Message from Pastor Philip

Welcome to February! Whether you are a long-time member or new friend, we welcome you to Desert Chapel!

We've all survived the busy holiday season; by now the Christmas decorations are put away, and we start to look forward to warmer, dryer weather and Easter. Although I grew up in a rainy climate on the Gulf Coast of Texas -- I've been in Arizona for over 25 years and admit that I'm now used to the dry, hot weather.

The last few weeks have been unusually cold and wet here for the Phoenix area -- we remind ourselves that the rain is a blessing to a thirsty land that has been lacking rain for many years.

February is a month in which we are called to listen and pay attention. We are called to listen to the sound of the rain and the wind. We are called to listen to each others stories of anguish, and hope, and joy. And - we are called to listen to God, and Jesus teachings.

On Wednesday, February 14th, at 6pm - we will start the Lenten season and our journey towards the cross with a special Ash Wednesday worship service, complete with imposition of ashes.

Through ash we acknowledge our mortality: Genesis 3:19 (NIV) - By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food

until you return to the ground, since from it you were tak- en; for dust you are and to dust you will return. Through Christs death and resurrection, we rejoice in our eternal life.

There are many Faith Traditions that encourage some form of fasting or abstinence during Lent. Lent is the 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. As my faith has matured -- I have come to think of fasting or abstinence as an opportunity for us to double down on focusing and lis- tening. What do you fast from, or abstain from?

Thats a very individual decision. Lent recognizes the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness after his baptism - fasting, praying, and listening to God. Sometimes, we need to remove distractions to give time and space for listening and prayer.

Here in the church office, we've started the New Year with a bang! Your Leadership Board has approved a for- mal budget for 2024, and a dedicated team of volunteers including Kathy Highland, Dave Tom, Nancy January, and Ernestine Tesarek spent long hours preparing a grant application to the city of Apache Junction to request funding for our weekly mission and Mission facilities.

If we receive the grant, it will help fund long needed repairs, improvements, and accessibility features to Woeller Hall and the rooms we use for the Clothing Closet. Regardless of the outcome of the application, we will faithfully live into our calling as Christians to help the last, the least, and the lost. We will continue to move for- ward in partnership with the community to feed and clothe those who need it. Thats who we are - a community of Christ, outwardly focused.

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 9 : Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:
"This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"