Saint Anthony on the Desert sits as a parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, offering a welcoming spot where people of all ages can gather for worship, connection, and service, and they do this in a straightforward way with weekly services every Sunday at 9 am and midweek worship on Wednesday at noon, Thursday afternoons at 1 pm in the Chapel, and on the Second Saturday of each month in the Chapel at 5 pm, always providing Holy Communion where all baptized Christians are invited. The community encourages folks to stick around after worship for an informal coffee hour-plain and simple fellowship without much fuss, meant for building friendships and sharing news. Choirs, ministries for children, youth, adults, and the family help keep the spirit of belonging alive, and things like the Godly Play class, youth group evenings on Sundays, and the chance for young ones four and older to serve as acolytes, ushers, and readers let people of any age find a way to take part.
The worship services are open in person or online, with live streams running on YouTube, and they use Facebook and other social media to keep people in the loop. Lay pastoral care teams keep in touch with households, making sure folks who can't be out and about as much still feel included and supported. You'll find a peaceful labyrinth and garden behind the Parish Hall for anyone wanting to walk or sit quietly from sunrise to sunset, and community life brings together programs like Arts on the Desert, Avid Readers, Blessings of Belonging, Dining on the Desert, Music on the Desert, Seasoned Saints, breakfast gatherings, and opportunities for young adults between 18 and 35.
There's a group called Men of St. Anthony (MOSA) serving meals at a men's shelter, raising money for transportation needs with the help of a local bicycle shop, and participating in church events and cleaning, and the Needlecrafts for Needs program provides handmade items-like prayer shawls and hats-to charities and runs a Christmas bazaar every year. Outreach stretches to Habitat for Humanity and local food banks, aiming to offer hands-on help where it's needed. Children, youth, and families can register for focused ministries, and the church holds memorials, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and other milestone services without much ceremony, just steady support.
Saint Anthony on the Desert has open hours from Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 3 pm, and Sunday, 8 am to 1 pm, inviting anyone to stop in or join the group. A minister for evangelism, Jill Kyler, helps lead the effort to welcome new faces, and the community expresses a mission to invite people to find purpose with friends and acknowledge the value of everyone, saying God loves every person, and also works alongside indigenous people for reconciliation and justice, aiming to make everyone feel at home, without putting on airs or trying to be more than what they honestly are-simply a local Episcopal Church living out its faith and community connections one step at a time.
