July 7, 2022 - What's Happening at Dayspring Tempe

JULY 7, 2022

COVID-19 IN MARICOPA COUNTY

Since the current CDC community spread rating for Maricopa County is high (view the dashboard), we are back to strongly recommending masks indoors. Also, if you haven't received your booster(s), now's the time!

WELCOME!

We welcome our new District Superintendent, Rev. Melissa Rynders! The District Superintendent's primary responsibilities relate to overseeing the work of the local churches, including presiding at Charge Conferences, and supervising the work of the pastors, including participating with the Bishop in the making of appointments. Learn more about Rev. Rynders here.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

Are you new to Dayspring UMC or have you been attending for a while and are interested to know more about the church and what is involved in membership? We invite you to attend a one-hour session with Pastor Jeff to learn more about the UMC and Dayspring specifically, this Sunday, July 10 at 2:00pm. We will meet via Zoom or, if you are not able to participate online, we can meet via phone. Click Here to attend the membership orientation or email the church office for alternate dates or times.

TAIZE SERVICE

Our monthly Taizé service returns to Fellowship Hall this Sunday, July 10 at 4pm. Taizé brings a time for contemplative worship which involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons - a time for personal connection with God. View the bulletin.

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS

Blessing of the Backpacks is Sunday, July 24. Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks to church and during the children's time we will share a blessing over these backpacks and the children as they begin a new school year.

STEP UP SUNDAY

Step Up Sunday is August 7. Our “official” return of the school year, all children and youth advance to their next classes on this date. Email Andrea (Pre-K-6th grade) or Erin (7th-12th grades) with questions or if you are interested in helping lead one of our Children’s Sunday school or Youth Formation classes.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

Parents of kids in 7th-12th grades: Sign up for our B2SB Back To School Bash On August 8th! This is Step Up Sunday and a new year of Formation begins during the 10:30am service. We will also have a B2SB “Back To School Bash” for all youth and parents from 5pm-7pm at Dayspring Tempe. The event will feature parent and youth discussions about the upcoming year, chances to learn about 2022-2023 events, and of course, food! We strongly encourage you and your Jr./Sr. High youth to come, even if you cannot be there the whole time. (And yes, younger siblings can attend!) Email Erin with questions or RSVP here.

CHURCH CAMPOUT

SAVE THE DATE! Our Labor Day All-Church Campout is on the books for Sept 2-5 at Hoyer Campground in Greer, Arizona. Registration begins August 1, but you may preregister now (or ask questions) by emailing Carol Muggeridge.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. Dayspring will offer a new Stephen Minister training class starting Thursday, August 18. If you are interested, or would like to learn more about the upcoming training, please email stephenministers@dayspring-umc.org.

DAYSPRING IN ENGLAND 2023

We plan a choir residency at Portsmouth Cathedral from May 24 through June 5, 2023. Click here for more information. You can go on this trip as a singer or not, as we hope it will be a true exchange with another congregation.

This residency in England is one among the many ways that Dayspring lives out its mission of helping to make the world more peaceful, just, compassionate, and inclusive. Travel is one of the best ways to promote understanding, and this trip is designed to help everyone make a substantive connection among ourselves and with the congregation at Portsmouth. What’s more, we will sing music that both includes traditional and non-traditional choral works, and especially works by under-represented composers. Many of the texts will deal with peace, justice, compassion, and inclusion.

The cost of travel is high, and we particularly want to be able to support the members of the music staff who will go on the trip. If you have unused airline miles that you would be willing to give to someone traveling to help reduce their cost, we would welcome the support! If you can help in this way, please email Carol. You can also make a cash contribution by sending a check marked for the England trip to the church office or pay online HERE. We can truly make this an all-church effort in a variety of ways: by traveling ourselves and by supporting travel for others. Contributions by members of the congregation who may be in a position to help others travel will be a wonderful way for you to support this effort and to ensure its success. Please give if you can!