Spirit in the Desert … a Place for All People
Our Featured Retreats & Events
Raptors Galore at Desert Sojourn Retreat!
On March 5 & March 12, those at the Desert Sojourn Retreat had an up-close-and-personal e [...]
LSS-SW – Learning About Refugees at Desert Sojourn Retreat
On March 7 & March 14, Hannah Miller, Director of Community Engagement for LSS-SW, gave a [...]
LSS-Southwest Partners in Ministry!
On February 12, 2019, Richard Anderson, Director of Spirit in the Desert recruited twenty peo [...]
Partners in Ministry & Music!
Partners in Ministry & Music Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Carefree, AZ is one of ou [...]
Have a Closer Look at Spirit in the Desert
Learn More About Us
Spirit in the Desert is a peaceful retreat center set among the striking Sonoran desert landscape. View our well-equipped facility and learn about our mission and vision for the future.
Worship with Us
The Spirit in the Desert offers more than space for retreats … come and enjoy our Guided Meditations, listen to the Touchpoints and learn more about our weekly Worship Sessions.
Plan Your Stay
Whether you come for the day, are planning a personal retreat, or considering an overnight stay, here’s the information you’ll need to plan your next visit.
Take a Tour of Spirit in the Desert
with Executive Director, Richard Andersen
Follow Us on Social Media
- Family Reunion Planning Checklist Spirit in the Desert hosts many family reunions. Are you thinking of having one in the future? Is it your turn to find a location and do the planning? Here is a great check list to ensure a successful time ...
- We weep with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Christchurch, NZ, who are grieving. We pray for comfort and strength to fill them, and love to surround them.
We pray for the first responders who ran to their aid.
We ... - Silence is not only good for the soul, but important for our brain health.
Being with God in silence restores, refreshes, and transforms us. - Merry Christmas from Spirit of the Desert Retreat Center!
"Joy to the World!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oOwa0CWVVQ
What is your favorite Christmas song or favorite version of a well-known carol? Please share in the comments.
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For daily devotions by Pastor ... - Meditation and Music
On this 4th Sunday of Advent we light the Love candle. We think of the baby that brought the gift of eternal love to humankind from his heavenly father.
We also remember Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, who ... - Meditation & Music
The candle that we light on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, is the candle of Joy or the Shepherd’s candle. This is often a pink candle, with the others usually being purple, the color of ... - Meditation & Music
On this second Sunday of Advent we light the Bethlehem Candle – the candle of Peace. (In some traditions it is the candle of Faith.)
Today we read passages about John the Baptist and his call to ... - Meditation & Music
On this first Sunday of Advent we light the Prophet’s Candle – the candle of Hope. Advent is a season of waiting: expectant waiting, hopeful waiting.
Waiting for Christ. Waiting with hope.
At Spirit in the Desert ... - Meditation Monday
Sometimes it is easier to express our gratitude in community. Hearing others speak their words of thankfulness sparks the realization of our own blessings and lights up a spirit of gratefulness in us. This could happen as we ... - Every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., a growing contingent of worshippers meet to give thanks and receive communion at Spirit in the Desert. We are thankful for our lives, our health, our faith, our chance to serve, our good fortune, our ...
- If you are anywhere in the Minneapolis Area on September 27 2018, we invite you to join us for a wonderful evening of fellowship, good food, worship and inspiration!
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post On June 4, Spirit in the Desert's Wings North Team hosted a celebration dinner and auction. We had a wonderful time at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Roseville! 70 folks came, enjoyed the appetizers, wine and meal, and supported the ...
- Richard Andersen, our Executive Director, leads an Abundant Aging Class for any church/group that would like to host it. He will be in Tucson, AZ, July 14+15, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. See the attached picture and email us right ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Spirit in the Desert and Foothills Caring Corp love to work together for our community! They park their vans in our back parking lot and the new "Patti Wagon" - a beautiful van with a heavy-duty lift for motorized wheelchairs ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Supporting Veterans is a huge part of our ministry here at Spirit in the Desert! We offer the Healing of Memories Workshop for vets and 1st responders. The Founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories, Fr. Michael Lapsley, was ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Last night Spirit in the Desert was honored to have Fr. Michael Lapsley, the founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories, speak to a group of 50 people from around the valley, Prescott, and Sedona. Fr. Michael shared his ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post A busy Monday at Spirit. We have a wonderful new group coming in, and of course, the 4-legged locals had to show up to check out the newcomers and make sure they were OK! The javelina also managed to chomp ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Spring is in full bloom at Spirit in the Desert. Colors rival anything we humans can even think of compared to God's handiwork here. Two large blossoms on one of the Argentine Giants is stunning our guests on campus. How ...
- Braveheart Wellness Retreat in Carefree Arizona http://www.baniaello.com/retreat-to-carefree-arizona-march-2018/
Carefree Arizona Shopping & Sunshine. Yoga & Mindfulness along with Free Time to explore the desert. - Speaking the Word Freely Preaching/Teaching workshop still has several spaces open and several Scholarships. Have time on Jan 23-25 for a workshop that will give you the tools you need to be an inspiring and effective preacher/teacher/speaker? This method is ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Speaking the Word Freely
This is a powerful tool to learn how to speak/teach/preach ... whatever your profession that has you doing a lot of public speaking, this workshop is for YOU! - Braveheart Wellness Retreat in Carefree Arizona We have room for a few more peeps! Check this out! A trip of a lifetime!
Carefree Arizona Shopping & Sunshine. Yoga & Mindfulness along with Free Time to explore the desert. - Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Spirit in the Desert is in the Sonoran Desert, a place of beauty beyond what folks think is in the desert--like sand! These pictures are from the Safford AZ area-the edge of the Sonoran Desert and start of the Chihuahua ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Just plugging into your day with some Sonoran Desert beauty we get to see so often here at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center! Come and relax with us and bring your camera, you won't be disappointed!
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Recently attended the Cave Creek Christmas Pageant at Spur Cross Ranch ... what an inspiring evening for all! For over 60 years this pageant has thrilled folks in our area with the songs of Christmas and the beauty of the ...
- Photos from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center's post Spirit in the Desert says "Kuddos to you, Bettye Olson, for your years of artistry and sharing your talents with the world! We hope your book inspires many people to read about your life, your faith, your determination, and always ...
- Timeline Photos A couple days ago we had 3 spaces for Boundless Compassion led by Joyce Rupp ... now we have ONE ... if you're just "a sittin' and a thinkin' about it" well, just saying--I wouldn't wait!
We Are Blessed by Our Community
We are forever thankful to our local business partners
and to those in our local community who give of their time.
Read Daily Devotions
Steve Holm, a retired pastor living in Tempe, provides daily meditations for Spirit’s website. Steve served at Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Tempe, for 22 years. In the past he has provided meditations for Advent and Lenten illustrated devotional booklets. Now, we’re thankful that he’s providing these short devotions for visitors to the website.
… Read today’s and past devotions
Worship With Us
Every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., Spirit in the Desert provides a mid-week oasis of meditation and Holy Communion for anyone on the campus of Spirit in the Desert and for people in the surrounding community. Each week a short homily — or Touchpoint — based on a Biblical story, is presented by Spirit in the Desert Faith Mentor, Jim Hanson.
… Learn more about “Touchpoints”
Virtual Bookstore
The Virtual Book Store is a resource for people on retreat, as well as for others from the local community — a book pantry of nourishing food for spirit and soul! Every month, we will suggest some “books and a few items” that retreat leaders, friends of Spirit in the Desert, etc., have suggested.
… Check out our favorite titles
Show Your Support
Your financial support is crucial to Spirit in the Desert’s future. Each year over 4,000 guests and local community residents find renewal, reconciliation, healing and transformation through the ministry of Spirit in the Desert. We depend on the generosity of individuals and groups and value every gift, regardless of size, all of which are tax-deductible.
… There are many ways to give
What Our Retreat Participants Say About Their Experience
My wife and I were guests at Spirit along with our family reunion. We want to express our compliments to the facility and our gratitude to the staff who were wonderful. All could not have been more pleasant, friendly, fun and at time, peaceful! It was the very best family Christmas ever.
I am so very appreciative of every thing that was done by the staff at Spirit to make our workshop session the best it could be. It was so apparent that “small miracles” were happening as the morning unfolded and, once again, I’m reminded that we are here to work God’s plan and not our own agenda. For all that Spirit did to make those miracles happen, I am grateful!
To all the Spirit Staff … front desk, housekeeping, kitchen, yard, program planning—however you define your role, you are all truly God’s servants in your ministry to all visitors … The Spirit of our God roams these buildings and landscape—you are blessed to work here and we are blessed when we come.