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.
2020 — A Year of Growth
Growth is usually thought to be about more and bigger. In this past year and now entering into a new year, I have increasingly valued minimalism, simplicity, and less-is-more. The space of home has become even more important because we are practicing distancing and even isolation as we stay home.
Where will this journey lead?
Last year at this time, I had no idea that in just a few months we would be in a pandemic that would change our lives significantly for the remainder of the year. Last January 1st, I had no idea that General Conference would be postponed and that important decisions regarding the future of our beloved church would be delayed. The twists and turns 2020 took were unprecedented and unimaginable just one short year ago.
The Connection Let’s Us Celebrate Each Other
Being a part of a connectional church allows us to be delighted when we encounter other members in our public lives. Thanks to Maggie Orr from Caliente UMC for sharing this special experience of engaging Zion UMC (North Las Vegas, NV) in her professional life.
Hope in Darkness
O come, O come Emmanuel — we are in the midst of what is being called a Dark Winter — we need you. The tune has a haunting sadness and longing laced with hope. The lyric tells of gloom, grief, loneliness, the depths of hell, and the need for salvation. Through it all we sing — “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come.”
District Office Holiday Hours
The District will be closed for the Christmas and New Year Holiday: Monday, December 21 – Friday, January 1, 2021.
District Office Holiday Hours for Thanksgiving
The North and West District Office will be closed Thursday, November 26 Through Monday, November 30 for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will return to the office Tuesday, December 1.
Prayers of concern woven with thanksgivings
Through this month of November, we are especially mindful of the blessings for which we give thanks. We begin the month with All-Saints Day as we thank the Spirit for the gift of those persons who have brought hope, faith, peace, and love into our world and lives. We are ever more aware of the need for such gifts as we enter our nation’s Election Day. We each pray for peace to prevail as we practice our responsibility to vote and pray for those who lead our nation, local governments, and courts.
Choose your wardrobe carefully….
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the...
Superheroes at Camp
Paul, the apostle, wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus to guide them through a time of division and challenge. He wrote to teach the young church how to be strong disciples in Christ to make a strong community. Through his letter, we learn how to be superheroes. That was the theme of a recent evening at camp. +
Time to root out and start fresh
Several years ago a tree in our backyard began showing signs of stress. Yellowing and dying leaves; a branch that lost life. I gave the tree special attention with deep watering and fertilizer along with cutting off dead or dying branches.
This Little Light of Mine
As I write this, my city of Las Vegas is observing a day of painful memories of the Oct 1, 2017 mass shooting that took place here. At that time, we came together with candles to shine light into the darkness we felt, and to shine hope into the lives of those in our community, and out into the world. Today we find different darknesses trying to invade our lives. Politics, natural disasters, violence, injustices, and the continuing pandemic threaten our sense of hope and security. And in much more restrained gatherings we share candlelight vigils for peace, justice, mercy, and memorials.
Choose Life, Peace, and Love
September continues to bring the anticipation of familiar change. New school year, changes in weather patterns, and all that an approaching final quarter of the year brings.
In the church, our attention begins to shift to new schedules, new ministries, the church conference season, and we make plans for our All Saints, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas celebrations.
Rev. Lee Weber – St. Michael’s UMC, Lake Havasu, AZ
Meet Rev. Lee Weber recently appointed to St. Michael’s UMC.
Rev. Mary Dotson – Green Valley UMC, Henderson, NV
Meet Rev. Mary Dotson recently appointed to Green Valley UMC.
Rev. Dulce Vargas – Parker UMC, Parker, AZ
Meet Rev. Dulce Vargas recently appointed to Parker UMC.
Rev. Cheryl Mothershed – Holbrook UMC, Holbrook, AZ
Meet Rev. Cheryl Ann Mothershed recently appointed to Holbrook UMC.
Rev. Michael Higgs – Journey UMC, Las Vegas, NV
Meet Rev. Michael Higgs recently appointed to Journey UMC.
Seasons of Uncertainty
There have been several seasons of uncertainty in my life. One, when in college. My dorm was Pinal Hall, under the Wildcat stadium at the University of Arizona. My window looked out over 6th Street. It was alive on game night.
On the Road with Dan
Many customs, traditions, rituals, and usual habits have stopped or at the least, taken on a very different look this spring and summer. Though much has changed, there is one custom that is particularly fit for a time of isolation — the summertime book list.
