Path 1 Webinars
If you are discerning to start a new faith community or currently working in a church planting team in your area, Path 1 invites you to join these monthly Zoom webinars. The first webinar starts on Tuesday, April 13.
April News from Camp & Retreat Ministries
By Dina Reid, Camp & Retreat Ministries Register for Summer Camp! We've been busy hiring summer staff, registering campers, and preparing the camps for summer!! Some camp sessions are at or near capacity. Register soon so that your campers are not disappointed! ...
Comfort in these times
In these trying times, we are making progress and are beginning to anticipate the end of the COVID pandemic but feel the pressures of the continuation of the rules to stay safe. I found that Psalm 86:1-7 can bring comfort.
Annual Conference Mission Project – Student Hunger
A Glimpse of Hunger at ASU By Billie K. Fidlin, Director of Outreach & Justice, and Rev. Jamie Booth, ASU Valley Wesley There are students on university campuses across the country who have difficulty securing regular meals during the best of times. In these times...
Don’t Return to Normal! Re-Launch Instead!
COVID 19 has changed the way we do church. Church leaders have had to learn new ways of being together. For many, this has been a gift. New tools for worship, meetings, and how to make giving easier have been discovered, improved upon, and celebrated. There have been...
Step into Spring with Camp & Retreat Ministries
Summer Camp Registration Open We are so excited to announce that Summer Camp registration is open!! We have fun, new camp sessions planned for the summer, and would love to have your children and youth join us at camp! To register or learn more about Potosi Pines...
Love
February…love is in the air, signs are all around. Red, white, and pink hearts everywhere. Teddy bears and roses on the front of grocery ads or jewelry store catalogues offering half price on engagement rings. TV commercials touting everything from flowers, jewelry, flooring (I’m not sure that is what I would want for Valentine’s Day). How romantic do you want to be? You name the price and the item and it can be turned into a gift for the one you love.
New S/PPRC Training Videos Now Available Online
New training video segments for Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees (S/PPRC) are now available on the Desert Southwest Conference website under the DSC University Trainings and Events button or at this link https://dscumc.org/initiative/itraining/.
New March Virtual Lay Servant Ministry Classes
The West District Director of Lay Servant Ministries will be offering the Advanced course, Public Prayer, 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.
Taking Online Worship to the Next Level
The pandemic forced most churches to have an online worship presence. This was not an easy task, but leaders stepped up to the challenge. Now the question is, “What will we do when we go back to in-person worship?” We can’t go back to the way things were because the way things were wasn’t working all that well! The Conference Vital Faith Team will host a 2-hour webinar on March 17th, at 6:00 PM lead by Jason Moore that will help churches take their online presence to the next level.
February Camp News
Potosi Pines Almost Camp Potosi Pines is offering Almost Camp for elementary and youth campers! These day camp sessions will include all the things that make camp great, including archery, games, crafts, and time outside - just not the overnight stay! The camps will...
The Gathering 2021
Join us for The Gathering 2021. This is a time for clergy who are serving churches or are a member of our Conference to join together for conversation, worship, and community. The restrictions of COVID make it a challenge, but we will go ahead and meet when we...
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.
Let’s talk about ‘roots’ – Jeremiah 17:7-8
Yes, like the depth of your ‘root’ in your Christian daily life, We all know that most trees have a ‘tap root’ that anchors them – we should have that same kind of root …
Music in the Time of COVID-19
It’s not time to bring back choral music or congregational singing to our worship services, but pastors, musicians, and others involved in planning worship who missed the ‘Risk Mitigation Strategies for Choirs’ webinar in December can still view the video and check...
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: ...
A Christmas Prayer
Nancy and Carla and the conference staff wish you a blessed Advent and Merry Christmas. Our Christmas prayer for you and yours is: O God, whose love blesses and unites us no matter where we are, we come before you weary from this pandemic needing this holy season, its...
Are you full?
No, not turkey, stuffing, or mashed potatoes, but full of faith, hope, love, and peace in one’s soul. You can look at the present moment as the “end times” or keep your eyes on God.
District Office Holiday Hours
The District will be closed for the Christmas and New Year Holiday: Monday, December 21 – Friday, January 1, 2021.
