Potluck

April 21 Easter Sunday

April 23 Prayer Committee Meeting

Church Council Meeting

April 25 Desert Daisies**

Art in the Desert**

April 26-28 Men’s Retreat at Lost Canyon

April 27 Beginning Sewing Class

April 28 Jaime Jorge Concert

**Off campus

Table of Contents

Pastor’s Corner ....................................................... 2 Anniversaries and Birthdays ................................... 3 Youth Group .......................................................... 4 Children’s Ministries ............................................... 6 Bell Concert and Easter Egg Hunt ........................... 7 Mission Moments .................................................. 8 Jaime Jorge Concert..………………………………………….. 9 UMW .................................................................... 10 Announcements ................................................... 11

Holy Week Schedule

April 14, 10:00 a.m. Palm Sunday Service April 18, 6:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday/Passover Seder April 19, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Service April 20, 10:00 a.m. Egg-cellent Egg Hunt April 21, 6:30 a.m. Easter Son-Rise Service* April 21, 10:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Service* *Brunch following Easter Sunday Services

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Pastor’s Corner In the maze of competing cultural agendas, the

Church’s revolutionary message and life-giving

influence are being compromised and consumed.

What can be done to stem the tide? Many say the

answer is for the Christian community to seek a

more prominent position in society. However, as

Easter Sunday approaches, I contend that we must

present the surrounding community with a deeper

understanding of Christ’s resurrection. Only by

recovering and sharing the resurrection of the living

Lord can we reclaim the experience of the first

believers who found in the resurrection a doorway

to personal redemption. This in truth transformed

the society around them.

Our pressing urgency is to meet the risen Christ just as the first apostles did, and to

hear his voice. The resurrected Lord stood before his followers and promised them “I

am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The “always” Jesus

promised extended beyond the first century and continues to this very hour!

Christianity is grounded in history, not sensation. Those early believers followed

Jesus Christ not because it felt good, but because they discovered the Son’s rising

was the only reality that could be counted on in a world of constant change!

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Julius

The office will be closed on

April 22, 2019.

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Communications at CITD

Our website is full of all the

latest information about the

church. Please visit it at:

www.crossinthedesert.org.

Please update your email

address with the church

office by placing it on your

attendance form.

Our Facebook page is very

active and provides the

most up-to-date

information. You can like us

at: www.facebook.com/

CrossintheDesertUMC.

If you notice any repairs

that need to be made on

the church grounds that

could cause a safety issue,

please contact Steve Ellis,

Rick Homes or the church

office as soon as possible.

April Prayer Focus

Arizona Korean UMF, Phoenix Aldersgate UMC, Phoenix

Chaplains, Counselors and Staff of the East District

Jack Robinson April 1 Ray Roop April 2 Denice Wilson April 2 Alyssa Martinello April 3 Elizabeth Robinson April 5 Sharon MacVean April 6 Connie Bruhn April 7 Eric Ensign April 11 Bunny Scott April 11 Phyllis Sadler April 12 Mildred Tobias April 13 Larry Albright April 14 Bob Sanders April 14 Hank Hendrickson April 17 Tony Menendez April 18 Dave Delster April 19 Katie Nelson April 19 Daisy Pleake April 20 Suzanne Hartley April 21 Phillip Miller April 21 Ada Thompson April 21 Becky Gaylor April 22 Rhonda Falknor April 23 Sylvia Dick April 27 Morgan Mershon April 28 Naomi Mills April 30 Jeff Moore April 30

Don & Terry Burkman April 6

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The youth group has had a quiet month; I do not think I have been able to say that EVER!

We have been focusing on Lent and what that means. We are gearing up for an exciting,

busy Easter season. We will be hosting the Easter Egg Hunt, SON-rise service, and Easter

breakfast (with help from the UMM). We still need help with the Egg-cellent Egg Hunt so

please let me know if you are able to help volunteer.

Blessings,

Christina Moore Youth Director

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CITD Youth April Calendar Sunday April 7th:

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Sunday school “Bucks & Books”

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Coffee/Bake Sale

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Youth group

Sunday April 14th:

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Sunday school “Bucks & Books”

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Youth group

Saturday April 20th-Sunday April 21st:

Saturday:

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Egg-cellent Egg Hunt. The youth will be running this event.

Meet at church to help set up, hide eggs, run games, and give out prizes. Whole

family is invited to participate and volunteer!

7:00 p.m.: Easter Lock-In, we will be planning and prepping for the youth run

Easter SON-rise service. Meet in youth room, bring a snack to share, and an

Easter outfit for the next morning.

Sunday:

6:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m.: SON-rise service in courtyard.

7:30 a.m.: Easter Breakfast fundraiser hosted by Youth and United Methodist

Men

11:00 a.m.: Easter Brunch fundraiser hosted by Youth and United Methodist

Men

Sunday April 28th:

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Sunday school “Bucks & Books”

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.: Youth group

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Sunday, March 31, was a celebration for all children. They had earned their points to have a light brunch and movie, "The Star." A great kids movie on Faith and Friendship.

VBS is advancing in registration. At this time we have 31 children on the list to be finalized. Anyone wanting to help, please let me know soon. We have an opening in games and supervising a table during crafts. If you like gluing, laughing, working with beads and pine cones, call me :)

Cave Quest, VBS, June 3 - 7 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Ages 2 (if potty trained) through 6th grade or even teenagers if they would like to be assistants. Talented in singing - COME.

July 8 - 12th is Kid's Summer camp with the best director ever: Katharine Keller at Mingus Mountain.

Bring your children to Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Children's Church right after Children's Moment during our worship service. They earn points for attendance, bringing their Bibles, learning scripture and Books of the Bible, have their offering or even having the answer to the weekly topic. Last week was: GRACE.

Connie Bruhn Coordinator of Children's Ministries

At NORTH SCOTTSDALE UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH

Adults $10

Children $5

Family $20Menu: Fried Catfish, Boiled Red Potatoes, Chili Beans, Hush

Puppies and Beverage.Sign‐up at www.nsumc.com/latest‐happenings

This is a fundraiser for members of choirs at CITD UMC

and NUSMC for their upcoming

European Choral tour in May 2019!

Camping Ministry

Save the date!

July 26-28 we are going camping in cool

Flagstaff! Registration will start

in June. All are welcome. No

experience necessary.

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Amuse l’ouïe

Handbell Concert presented by The Bells of Joy

Sunday May 5, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Cross in the Desert UMC

12835 N. 32nd St. at Sweetwater

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Have you noticed CITD’s Missions Committee hard at work to help our congregation reach out? If

you haven’t noticed, this is how you have mattered in the first quarter of 2019.

UMCOR—You have probably noticed the collection bins for school supplies. UMCOR (United

Methodist Committee on Relief) responds to all types of disasters nationally and worldwide. Our

school kits will be sent to the UMCOR Salt Lake City Depot to be distributed to kids in disaster

affected areas. Thank you to all those who have donated. Watch for more news in the next Oasis.

World Vision—We send support for a young man in Niger.

Missionaries—Financial support for missionaries in Vienna, Austria and Penang, Malaysia.

Sister Church—Financial and prayer support for our sister church in Litoměřice, Czech Republic.

Local Outreach—Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank, Justa Center, and the Art in the Desert

program at UMOM’s Parsons Village are a few ways we reach out to the neighborhood.

So how can we do all this? Most of the financial support comes from the sale of gift cards on

Sundays after the worship service! Stop by in Fellowship Hall and see what we have. Each gift card

sold profits CITD from 2-11% of the face value. Remember gift cards do not have to be gifts. You

can buy them for your own use and the church missions ministry benefits! Our most popular cards

are Amazon and Starbucks, but we have lots of others in stock. We now carry PetSmart!

The most important driving factor in this ministry is you. It is a way to make you the hands and feet

of God to others, possibly across the street or across the world. Please contact Julie Wagner if you

are interested in joining the team!

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Jaime Jorge began playing the violin at the age of five. Born and raised in communist Cuba, he was given many opportunities-including an offer to study in Moscow with some of the greatest musicians of our time-if only he and his family would renounce their belief in God. They refused. When Jaime was ten, miraculously, his family was given the opportunity to leave the country. They came to the United State, where Jaime received a Christian education and violin lessons with eminent violinist and teacher Cyrus Forough. But Jaime dreamed of being a missionary doctor, and in 1994 he entered the University of Illinois School of Medicine. In 1996, he left medical school and a promising medical career to follow God’s call to devote his life to full-time music ministry. Since 1988 he has traveled over six million air miles and has played on six continents and in over 80 countries (he’s waiting for an invitation to play for penguins in Antarctica to visit all seven continents). He has recorded and released 17 albums. Please bring your family and friends to join us on Sunday, April 28th at 10:00 a.m. as we welcome Jaime Jorge to lead us in worship.

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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN APRIL CALENDAR

April 4 Leadership Meeting 5:30 p.m. Church Library Contact: Arvilla Jungman

April 9 Outreach Circle 12:15 p.m. Fellowship Hall Potluck Lunch Contact: Jeannine Diller

April 9 Devotions and Dinner Circle 6:30 p.m. Ladera Taverna y Cocina, 8729 N. Central Ave, Phoenix Contact: Gretchen Miller

April 11 Mary Martha Circle 6:30 p.m. Gaylor Home Contact: Mary Nell Woodward

April 18 Bookworms 10:00 a.m. Book: Hag Seed by Margaret Atwod Ada Thompson’s home Contact: Arvilla Jungman

April 25 Desert Daisies 12:30 p.m. Going to Taco Guild, 546 E. Osborn, Phoenix Meet in church parking lot to carpool Contact: Julie Wagner

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN ARE FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE IN ACTION

Thousands of women participate in our reading programs and educational opportunities to grow spiritually, becoming more deeply rooted in Christ and put faith into action. Our national mission institutions empower women, care for children, educate and equip youth, care for the neglected, advocate for social justice issues and strengthen neighborhoods. Our members give out of their love for the world and provide financial support for national mission institutions, higher education scholarships and 121 programs in 110 countries. United Methodist Women members’ voices are heard around the world as they call for justice on issues such as immi‐gration, human trafficking, domestic violence, health care and the environment. We nurture one another and support projects near and far to create a world where women, children and youth will thrive.

SAVE THE DATE!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEA

May 19, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

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Mark your calendars! On May 12th at 6:00 p.m. at North Scottsdale UMC, the European Tour Choir (which has members from CITD and North Scottsdale) will be giving a farewell performance of the concert they will be performing in Austria, Germany and Switzerland from May 24th through June 2nd. Come enjoy an evening of sacred music and fellowship as we wish them bon voyage!

Calling all men for the 2019 Men’s Chorus.

We will be rehearsing on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:00 p.m.

for our annual Mother’s Day performance.

No experience necessary all are welcome.

Come experience

the Last Supper as

Jesus and his

disciples did.

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Cross in the Desert United Methodist Church

12835 N. 32nd Street

Phoenix, AZ 85032

Phone: 602-992-1960

Fax: 602-992-1967

E-mail: citd@crossinthedesert.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossintheDesertUMC

Cross in the Desert Staff

Pastor Julius Keller pastor@crossinthedesert.org

Lay Leader Wanda Picciotti layleader@crossinthedesert.org

Coordinator of Children’s Ministries Connie Bruhn children@crossinthedesert.org

Youth Director Christina Moore youth@crossinthedesert.org Administrative Assistant Linda Moore linda@crossinthedesert.org

Financial Secretary Alice Easter finance@crossinthedesert.org Communications Dinah Brooks dinah@crossinthedesert.org Music

Traditional Worship Leader—Jeff Bulkeley

Contemporary Worship Leader— Jeremy Wyner

Director of Bell Choirs—Julie Wagner

Accompanist Traditional Worship — Stacey Elsasser