Church Family,

Though the heat is still with us, the summer break is behind us.  It’s nice to have a bit of a break from the daily grind during the summer, but I’m super excited about getting back into a regular rhythm, and that is precisely what is happening this week.  Our fall ministry efforts will begin!  Below is a schedule of this week’s gatherings:

• Wednesday (Sept 7): Join us for Disciple Makers from 6 – 7:30 pm to hear what Disciple Makers is all about and what we will cover this semester.  Childcare will be provided.
• Sunday (Sept 11): We will start a new round of studies for our 9 am Sunday Studies: The Attributes of God and Living as a Church.  As you enter the foyer, look for signs directing you to the classroom where these classes will meet.  If you have never attended a Sunday Study, let me encourage you to do so this week!
• Sunday (Sept 11): Desert Kids will launch their new classes this Sunday!  We are excited about the adjustments and trust the changes will serve our families better.  If you don’t know where to go, grab a volunteer, and they will help you find the right class.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

It was such a joy to be together last Sunday as we looked at 3 John.  It was an exciting time of reminding ourselves to be fellow workers of truth by fully knowing the gospel and faithfully supporting gospel work.  I’m so thankful for LITDC’s commitment to both those beautiful things.  We long to be gospel-saturated in all we do and continue to pray for gospel partnerships.  Join us in that prayer as we seek to be fellow workers of truth in Mesa, Arizona, and across the world.

Kids Camp!!!

We are so excited about Kid’s Camp from June 8 to 10!  Continue to pray as we get more registrations coming in daily.  If you want to hand out flyers in your community, just let us know, and we can print as many as you like.

Elder Candidate

We announced this past Sunday a significant step forward in moving towards a plurality of Elders as our collective conviction.  Since January, once we agreed and affirmed a new set of Bylaws reflecting a plurality of Elders, the Transition Team has been working, praying to seek God’s wisdom, and then vetting potential Elder Candidates.  We are happy to present Jared Whitehurst as our Elder Candidate.  On June 12, we will vote either to affirm or deny that recommendation in two weeks.  If you are a member, take the next two weeks to pray, and don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

Can you believe we have just one more week left in the book of Genesis?  This series has been encouraging to me in at least two ways.  One, the entire bible finds its roots in the book of Genesis.  So to study it thoroughly will aid your understanding of the whole bible.  I pray that has been the case for you.  Secondly, how it sets the tone for the importance of God’s sovereignty has been deeply encouraging.  What has been extremely clear is that we owe our salvation, from beginning to end, to God alone.  There is no other explanation for all we have in Christ; it’s God’s work!

Thank you for your desire to consume God’s Word above all else every time we gather!

Kids Camp

Pray for those who will attend and the volunteers as June 8-10 draws near.  We are excited and looking forward to what the Lord will do with that time.  Also, we will announce this Sunday a day we will need as much help as possible to clean and set up after the school removes all their stuff.  Please consider helping those days!  We are going to need it!

Prospective Members Class

We are excited for the many who have signed up for this Saturday’s Prospective Members Class!  There is still room for others, so if you did not get a chance to sign up just be here this Saturday at 9 am.  We’d love to see you!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

What a great Sunday together as we explored Genesis 46, which explains Jacob’s entrance into Egypt.  By this point in the story of Genesis, many years have passed since God made a promise to Abraham (Gen 12).  Though time has passed and people have come and gone, God has not wavered in keeping His promises. He alone has proven to be faithful. It is Him who works providentially to bring about his desired ends.  Genesis 46 shows us God’s faithfulness in multiplying Jacob/Israel and highlights His future faithfulness to bring them back to the promised land.

Kid’s Camp Registration

Registration is now open!  Click HERE to register your child/children for Happy Holidays: Celebrating God’s Good Plan Kid’s Camp.  Please join us in prayer as we send out a flyer through multiple schools in the area!

Prospective Members Class

We announced this past Sunday that we are having our next Prospective Members Class on May 21 from 9 am – 12 pm.  Please register in the foyer if you are interested in attending.  This class is designed to give further details on all things Light in the Desert Church.  We will discuss what we believe, what a church is, why join a church, and lastly, the nuts and bolts of our life together.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

I hope you all have enjoyed our time in the book of Genesis.  It’s been a joy studying and preparing each week.   We are scheduled to finish up Genesis in four weeks, and then we will dive back into the book of Psalms for June and July.  This week, take some time to read the final chapters of Genesis and consider Joseph’s words in Gen 45:4-8 and Gen 50:20. (Check the entire series out here or listen to last week’s message here.)

Kids Camp

Thank you to everyone who has donated supplies to Kid’s Camp!  Continue to be in prayer as we open up registration in a couple of weeks through various schools in the area.

Disciple Makers

There will be no Disciple Makers Class this week, April 27.  We will resume next week on May 4.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

I do hope you all are well.  I want to invite all who receive this blog post to join us this weekend as we contemplate and celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  This week in our calendar, often referred to as Passion Week, captures the heart of where our hope lies–in a living Savior who took the punishment we deserve.  Please participate in the various opportunities available this week to contemplate and celebrate our Risen Lord!

Easter Schedule

• Good Friday, 6 pm
• Waiting Saturday, provided readings given out on Friday
• Resurrection Sunday,  9 am fellowship, and 10:15 am gathering

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

What a wonderful time together this past Sunday as we prayed, sang, read Scripture, and heard God’s Word preached.  Genesis fills in so many details that the entire bible unpacks with its 66 books.  It has been a joy to study the history of God moving providentially within the world to bring about His desired ends.  I want to personally thank you all for your desire and encouragement to put Scripture before us each week, eager to understand its truth.  It’s a joy to pastor you all and preach God’s Word each week.

Easter Weekend

Easter is just three weeks away!  We want to make sure you are aware and planning on participating in all we will do for Easter weekend.  So grab your calendars and mark these dates and times:

• Good Friday (April 15) at 6 pm we will gather to reflect on our crucified Lord
• Waiting Saturday (April 16) we will provide readings to reflect on uncertainty and trust
• Resurrection Sunday (April 17) at 9 am we will provide refreshments for fellowship and then have our normal scheduled gathering at 10:15 am to celebrate our risen Lord!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

As we continue to make our way through Genesis, we are beginning to see Joseph as the faithful one. Despite all the difficulties he faces, he is consistent and unwavering in his faith in God. This past Sunday, Joseph was faced with an opportunity to be unfaithful, wicked, and sin sexually with Potiphar’s wife. The decision was easy for him, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”  After rehearsing all that the Lord had done for him in finding favor with Potiphar and being put in charge, Joseph cannot pursue wickedness and, more importantly, sin against God. His desire for God overshadowed the temptation to sin. That’s the trick; having a greater desire and affection for God than sin’s seductive call.

Disciple Makers

This is a friendly reminder that we will start back up our Disciple Makers class this Wednesday. Join us at 6 pm as we discuss how to read our bibles.

Mission

Perhaps it would be wise to refresh our memories on what we here at Light in the Desert Church believe is our mission. At Light in the Desert, our mission is to glorify God by making disciples who love God supremely, love others sacrificially, and share hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ to all peoples (read more).

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan

Church Family,

Sunday was a fantastic day as we continued in the book of Genesis.  Joseph will carry the story from here.  We will see the ups and downs as Israel moves out of the promised land and into Egypt.  Genesis 37 begins that journey by telling us how his brothers poorly treated Joseph; he is rejected, stripped of his robe, and sold for money.  This is the genesis of how the people of God end up as slaves of Pharaoh who deals shrewdly with them and ruthlessly makes life bitter for them (Exodus 1:1-14).  Things don’t just happen overnight.  There are many movements along the way that bring them, bring people, to unhealthy situations.  Genesis 37 reminds us just how desperate we are for God’s grace once again.  It also gives us hints towards the more excellent brother who is rejected, stripped of his robe, and sold for money (Matthew 27:27-31).

Disciple-Makers

This is just a friendly reminder that we will be gathering this week, March 2, for our disciple-makers class at 6 pm, but will not gather next week, March 9, due to Spring Break.

Ukraine Prayer Guide

Take some time to be praying for the unrest in Ukraine.  Here is a prayer guide to help.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Bryan