HELLO AND WELCOME

Welcome to Shepherd of the Desert Evangelical Lutheran Church’s website situated in beautiful Sun City, Arizona. Our church was the first Lutheran congregation established in an active retirement community in the U.S. We gather around God’s Word and the Holy Sacraments, with traditional worship, each weekend. We extend to you an invitation to worship and fellowship with us.

OUR VISION

“To be an intergenerational congregation that puts the Love of Christ into action from one generation to another and from our community to our world.”

OUR MISSION

Our ministry is centered on being “Created, Redeemed and Called by God…as we reach out to ALL by sharing our gifts and the unconditional love of Jesus.”

RECENT NEWS

Peace be with you,

Sisters and brothers of mine in Christ Jesus, the grace and hope which we hold through faith sustain you now and forever more. These last months four of our sisters in Christ have entered the church Triumphant † Jackie Goudy † †Audrey Goodrich† † Lyle Shattuck† and †Shirley Citrowske†. I give thanks to God for giving them to us, for giving them to me to know and to love as companions in our pilgrimage on earth. Each of these ladies were unique children of God, each brought insight and faithfulness. They held distinct sets of humor, piety and comradery . They cared for their families and make no mistake about it they cared for their family here at Shepherd. We all were strengthened by their prayers, by their presence, by their wisdom and by their offerings of love.

Many knew them and know of them… but, during this time of the “pandemic” many have been absent from our midst and while not forgotten, having been absent, we grieve. Yet, remember this we grieve not as those who have no hope, remember we grieve as a people with a hope that springs eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord. We know our sisters are at peace they now rest from their labors here in the church militant. We are strengthened and nourished by their witness, by their faithfulness, as we commend them to our God of mercy and compassion as they are now at rest in the Church Triumphant.

And we the living, give thanks to God for them as we commit them to the eternal and amazing grace that sustained them in this life. And, we the living, must deepen our lives, repent our sin, and continue to serve Christ by recognizing the Christ in others…

As did †Jackie†, As did †Audrey†, As did †Lyle†, As did †Shirley†

And with the saints before us, remembering the Eucharist’s deepest meaning is a communion of life between the living Lord and all believers and this life bond cannot be broken, even by death…in thanksgiving to God for all the blessings received

Pastor Daniel