A Time of Living Faith Into Reality
It is the eve of the inauguration and the news is filled with words reflecting the fear, anger, and hope that is present in our nation. As disciples of Jesus Christ we are to called to live as people of faith. We are called to live our faith in a way that is experienced in the language we use, the actions we take, the way we treat others.
District Training for Local Church Administrative Committees
In the first months of the year, people who have been elected to local church leadership begin their new ministry roles. The Desert Southwest Conference recognizes the importance of these church leaders and the importance of training them on the disciplinary duties of the local church administrative committees.
East District Lay Servant Classes
Classes for the Lay Servant Ministries program in the East District have not been scheduled for 2021 due to the pandemic. A schedule will be available after meeting spaces in district churches and facilitators are available and can be determined. If you have...
Announcing New Conference Clergy Wellness Task Force
We are pleased to announce the creation of the Conference Clergy Wellness Task Force at the direction of the Connectional Ministries Team. Structurally this task force will fall within the Health & Caring Ministries Team. Members include Melissa Rynders, Tom...
Jump Into January at Camp
Summer Camp Registration Open Registration for Summer Camp is open! We have new and exciting camp sessions planned for 2021 and would love to have your children and youth join us at camp this summer! Campers registered in January will receive a free camp gift: ...
District Office Holiday Hours
The District office will be closed for the Christmas Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25, 2020. Normal business hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. May you have a blessed and safe Christmas.
2021 Virtual Lay Servant Ministry Classes
The West District Director of Lay Servant Ministries will be offering the Advanced course, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, virtually. There will be offering two sessions – a day class to meet the needs of those not able to attend an evening class and an evening / early Saturday morning class for those not able to meet during the day.
December Camp Ministries News
Potosi Pines Unwrap the Gift Campaign - December 1 through December 8 Three anonymous donors have offered a combined gift of $16,000 to Potosi Pines Camp if the camp is able to secure 62 donations, one for every year the camp has been blessing lives. These gifts can...
Finding Ways to be Thankful
This is not the Thanksgiving any of us have planned for. We had hoped that the virus would be under control long before now. We dreamed of Thanksgiving meals with the people we love. We longed that by now we would have a bit of normalcy in life. But that is not the Thanksgiving we have. Instead, the Thanksgiving we have includes in Arizona over 277,000 diagnosed with COVID-19, and more than 6300 families will have an empty chair at the table.
Worship and Planning For A New Time
BeADisciple.com is offering a class entitled: "Engage and Inspire: Worship and Planning for a New Time". This course will explore alternative and creative ways to engage and inspire congregations in this new time of doing worship that also includes people with...
Preparing your virtual choir
Find this article and other excellent training resources for creating a virtual choir at https://dscumc.org/worship-online/virtual-choir/ By Joshua Ian Elder, Minister of Music at First United Methodist Church As you begin the process of creating a virtual choir...
November News from Camp
Unlock the Gift A long time friend and supporter of Mingus Mountain Camp has offered a $20,000 gift to the camp, granted we are able to secure 50 new committed, monthly donors. New donors are encouraged to give at the rate with which you feel comfortable. All gifts...
Parenting in a Pandemic
The Desert Southwest Conference Camp & Retreat Ministries, in conjunction with the Cal-Pac Conference, is offering Parenting in a Pandemic, a support group for parents in both conferences. The group is led by clergy parents from both conferences, including our...
Two Covid-19 Friendly Mission Projects for your Whole Church!
Timely! Useful! Practical! Assemble Cleaning Buckets One five-gallon round bucket with re-sealable lid One 16-40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner One 16-34 oz. bottle dish soap One 4-8 oz. pump spray air freshener One 6-14 oz. pump spray insect...
Finding Your Voice: An Online Contemplative Writing Retreat
When the pandemic crisis hit, many of us were stunned into silence with the loss of social freedom, the threat of infection, as well as concerns about friends and neighbors. The killing of George Floyd and the protests that followed heightened our need to “find our...
Enhance Your Pastoral Counseling Skills
During this pandemic one of the things we have learned is the need to care for those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, any number of COVID related problems. A member of Desert Mission UMC, Tres Adames – a pastoral counselor in private practice in the west...
Climate Reality Presentation – November 17
The Climate Crisis is already affecting ecosystems and communities across the globe, but it is not too late to take action. The climate reality presentation will show you how!
Fall Into Camp This October
October is the perfect time to visit our camps - cooler weather, changing leaves, crisp mountain air......... and DSC Camp & Retreat Ministries has a number of opportunities for you to experience the beauty of God's Creation at Mingus Mountain and Potosi Pines...
Walls That Divide Are Broken Down
They knew that it would be a difficult meeting. They were prepared for the fact that some of the people present wouldn’t agree with the direction that the leadership team was suggesting, (not everyone likes to change.) What they didn’t expect was what the psychologist Milton Freidman calls the herding practice. Herding is when someone gathers a group of others to take her or his side against the other side. And it is usually presented that way, as an us against them type of disagreement.
Stop Violence Against Women Grant
Greetings Arizona DSC Churches! Please review the following grant announcement. If you have questions or need assistance please contact DSC Director of Outreach & Justice, Billie K. Fidlin @ . Applications for the Arizona STOP Violence against...
