Have You Heard a Whisper?
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
12/24/25
Have you heard a whisper? That’s the question Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry asks in his Christmas children’s message, but it’s really a message for all ages. Click the link below to watch and have a Merry, Merry Christmas!
Journey to the Manger . . . with Some Music
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
12/2/25
What do you do when you start a road trip? Cue up some music for the journey, of course! Below you’ll find a link to a Spotify Playlist put together by Kate Bowler for her website and blog, Everything Happens. It’s a mix of music to listen to during Advent. You can listen to it by creating a free Spotify account.
Thanksgiving
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
11/20/25
This time next week, you’ll be busy prepping the turkey and the stuffing for your Thanksgiving dinner. Before we get too busy with all “the things” this time of year, let’s remember God’s blessings and give thanks. Click the link below for a few minutes of music and reflection.
A New Way
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
10/22/25
After Hurricane Helene hit Valle Crucis, North Carolina last year, two congregations came together to share space and to share ministry. Churches around the country are finding new ways to work together, and these two communities are a great model. Click the link below to read about their partnership.
Neighbors . . . Found
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
9/29/25
Our September Playlist Theme is Neighbor. For years, Steve and Patti Erickson thought of their young neighbor, Hannah Mitchell, and wondered what happened to her. They looked for her, and eventually they found her. Click the link below to listen to an amazing story of how neighbors can help each other.
Blessings in the Darkness
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
9/3/25
Pastor Andrea spoke about blessings in her sermon on Sunday. She talked about how we can be a blessing to others through service in our community. If you missed it, you can watch the livestream recording below. So blessings were on my mind when I got in the car yesterday afternoon and heard a story about Hurricane Katrina. We all remember how the storm slammed into New Orleans and the surrounding area twenty years ago. Many of the people evacuated to Houston for safety, and many of them ended up making new homes there. One of the people interviewed in the story talks about “blessings” and “curses” from that event. It’s beautiful that many choose to find blessings in the darkness after that horrible storm. You can listen to the story by clicking the link below.
My Master’s Hand
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
8/26/25
Bruce Springsteen has been in the news this week because Born to Run was released fifty years ago yesterday. That album changed his career and made him a household name. Bruce fans have been listening to newly-released music this summer. Tracks II: The Lost Albums was released in June. The boxed set includes an album called Faithless that was the soundtrack for a “spiritual western” film that was never made. The album includes songs about struggling with and holding on to faith. “My Master’s Hand” has been playing on repeat at our house. Click the link below to listen to it. Thanks for the old and new music, Bruce!
History of Religion at Yellowstone
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
8/13/25
A few summers ago Mike and I took a road trip, stopping at several national parks along the way. We spent less than twenty-four hours at Yellowstone, not because we didn’t find it fascinating and beautiful, but because we had to evacuate because of flooding. Some of you have heard our story of evacuating in the rain with no idea where to go and no internet to search for a place, but we had trusty paper maps in our car! While we were at the park, we didn’t hear about the religious history of the area. Native Americans, Christians, and New Age groups have a history in and near the park. Click the link below to read an article by Thomas S. Bremer, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Rhodes College.
History of Religion at Yellowstone
News from the ELCA
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
7/31/25
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly is meeting in Phoenix this week, and the assembly elected a new Presiding Bishop. Click the link below to read about the election and about Yehiel Curry, the next Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins this new ministry.
Go in Love and Serve
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
7/7/25
Listening to Pastor Andrea’s “Go!” sermon yesterday, I was reminded of a story I saw on the news a few weeks ago about Dr. Bryant Lin. Pastor Andrea said, we are called to “follow God’s call to love and to serve and God will provide in unexpected ways.” Dr. Lin, a professor at Stanford University, has found unexpected strength to serve in an unusual way. He has stage 4 lung cancer. He’s choosing to love and serve others by teaching his students how to be better doctors by sharing his patient experience with them. Dr. Lin’s service will have a positive impact on patient care for years to come. Click the link below to watch a story of love and service in action.
I Forgive You
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
6/18/25
Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina was the site of a horrific shooting ten years ago yesterday. When I saw the story linked below on the news last night, I was amazed by the forgiveness expressed by the victims and the families. As the reporter says, they demonstrate “monumental grace” in their actions. They are practicing their faith and modeling forgiveness for all of us. I pray for God’s peace for all.
Faith Together
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
6/12/25
Desert Cross is not on its own in Our Journey of Faith Together. We’re part of the Grand Canyon Synod, and the Grand Canyon Synod is part of the Evangelical Church in America. We have our community at Desert Cross, we have our larger church community around the world, and we practice Faith Together. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton is sharing this message with Synod Assemblies meeting around the country. Click the link below to watch her message to our Church.
Choose Community
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
5/28/25
Choose Community. Those were the words I heard on Meet the Press Sunday morning. Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General, was the guest. He was speaking about loneliness in the United States and ways to combat it. When he left office earlier this year, his “parting prescription” to the country was to Choose Community. Pastor Kimberly Knowle-Zeller writes about community in Living Lutheran. The article linked below may give you some ideas on reaching out to your neighbors and making new connections. Let’s all Choose Community.
He Leadeth
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
5/22/25
Our Playlist Theme for May is Lead, so the article linked below caught my eye. Living Lutheran has a Hymn of the Month feature. The “King of Love My Shepherd Is” is this month’s hymn. It’s based on Psalm 23. Click the link below for some history about the song and its author. There’s also a Spotify link so that you can hear The National Lutheran Choir’s offering of the hymn. To hear the recording, you’ll need a Spotify account which you can create for free.
Lent & Service
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
4/21/25
Today we woke to the news that Pope Francis died in Rome this morning. In the news coverage, it was emphasized that he called on all people to remember the stranger by serving those in need. It was also said that he always left others with a message of hope. How appropriate that the final two articles linked below from the Living Lutheran series on service are about serving the stranger and serving with hope. So, let’s finish up our series on service by continuing to serve others and by bringing a message of hope through our service.
Total Love
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
4/17/25
Christians around the world will gather today for Maundy Thursday. Today we learn about love. Total Love. God sent Jesus to us to teach us about love. Pastor Teresa Angle-Young reflects on this lesson in the article linked below. Today and every day . . . let us love one another.
Lent & Service
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
4/8/25
“Serving with Courage” is the title of the next article in Living Lutheran’s series on Lent & Service. Sometimes stepping out in service takes some courage, and today’s article may encourage you to act in faith.
Lent & Service
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
4/1/25
Living Lutheran continues its series on Lent & Service. Below you’ll find links to the next two articles. The first focuses on small acts of kindness, and the second focuses on using kind words. We can learn how to serve others by following the example shown by Jesus.
Living Vicky’s American Dream
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
3/31/25
Vicky Nguyen is a senior consumer investigative correspondent for NBC News. In her book, Boat Baby, she tells her family’s story of coming to America as refugees from Vietnam. In their quest to become American citizens, they were helped by members of a Methodist church and a Lutheran church. In fact, she’s still in contact with some of those folks today! Click the link below to see how the work of organizations like Lutheran Social Services makes the American dream come true for others.
Lent & Service
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
3/19/25
Living Lutheran is running a seven-week series on Lent & Service. “Serving with Humility” is the title of the first article, and “Serving with Presence” is the title of the second article. The articles explore how Jesus served and suggest ways for us to serve today. You’ll find links to both below. Come back in the coming weeks for more articles in the series.
Spotify Playlist for Lent
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
3/5/25
As we begin our forty days of Lent, we’re sharing a Spotify Playlist for Lent with you. Desert Cross is using materials from A Sanctified Art for Lent, and they put together this playlist. It offers different kinds of music, songs from some of your favorite Christian artists to Lyle Lovett to the Indigo Girls. Use the link below to create your free Spotify account and start listening today.
A Whale of a Tale
2/20/25
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
Some might say Adrián Simancas is a modern day Jonah. He and his father were kayaking off the shore of Chilean Patagonia when Adrián was swallowed by a whale! “Stay calm” were the words his father repeatedly said to him. Click the link below to read the whole story and see a brief video. After that, you might get out your Bible and reread Jonah’s story.
We Are the Church
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
1/14/25
The people of Altadena Community Church gathered for worship on Sunday. That wouldn’t be newsworthy except their church building burned down in the LA fires last week. They were invited to join for worship services at another church, Montebello Congregational Church. Together they’re showing the true meaning of the old song, “We Are the Church,” and it’s beautiful to see. Click the link below to watch the story.
Faith Journal
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
1/8/25
We learned at yesterday’s staff meeting that one of our staff members received a gratitude journal for Christmas. In fact, a member of her family gave everyone in the family a gratitude journal, so all of them will be taking note of gratitude this year. It’ll be interesting to hear how that practice goes for them. Maybe you’re interested in keeping a journal this year. The link below is from Living Lutheran and has some ideas on keeping a faith journal.
Desert Cross Faith Formation 
I appreciate her comment about exploring, struggling with, and asking questions about the stories of the bible and not “expecting quick or easy answers” from it. This made me think of ChristCare groups at Desert Cross. In these groups we explore, share, question, make connections and more!
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Shannon, thanks for sharing your experience. I, too, have found ChristCare Groups to be a safe place to have doubts and to ask questions. It’s been a comfort and a joy to experience that kind of open conversation.
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We showed the video of Sue Austin to our grandkids, and they said she looked like a mermaid!
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We saw the church when we were in Cork. Your story and the age of the church is a reminder of the lasting grace and how important it is to pass the faith down to the ages.
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Lola, you said it very well. Thank you.
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