The Cactus & The Cross Blog

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, signaling one of the busiest and most meaningful times of the year for our Food Pantry! This season, we aim to support 125 families with Thanksgiving meals and a grocery gift card, allowing them to come together and enjoy a special meal. We encourage you to join this effort by donating $15 or $20 gift cards to local grocery stores. Your generosity will enable families to purchase the essentials they need to celebrate Thanksgiving with

By Pastor Dan Potaznick, Associate Pastor for Outreach This summer at St. John's, something remarkable happened. When Phoenix hit 118 degrees on July 9th, breaking a record from 1958, we kept our doors open. For 117 days from May through October, we served 3,568 neighbors seeking relief from deadly heat. We welcomed 598 pets too, because no one should choose between safety and their companion. But we offered more than air conditioning. Working with Arizona Faith Network and c

Community of St. John’s,  I hope this finds you well! I wanted to share some exciting updates about our growing family and express our heartfelt gratitude for your support. First, some good news: Randi's pregnancy is going super well! We're so grateful for a healthy baby and a healthy mama. As you may know, our little one has earned herself quite the nickname – we call her "Hiccup" because she was hiccuping away the very first time we heard her heartbeat. It was the sweetest

Our ushers play an essential role in helping every service run smoothly and making everyone who walks through our doors feel welcome. To stay connected and prepared for the busy season ahead, we’re inviting all ushers  to attend an important meeting on Saturday, November 15, at 9:00 am . During this meeting, we’ll review upcoming events, share important updates, and discuss ways to continue serving our congregation with excellence and care . It’s also a great opportunity to c

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and you know what that means for our Food Pantry—it’s one of our busiest and most meaningful times of the year! This season, we’re hoping to bless 125 families  with Thanksgiving food and a grocery gift card, so they can gather around the table and enjoy a special meal together. We invite you to be part of this effort by donating $15 or $20 gift cards  to local grocery stores. Your generosity will help families purchase the items they

As we anticipate the upcoming year, we are encouraged to contemplate how God invites us to utilize our time, talent, and treasure for His kingdom's work. Pledge Weekend is scheduled for November 8–9 , providing a unique chance for each of us to thoughtfully reflect on our dedication to the ministry and mission of our church in 2026 . Pray. Listen. Respond. We encourage each member to dedicate time in the upcoming weeks to pray and seek God's guidance on how you can contri

Looking for a hands-on opportunity to serve with compassion? Join our bi-weekly Shower Ministry this Friday, October 24, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at St. John’s Courtyard. This ministry is more than just offering hot showers—it’s about restoring dignity, sharing kindness, and showing God’s love to our unhoused neighbors. We provide hygiene supplies, clean towels, and most importantly, a warm, welcoming community. 👐 How You Can Make a Difference: Your help is crucial, whether

God has blessed St John’s with fantastic partners in the Gospel: Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran Fellowship and Vida Nueva Lutheran Church! We’ll be meeting for a combined worship & picnic on Sunday Nov 2 at 11am. We will sing and worship in English, Dinka, and Spanish! We will eat and play and laugh together. It is a preview of heaven: all the saints from every tribe, language, people and nation who have been set free by Jesus from Sin, Death, and the Devil (Rev 5:9)!           H

As we look toward the coming year, we are invited once again to reflect on how God calls us to use our time, talent, and treasure  for the work of His kingdom. Pledge Weekend  will be held on November 8–9 , and it’s a special opportunity for each of us to prayerfully consider our commitment to the ministry and mission of our church in 2026 . Pray. Listen. Respond. We invite every member to take time these coming weeks to pray  and ask God  how you might give joyfully and fait

On the weekend of November 1–2 , we gather in joyful celebration of All the Saints  — those who have died and been raised with Christ! It’s a time to remember with gratitude, rejoice in the promise of resurrection, and celebrate the unity we share as one body in Christ. Worship Schedule Saturday, November 1 – 5:00 pm:  Worship in the Chapel (as usual) Sunday, November 2 – 11:00 am:   Combined Outdoor Worship  at Heroes Park (83rd Avenue & Bethany Home Road) This special Sunda