Welcome Message from Bishop Grant
The direct effect that the global pandemic has had on our United Methodist Church is what has brought me to be in relationship with all of you. I will continue to serve both the California-Pacific Conference and the Desert Southwest Conference during this interim period.
Preparing a Way
“I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’.” John 1:23 John was a voice preparing the people who would hear the living Christ but moreover one who would work to make a straight way for the Lord. What this meant was to live with integrity and be the prophetic voice to his people. This phrase comes from Isaiah 40:3-5 where Isaiah is preaching to Judah and making straight the way or highway meant to prepare the way for the visit of a monarch.
The Thread of Trust
The annual church conference is one part of a larger vision and practice of Methodism. We can approach the annual meeting as simply perfunctory or obligatory. Or, we can instill it with the intended purpose and meaning. Let us choose to spend our time on purpose.
Seasons of Change
By Rev. Susan Brims, Missional Strategist & Superintendent The words found in Ecclesiastes 3 are true, aren’t they: for everything there is a season…. (I hear singing.) As we begin to see signs that the season in Arizona is finally changing to a cooler time, we...
Faithfulness
By Rev. Matt Ashley, South District Missional Strategist & Superintendent Joy, Compassion. Innovation. Three qualities I have written about in my last three newsletter articles, and three qualities that I hope define the South District. I want my church to be...
