St. Anthony on the Desert Care of Mind, Body, Spirit

God of compassion and love,
we offer you all our suffering and pain.
Give us strength to bear our weakness,
healing even when there is no cure,
peace in the midst of turmoil
and love to fill the spaces in our lives.

Through our ministries we seek to be a place of healing and wholeness. Whether through prayer, pastoral support or practical support or practical ministry, we are committed to reflect Christ's loving presence to those in need.


Open Hands and Hearts
The purpose of this pastoral care team is to assure that members of St Anthony on the Desert are cared for in their time of need. Six teams provide services such as sending greeting cards, phone or home visits, meals for families and arranging for needed transportation. Additionally grief support and assistance in funeral preparations are provided. For more information contact team leader Pat Schmid.

Order of St. Luke the Physician
The International Order of St Luke the Physician is an ecumenical ministry of Christian healing. It is made up of clergy, health care professionals and lay people who believe healing is an essential part of the teaching and practice of Jesus and that healing ministry should be a part of church today. It is an interdenominational Christian order of faith, service and prayer. For more information contact Rosemary Hansen, Convener.

Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is a group committed to praying for emergency needs.This group of “prayer warriors” is committed to pray in sudden pastoral crises. Such needs might include an emergency hospitalization, an accident or a death. In these and other such times it is a blessing to know that prayer concerns are being held before God. Emergency prayer needs should be conveyed to the Parish Office at 480.451.0860 or shared with the clergy of the parish. Prayer needs will then be passed through the Prayer Chain. If you believe that you are called to this ministry of prayer, please contact Pastor Dorian Mulvey.

Intercessory Prayers during Worship
During our worship services, special prayers for thanksgiving for blessings, for those in need, for those in harm's way and for those who have died are said. These prayer requests can be written in the prayer notebook on the podium just inside the sanctuary door.

Eucharistic Visitors
Eucharistic Visitors visit those members of the community who, because of illness or infirmity, are unable to be physically present with the community as it gathers, to pray with them, to join them in fellowship, and to bring them the Sacrament of Holy Communion. This service does not replace periodic clergy visits, but augments them. For more information about this ministry, contact the Rev. Susan Cihak, Deacon.

Connections for Challenging Times
As the result to unprecedented job losses at the beginning of 2009, a job loss support group was formed.The purpose of the group is to network, brainstorm, to brush up on job search skills i.e. resume writing, job interviewing, to discuss ways of cutting back on expenses and to support one another through this uncertain and difficult time. This group meets on Sundays twice a month. For more information, contact the Rev. Grant Gilfeather, Deacon or call the church office at 480.451.0860.

Grief Support – Walking the Mourner’s Path
In order to accomplish the task of assisting those whose lives are negatively affected by grief, Walking the Mourner’s Path was started in 1995 in response to an unmet need for long-term, meaningful psychological and spiritual comfort for those who mourn. This was accomplished by training clergy and laity to lead Christ-centered grief support courses in congregations and other settings. This ministry has trained hundreds of course facilitators and conducted support workshops throughout the country. The value of this work gained national recognition when, in conjunction with the Episcopal and Lutheran churches, Mourner’s Path trainers taught local religious and lay leaders to offer GriefRelief in New York after the 911 tragedy. This international ministry is owned by St. Anthony on the Desert and is operational in twenty-six states, Canada, Australia and the Cayman Islands. For information about Walking the Mourner’s Path, please contact Catherine Gilbert.