Prison Reform on the ballot?
By Dean Richardson, member of the Desert Southwest Conference Board of Church & Society With the election fast approaching, it is important to look at our United Methodist Social Principles as a way to measure our hope for leadership. With regard to Prison Reform, we...
Register Early – Lay Servant Ministries Training
Make a commiMake a commitment to yourself and your ministry. Plan to attend the next Lay Servant Ministries. Please register early to prevent cancellation of courses and allow our leaders time to prepare for the event. The last event of the year is November 16-17 at Trinity UMC, Phoenix.
Remember in November: Proposition 126
Proposition 126 is cunningly titled “The Protect Arizona Taxpayers Act.” Whether it would actually protect taxpayers is subject to debate. If voters approved this constitutional amendment, an entire category of taxes would be removed from the potential revenue sources...
Local Church Grants from UMCOM
Two grant opportunities are available for local churches from United Methodist Communications: New Church Start Grants provide customized services to churches that are less than two years old. These services may include advertising, awareness materials, social media...
Healthcare for Children and Families Builds Social Community
By Gerry Hills At both, the state and federal level, 2018 elections will determine the fate of health care for children and families. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation since 2009 the number of uninsured Americans has dropped from around 39% to 11% due to the...
DSUMF Offers Workshops on Investment Diversification & the New Tax Act
Sponsored by the Desert Southwest United Methodist Foundation’s Stewardship Committee. Workshops on Diversifying Your Church’s Investments and How the new “Tax Act” will affect you!
Strength for the Journey Retreat 2019
Creating a respite from the challenges that come from an HIV diagnosis, the HIV Caring Ministries is pleased to host the annual Strength For The Journey retreat for those infected by HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. The event takes place at the Mingus...
Holy Huddles on the Future of the Church – Reminders
The East and West District Holy Huddles on the Future of the Church are beginning this week. Here are some important reminders regarding your attendance.
Prop 127: Clean energy for a healthy Arizona
By Jill Cristina-Krebs, Chair of Dove the Desert UMC Board of Church & Society, and member of the Desert Southwest Conference Board of Church & Society Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy (1 Corinthian 4:2, ESV) What is the current...
Pension staff plans for possible ways forward
Do you or your church members have questions about how any of the proposed plans for A Way Forward might affect your church? Plan to attend one of the Holy Huddles in your area to learn more about the proposed plans and get answers to your questions.
Resourcing through the connection
Is your church office administrator missing out on the tips, conversations, and resourcing that is happening on the Conference Facebook Communications group? Members of this group not only get direct contact with the Conference Communications Director, even better...
Remember in November: Criminal Justice Reform
By Dan Sagramoso What’s the current status of criminal justice in the U.S and in Arizona? The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. Arizona has the fourth highest rate in the U.S., with about 42,000 people in state prisons at any point...
September Apportionments: Giving God Our Best
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Then what would a video about giving God our best be worth? Priceless! Our Communications Department has recently completed an initial series of three videos that highlight how our apportionment giving truly is about...
Collaboration Online Worship Workshop
Marcia McFee and Chuck Bell are offering a ground-breaking live stream workshop that brings clergy and musicians together in a learning environment that will enrich collaborations with exciting creative processes and skills.
Pastor Appreciation Month
Did you know October is Pastor Appreciation Month? This month is set aside to honor our pastors for their sacrificial service. What are creative ways that you might say thank you? Our clergy need to be reminded how much we notice and appreciate all that they do....
Investment Diversification & the New Tax Act
November 10, 2018 First UMC of Phoenix 5510 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012 Sponsored by the Desert Southwest United Methodist Foundation’s Stewardship Committee Diversifying Your Church’s Investments! 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM presented by Karen Manczko, Director,...
$400 off on Christmas invitations
United Methodist Communications is offering free $400 towards Christmas Invitation tools including direct mail, banners, and invites for churches in the Desert Southwest Conference! The offer is valid until December 25, 2018, so act quickly! Some churches that have...
What does your church need to help inform the people in the pews?
Are the people in your community within and outside of your church are aware of the work from the Commission on A Way Forward? Do you need resources to help you enlighten your community regarding the proposals for the future of The United Methodist Church and the...
SNAP is at risk but you can help
By Kent Olson, Desert Southwest Conference Chair of Church & Society The Association of Arizona Food Banks publishes a quarterly newsletter entitled Hunger-Free AZ News. Their just-published Fall edition contains the following information regarding current legislation...
Today’s Defining Moment – How did I end up here?
Dear Friends, have you ever wondered how you discover what it is God wants you to do in life? Somehow we believe that we will “know” what path to take, or just exactly what our career should be. The story written below comes from a woman at Dayspring UMC. What her story tells us is that sometimes defining moments happen in ways that feel like an accident. Really, they happen when you are courageous enough to keep walking through the doors that open right before you.
