The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:8-9

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Thank you for being part of Desert Hills Lutheran Church and for the impact we make on our community and beyond! The goal of this letter is to help you prepare for our Season of Intention, which runs through November. During this season, you will be invited to share how you plan to invest in our ministry in 2026.

Forty years ago, a determined group of people leaned on their shovels and posed for a photo at the groundbreaking ceremony of Desert Hills Lutheran Church. Following God’s call, they dared to dream of a future they couldn’t envision.

Four decades later, DHLC is a thriving community of faith, Rooted in Grace, Living the Call. From the four people in that photograph to a congregation of more than 1,300 members, DHLC’s impact is immense. Our mission to Celebrate Grace, Make Disciples, and Make a Difference is felt in the Green Valley community and around the world through generosity and compassion.

While this history is something to cherish and celebrate, we cannot just glance in our rear-view mirror with pride. The people leaning on the shovels all those years ago had a vision, and we are privileged to carry that forward today.

The enclosed Statement of Intent outlines our plans to continue the dream of those visionaries from forty years ago and our own hopes for the future by sustaining our daily operations, growing our Paving the Way fund for future church needs, and continuing our robust benevolence to the community near and far. We can only sustain these dreams through your ongoing generosity. Please prayerfully consider increasing your support for 2026, even if it's just by the cost of a cup of coffee and a muffin per week. $5 X 52 =$260!

We ask that you return your Statement of Intent during worship on any weekend in November or fill it out and submit here.

We look forward to seeing where God leads us in the next 40 years.

Coworkers with Christ,                                                                                 
Rev. Michael Sager, Senior Pastor                                                  Donna Bergsgaard, Council President