A Celebration of Ministry: Dayspring United Methodist Church
As followers of Jesus, we are striving together to make God’s world more sustainable, peaceful, just, compassionate, and inclusive.
1. Pastoral Reflections
The past year at Dayspring UMC has been a journey of grace, renewal, and faithful living in a complex world. From Advent’s hopeful waiting through Lent’s reflection, Easter’s joy, summer’s exploration, and autumn’s contemplation, our pastors led the congregation with wisdom, courage, and compassion. In late 2024, Pastor Shirley invited the church to draw near to God through contemplative practices and lovingkindness meditation, while Pastor Jeff’s Advent reflection, “Incarnation: More Than a Story,” reminded us that Christ’s birth calls us to embody divine love through justice and inclusion. Early 2025 centered on spiritual honesty and hope. Through Lent and Easter, the congregation reflected on life’s fragility and resurrection’s promise. Pastor Jeff’s Easter sermon, “Resurrection and the Walls That Remain,” drew on experiences in Northern Ireland to remind us that reconciliation takes courage and trust. Pastor Shirley, celebrating her 90th birthday, shared words of joy and gratitude, reflecting that “we are all blessed to be a blessing.” Pastor Michael’s October reflection, “Black in America,” offered prophetic honesty about race, faith, and endurance, reminding Dayspring that Christ’s liberating love always calls us toward justice and solidarity. In addition to Pastor Shirley’s 90th birthday, we also celebrated Pastor Michael’s seminary graduation and commissioning as a provisional elder in the UMC.
2. Sunday Celebrations and Spiritual Formation
Sunday celebrations remained at the heart of Dayspring’s life—vibrant, inclusive, and contemplative. The Advent theme “The Weary World Rejoices” invited hope, and Lent’s quiet reflections deepened spiritual awareness. Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services were powerful reminders of God’s redeeming grace.
Monthly Taizé Services offered candlelit stillness and song, and Sacred Space, Centering Prayer, and Praying Together sustained the contemplative community. Classes and small groups continued to thrive. Exploring Contemporary Issues engaged modern theology with readings from Rohr, Borg, Wright, and Crossan. During the summer, the pastoral team led the Saving Jesus sermon series and companion study, inviting Dayspring to rediscover Jesus’ radical message of love, justice, and compassion through a progressive lens.
In the fall, Pastors Jeff and Michael introduced the Living Well, Dying Well sermon series, a deeply pastoral exploration of life, legacy, and faith in the face of mortality. The series invited honest reflection on what it means to live faithfully and die well—with grace, gratitude, and peace. It coincided with the launch of the new Columbarium Ministry, providing a sacred, permanent resting place on the Dayspring campus for members and families—a ministry rooted in hope, remembrance, and resurrection.
The new Morning Meditation Group, begun in October, invited participants to begin each weekday in prayerful stillness via Zoom. The Divine Feminine Celebrations and Summer Dialogue gatherings on Second Sundays created a sacred space for exploring the feminine nature of God through story, reflection, and shared experience.
3. Music Ministry
Music continued to inspire worship and community throughout the year, under the outstanding direction of David Schildkret. Late 2024 brought a rich Advent and Christmas season featuring Euphony’s Songs and Dances, Cantilena’s Hymn to St. Cecilia, the Messiah Sing-Along, and Sing With Us: The Christmas Story—a children’s musical that filled the sanctuary with joy. Throughout 2025, the Celebration Chorale, DayspRingers handbells, and Children’s and Youth Choirs enriched worship each week. Major events included Cantilena’s 20th Anniversary Concert, the Spring Handbell Festival, and collaborative performances with community musicians. In May, several members of Dayspring’s Celebration Chorale performed in Carnegie Hall, under David Schildkret’s direction. In October, the sanctuary hosted ASU choirs performing works by Vaughan Williams and Casals, and the Arizona Cantilena Chorale’s World Heritage Concert showcased songs in seven languages. Our Cherub Choir for ages 3–6 is now under the direction of Kristen Hull.
Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
Dayspring’s ministry to children, youth, and families remained dynamic, faithfilled, and community-focused. The Thanksgiving Food Drive of 2024 gathered 3,600 pounds of food and 72 turkeys for United Food Bank. The Souper Bowl of Caring raised $1,400 for the Tempe Community Action Agency, while Project Hope Liberia received $1,378 through the Parable of the Talents challenge. Under Andrea Farley and later Jessica Nuñez-LaMarre, the Children’s Ministry nurtured joy and curiosity in faith. The 2025 True North Vacation Bible School led children on an Alaskan adventure discovering Jesus as their faithful guide. Second Sunday programs filled the campus with song and laughter, while BeTween (grades 4–6) blended play, learning, and service.
Youth Ministry, led by Julie and Sam Weissberg, offered vibrant formation and fellowship. Highlights included retreats, game nights, Sierra Service Project in San Diego, and service at the Mayfield Family Promise Center. Youth also led worship, served younger children, and engaged in deep conversations on faith and justice. The Fall Festival, celebrating its 20th year, once again welcomed the wider community with joy, hospitality, and generosity.
Missions and Outreach
Dayspring continued to live out its call to compassionate service near and far. The Family Promise ministry provided meals, shelter, and support to families in transition. The Refugee Focus partnership with Lutheran Social Services co-sponsored a Nigerian family of five, helping them rebuild their lives through tutoring, employment, and community support. The Borderlands Produce Rescue distributed thousands of pounds of rescued food each month, while Prison Ministry expanded outreach with Magdalene House residents and Perryville inmates, offering supplies, letters, and prayer.
The Tochimizolco Medical Mission provided medical and dental care in rural Mexico, and Habitat for Humanity volunteers helped build homes in South Phoenix. The covenant with Iglesia Aliento deepened through shared wwworship, English classes, and celebrations such as Cinco de Mayo and C|||Children’s Summer Camp.
Throughout the year, Second Sundays offered the congregation a chance to gather in fellowship and service beyond celebration. Each month featured a themed activity — from intergenerational service projects and social justice awareness events to community meals and seasonal celebrations. These Sundays strengthened connections across generations, deepened discipleship, and embodied Dayspring’s mission of faith in action.
6. Church & Society / Justice Ministries
The Church & Society Team continued its commitment to building peace, justice, and community. In early 2025, the Soul Force Peace Project—funded by a grant from the UMC General Board of Church & Society—offered youth nonviolent leadership experiences through drumming and creative expression. Partnerships with Valley Interfaith Project advanced affordable housing, health care, and community safety initiatives. The SAGE Ministry (Spiritual Activists Greening the Earth) promoted environmental stewardship and dialogue on creation care. In fall 2025, Dayspring co-hosted Team Resistance AZ’s Social Justice Fair and a Bright Stars of Bethlehem event featuring Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and Rick Steves. The Ahimsa Peace Project continued its intergenerational drum circles, teaching empathy, cooperation, and peacebuilding.
7. United Women in Faith and United Methodist
The United Women in Faith (UWF) continued to lead with service and compassion. Their programs included the Shoes for Missions Drive, World Thank Offering, and Women4Women Packing Party, providing hygiene kits to local women in need. The United Methodist Men (UMM) hosted monthly meetings combining fellowship, music, and learning. Programs included Borderlands Produce Rescue, New Beginnings Liberia, and Justa Center. Their annual Mingus Mountain Retreat centered on Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward, and the Lee Cook Award honored Bethany Lambrecht for her
8. Care and Compassion Ministries
A major milestone of the year was the formation of Dayspring Compassionate Care Ministries (DCCM) —a unified effort combining pastoral care, Stephen Ministry, and lay support teams. The Prayer Shawl and Blanket Ministry expanded through Infant Baptism Blankets and Prayer Buddies, spreading comfort to children and adults alike. Stephen Ministry provided one-on-one care, while Taking Care: Living and Loving with Memory Loss continued monthly support and education for caregivers and the Grief Support group helped those living with loss.
9. New Members
Dayspring joyfully welcomed many new members into the family of faith, including: Dazetian Crain, Emily Frampton, Sissel Liknes, Greta and Sonja Merrick, Kristi Rice, Erika Richwagen, Steve Lutostanski, Joe Connolly and Terry Pochert, Andrew Greskovich and David Gill, Valerie Hernandez, Patrick and Lesly Kelly, Roger and Jennifer Wood, Tamika Simmons, Rishon Edwards and Daniel Hazelton, Lynn Headrick, Tristan Booth, Cathy Janssen, Chrissy Hurtado, Brit Davis, Emerald Revels, Amber Servin and River LozierServin, Kelly Burmeister, William Freels, Brian and Erfah Ellis, Olivia Burnsed and Roger White, Marilyn Whitelaw-Rothmund, and Marcy LaRont. We also received our 2024 Confirmation Class of Jay Cartwright, Adelaide Kelly, Mason Quinones, and Samantha Spencer. Each brings unique gifts and faith to the life of
10. Closing Reflection
From Advent 2024 through October 2025, Dayspring United Methodist Church has faithfully lived its mission—making God’s world more sustainable, peaceful, just, compassionate, and inclusive. Through inspiring celebrations, deep study, joyful music, compassionate service, and courageous justice work, this year has been one of grace, growth, and gratitude. May we continue forward as a people blessed to be a blessing, guided always by the light of Christ.
