PHOTO: Gardeners care for their plots in the Giving Garden - Dayspring United Methodist Church
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PHOTO: Gardeners care for their plots in the Giving Garden
LENT2021
Ash Wednesday,
February 17, is the first
day of Lent, the 40-day
(excluding Sundays)
season of prayer and
self-reflection preceding
Easter. We will offer an
online Service of Ashes
and Remembrance that
will be available at noon
a n d f o l l o w i n g . Th i s
year's all-church Lenten
Study is on the Sermon
on the Mount.
Lent Study
We are offering five opportunities each week during Lent for adults to explore “Jesus’s Greatest Teachings”
with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine as our guide. In her book Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom
of Heaven, Professor Levine introduces its major topics and explains historical and theological contexts, and
shows how the words of Jesus echo his Jewish tradition and speak forward to reach hearts and minds today.
Join Jeff, Amy, Joel, and Shirley on this
Lenten journey beginning February 18.
Email churchoffice@dayspringumc.org for
more information or the Zoom
information.
The study will meet virtually on:
Tuesdays with Jeff (11:00am & 5:30pm)
Wednesdays with Amy (10:30am)
Thursdays with Shirley (7:00pm)
Sundays with Joel (8:00am)
February 2021 1
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Explorer's Class is still meeting at
10 a.m., following the church service
at 9. You will get a link from Jim Baker
to sign into the Zoom session. As
always, the class is exploring
theological and relevant social issues
which challenge your thinking...and,
as always, there will be ample time for
discussion. Teachers are always
welcome so, if there is a topic you
would like to explore, let Jane Baker
know and you will be included in an
upcoming date!
WHAT IS
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION?
Spiritual direction is an interpersonal
relationship in which we learn how to Beginning Feb 7, The 10:30 Adult
grow, live, and love in the spiritual life. Contemporary Issues class will begin
That’s it! We find ways to understand a six-week study of "Healing the Heart
what God is doing and saying in our of Democracy , The courage to Create
lives. A Spiritual Director is one who a Politics Worthy of the Human
helps another in this discerning Spirit." by Parker J. Palmer. In this
process. This is not therapy or book he quickens our instinct to seek
counseling. The Spiritual Director is t h e c o m m o n g o o d , p ro p o s i n g
one who guides the directee to find the practical ways to bridge our political
spiritual truth which is already within. divides. The author explores five
Sessions usually last one hour and "habits of the heart" that can be
meet monthly. If you are interested in developed in everyday settings like
pursuing this process, email Pastor families, neighborhoods, classrooms,
Shirley at shirley@dayspringumc.org for congregations and work place to help
more information. She is an restore a government of the people,
experienced, trained Spiritual Director by the people and for the people.
who would like to share this ministry The class will be lead by Suzanne
with you. Harbster.
February 2021 2
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Dayspring Children's Ministry is launching a Kid Connect Program.
We want to stay in touch with your children over the next few weeks
and months until we can be back together in person. Your child will
CHERUB CHOIR get monthly correspondence from a Children's Ministry Leader and
periodic treats and surprises at your doorstep. All of our Kid Connect
volunteers are background checked and familiar faces from their
We realize that at this point in Sunday school classes and children's ministry programs. If you would
the school year our cherubs are like to enroll your child in this program, please fill out the form below:
probably getting a little Zoom- https://bit.ly/3tcnYL5
ed out. To help with Zoom
fatigue (for both cherubs AND We are still hosting weekly Sunday school meetings at 10:00 and
their families) we have decided 10:30 via Zoom. Meetings are opened to any kids ages preschool
to move our choir meetings to through 6th grade. We hope to see some new faces joining us on
the first and third Wednesdays Sunday mornings soon.
of every month. The link will Looking ahead, we are preparing a Family Lenten calendar which will
remain the same. give you and your family an opportunity to share the Lenten season
Please don't hesitate to reach through prayer, acts of kindness, and acts of sacrifice to help your
out if you have any questions or family keep this sacred season together at home. The calendar will
concerns. be available on our children's ministry website and the Dayspring
Children's ministry facebook group the week of Ash Wednesday
Warmest Regards, (2/17). We invite you to share photos of your family's Lenten journey
Mrs. Amanda and Mrs. Kate by emailing them to Emily@dayspring-umc.org or sharing them on
our Facebook group.
February 2021 3
DAYSPRING YOUTH MINISTRY
The Dayspring Youth continued Formation conversations around hope. Our
group talked about different visions we have for our lives and learned about
the power of creating vision boards! The youth picked up vision board kits
from church, and then met on zoom for a vision board workshop. We created
boards filled with inspirational quotes, motivational pictures, personal
challenges, and goal statements. The vision boards were a great wrapup to
our many conversations about hope!
Also in formation, the youth learned
about the Japanese principle of
Kintsugi. The legend states that an
emperor broke one of his prized bowls.
It was repaired with gold resin, which
made it even more beautiful than it had
been before. The symbolism in this is
that we are more beautiful and unique
when Our imperfections and mistakes
are included. Our “cracks “only add to
who we are.
We are SO looking forward to when we
can meet in person again and are
hoping that we can play Dayspring
volleyball this summer! In the
meantime, if you have a 7-12th grader
who is looking for connections with a
Jennine Ballew
great group, text Jennine for more
Text: (480) 619-8990
information.
jennine@dayspringumc.org
February 2021 4
5
February
VIRTUAL MEETING CALENDAR
01 10:30 / Memory Loss Caregivers Support
6:00 / Theo Pub
15 7:00 / Praying Together
7:00 / Praying with the Elements Book Study
7:00 / Praying Together 17 Ash Wednesday
7:00 / Praying with the Elements Book Study 10:30 / Praying with the Elements Book Study
03 10:30 / Praying with the Elements Book Study 12:00 / Ash Wednesday Online Service
6:00 / Cherub Choir 6:00 / Cherub Choir
6:30 / Book Club 6:30 / Children’s Choir
6:30 / Children’s Choir 7:00 / Music Hour
7:00 / Music Hour 7:00 / A Sacred Time
7:00 / A Sacred Time 7:05 / Youth Choir
7:05 / Youth Choir 18 11:00 / Tempe Interfaith
04 7:00 / A Time to Wonder 6:00 / Family Promise Connect
05 10:30 / Opening to God 7:00 / Sermon on the Mount Study
06 9:00 / UMM 19 10:30 / Opening to God
07 9:00 / Worship / dayspringumc.org/watch 21 8:00 / Sermon on the Mount Study
10:00 / Explorers 9:00 / Worship / dayspringumc.org/watch
10:00 / Virtual Sunday School PreK-2nd 10:00 / Explorers
10:30 / Contemporary Issues 10:00 / Virtual Sunday School PreK-2nd
10:30 / Virtual Sunday School 3rd-6th 10:30 / Contemporary Issues
10:30 / Formation 10:30 / Virtual Sunday School 3rd-6th
08 6:00 / Theo Pub 10:30 / Formation
7:00 / Praying Together 22 6:00 / Theo Pub
7:00 / Praying with the Elements Book Study 7:00 / Praying Together
10 10:30 / Praying with the Elements Book Study 23 11:00 / Sermon on the Mount Study
6:30 / Children’s Choir 5:30 / Sermon on the Mount Study
7:00 / Music Hour 24 10:30 / Sermon on the Mount Study
7:00 / A Sacred Time 6:30 / Children’s Choir
7:05 / Youth Choir 7:00 / Music Hour
11 7:00 / A Time to Wonder 7:00 / A Sacred Time
12 10:30 / Opening to God 7:05 / Youth Choir
14 Valentine’s Day 25 7:00 / Sermon on the Mount Study
9:00 / Worship / dayspringumc.org/watch 26 10:30 / Opening to God
10:00 / Explorers 28 8:00 / Sermon on the Mount Study
10:00 / Virtual Sunday School PreK-2nd 9:00 / Worship / dayspringumc.org/watch
10:30 / Contemporary Issues 10:00 / Explorers
10:30 / Virtual Sunday School 3rd-6th 10:00 / Virtual Sunday School PreK-2nd
10:30 / Formation 10:30 / Contemporary Issues
15 Presidents’ Day 10:30 / Virtual Sunday School 3rd-6th
10:30 / Memory Loss Caregivers Support 10:30 / Formation
6:00 / Theo Pub
February 2021 5
Morning Meditation
Are you interested in learning about meditation and mindfulness? The new
Meditation Meetup group is for you! We will meet at 7:00am online daily for
about 20 minutes to learn about meditation. We use the Calm app to guide our
practice. If you are interested in joining, please text Jennine at (480) 619-8990.
Dayspring Pride TheoPubs
All are welcome to join Dayspring PRIDE for great conversation from the
comfort of your home via zoom every Monday evening at 6:00pm Email David
at pride@dayspringumc.org for details.
Dayspring Singles
ng le s Dayspring Singles continue to meet at 12 noon every two weeks during our
Dayspring closure. Meetings will be February 14 and 28th, and March 14th and
Si 28th. We welcome all Dayspring singles to join us for these virtual sessions that
support our friendships. Please email singles@dayspringumc.org with
questions or to be added to the list to receive zoom meeting notifications.
Time to Wonder
Each week on Thursday evenings you are invited to Time to Wonder at 7:00pm
through Zoom. You may attend every week or whenever you are able. Time to
Wonder is a time set apart to meet new friends and to deepen relationships.
This is also a Time to Wonder about how God is working in our lives especially
during this COVID-19 time. God has not abandoned us and we seek to find
ways to connect first with God and then with others who also seek a deeper
meaning in life. Email Pastor Shirley at shirley@dayspringumc.org for the Zoom
link or more information.
Dayspring Book Club
Dayspring Book club will meet on Wednesday February 3rd at 6:30 via Zoom.
We'll be discussing: The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
Here's a summary at Good Reads:
A new novel inspired by historical events: a story of three young women on a
journey in search of family amidst the destruction of the post-Civil War South,
and of a modern-day teacher who rediscovers their story and its connection to
her own students' lives.
We are a welcoming group of book lovers, so if you'd like to read The Book of
Lost Friends we'll get you the zoom info before 2/3 so you can join in the
conversation. Please e-mail Beth Cadman at beth@thecadmans.com for more
information.
February 2021 6
TAKING CARE:
LIVING AND LOVING WITH MEMORY LOSS
Caregiving for Loved
Ones with Dementia increasing salt (which can interfere with many
medical situations.) These deficiencies often lead
DEMENTIA AND OUR FIVE SENSES
to a loss of appetite, and your loved one may lose
interest in eating, leading to weight loss and
While doing the complicated dance of being a
weakness. A caregiver may have to be creative in
caregiver to someone with dementia, we may not
providing many small “meals” per day with a
think much about the changes in our loved one’s
variety of nutrients. Finger food may be preferred
senses and the affects of these changes.
by your loved one. People with advanced
An older person with dementia has a diminished dementia will frequently develop a heightened
sense of smell. Because of that, he may not realize “sweet tooth” and while refusing most things, will
that his cat’s litter box is full and is stinking up his eat an entire plate of cookies or carton of ice
house. She may not smell that a dishtowel was left cream if it is available. A caregiver may need to
on a hot surface and is ready to burst into flames. limit the sweets on hand, if it is a
problem, and only have small
containers of sweets in the house.
Vi s i o n c h a n g e s u s u a l l y i n c l u d e
cataracts and often macular
degeneration (which limits central
vision) or glaucoma (which limits
peripheral vision.) Vision needs to be
evaluated to be treated or corrected.
Having adequately corrected vision
not only means your loved one will be
able to enjoy some of the things that
require vision (TV, handwork, reading,
etc.) but also is very important for
safety. A person who cannot see is far
more likely to fall. Mobility and
Diminished sense of smell also diminishes the confidence need vision. Before taking
sense of taste. Food in the refrigerator may be your loved one for a vision assessment, ask about
kept too long and is no longer safe to eat, but the eye doctor’s experience with older patients
someone with these sensory limitations may with dementia and ask about the methods used to
accidentally open the door to food poisoning. evaluate their vision. If you are not comfortable
Due to the loss of taste, a person with dementia with the experience the eye doctor has had,
may be loading on salt, trying to find the explore other options.
satisfaction with something he can taste. It is a The audiologist assessing hearing loss should also
good idea to observe these things, and if you are be well versed in assessing hearing acuity for
helping to prepare food for your loved one, gently people with dementia. Hearing loss starts early in
ask questions as you try different or additional
continued on next page
herbs and seasonings to make food tastier without
February 2021 7
life (by age 30) and usually changes slowly. Loss because she or he cannot participate in
may be accelerated if your loved one has been in conversations. In addition, definitive studies have
loud noise environments, or if there is a genetic shown that uncorrected hearing loss will
hearing loss that is in one’s family. It is very typical exacerbate cognitive loss. These studies help to
for people to deny their hearing loss, even though identify the importance of doing all that is possible
it is very evident to others. Also, caregivers must to correct hearing loss.
be aware that it is challenging for someone (even
Lastly is the sense of touch. It is often said that
without dementia) to adjust to hearing aids. He or
older people suffer from touch deprivation. I am
she may have
afraid that in these days of Covid isolation, their
hearing aids in a
touch deprivation has been multiplied. This is sad,
drawer because
because of all the senses, the sense of touch may
the adjustment
be the best preserved. Seeing a baby or child, an
was unsuccessful,
older person will reach over to touch the soft,
so they are never
smooth skin. And with dementia, words may
worn. The price of
become confusing, but holding the hand of a
hearing aids is
loved one has unquestioned meaning. A person
sobering as well.
with dementia needs the reassurance of a touch, a
An audiologist
hug, or a few minutes of quiet snuggling. Until we
should be willing
are safer from the threat of Covid, this will be
to refund the cost of the hearing aids if the
challenging for some caregivers who are not able
adjustment period is not successful, but there will
to physically visit their loved one.
be some cost for the fitting, hearing molds, etc. If
your loved one is not willing or able to use hearing Join us for our Zoom meetings on the first and
aids, the caregiver may need to alter the living third Monday of each month, from 10:30 to noon.
environment to limit sounds that are distracting Email Pastor Shirley at shirley@dayspringumc.org
and confusing to a person with dementia. for more information or for the Zoom link.
Background sound from TV, radio or even music Everyone who cares about a person with dementia
may be overwhelming, and should be limited. is a caregiver. If you are aware of someone in this
Your loved one may benefit from headphones that caregiver role, please pass the contact information
will allow him or her to hear the TV without it to them. I look forward to seeing you on Zoom.
blasting others in the home. The loss of one’s
- Anne Ahland
hearing is even more isolating than vision loss,
VACCINE REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE
If you have had a difficult time registering online for the COVID
vaccine, please email churchoffice@dayspringumc.org or call
(480) 838-1446. Currently, vaccination of people over 65 is only
available at state-operated locations (State Farm and Phoenix
Municipal Stadium); however, as of January 20, appointments
at these sites are currently booked through February. We have
volunteers available to help you sign up before that wait gets
longer. PLEASE NOTE: We do not have access to any earlier
appointments, we are simply providing technical support to
sign up.
February 2021 8
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Women Condemn Attacks on the U.S. Capitol in D.C.
United Methodist Women are saddened by the events that took place at our
Nation’s Capitol last month. United Methodist Women is committed to
peaceful assemblies and protests, affirms the peaceful transfer of power under
the U.S. electoral system and strongly opposes any attempt to subvert the
results of the election. United Methodist Women joins people of faith around
the country in praying for peace and justice for the nation.
To read their response, please click here or find it at: https://bit.ly/3pNGhVb
February Meetings:
Dayspring United Methodist Women will hold a Zoom Unit Meeting on February 18 at 7 PM. The speaker
will be Dayspring member Barbara Maier, who has taken several mission trips to Haiti. All are welcome to
join the Zoom meeting. Please let Bonny Sloane, president, know that you would like an invitation to the
zoom meeting. (bsloane@cox.net)
Mary Martha Circle will join the Book Club for their Zoom meeting on Monday, February 8
at 7pm and then will continue with their own circle meeting afterwards. Contact Nancy
Jamison for an invitation to the Zoom meetings. (nancyjam@jcox.net)
Connie Reading Circle will meet Thursday, February 11 at 9:30am. Contact Bonny Sloane
(bsloane@cox.net) for an invitation to join that Zoom meeting. Mary Lou Collier will review
the book The Reason, How I Discovered a Life Worth Living by Lacey Sturm.
United Methodist men
Hello United Methodist Men – Watch for a virtual, enlightening and entertaining series on the history of our
church! Our monthly meetings will resume in January, 2021 and will be conducted virtually until we’re safe
to meet in person. Everyone is welcome to attend these online gatherings. Coming up in February:
February 6, 2021 @ 9:00am-10:00am
The History (and Future) of the UMC General Conference
Pastors Jeff and Joel
February 2021 9MUSIC MINISTRY
I write this in January for you to read in February. By the time you see it, what will have transpired? We keep
experiencing the unimaginable, and I'm still reeling from the events of January 6 and their aftermath. Let's
hope that we're in more hopeful times when this is published.
Our January concert had to be postponed because of
illness. Once everyone is fully recovered, we will announce
a new date. Meanwhile, here are two YouTube playlists I
invite you to explore.
1. "Lifting Up Black Voices." This is an eclectic mix of
music written or performed by Black musicians that I
compiled some months ago: https://bit.ly/3tljsub
2. "Soundtrack for Justice." This was compiled by Debby
Irving for the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building
Challenge. Whether or not you participated in that activity
in the summer, you may find this music challenging and
uplifting: https://bit.ly/3ajNyW6
Music Hour continues each Wednesday evening from 7 - 8. You do not need to be a member of the choir to
participate. During Lent, we will have special music. On February 17, Ash Wednesday, we will look at music
suitable for Lent, especially settings of Psalm 51,
closely associated with Ash Wednesday. Then
beginning February 24 and continuing through
March 31, we will do a concurrent Bible and music
study on Elijah. We will explore Mendelssohn's
oratorio ELIJAH in detail, taking a portion of the
work each week. We'll explore the background of
the composition and also consider its biblical
basis--a little music history, a little Bible history, a
little analysis about how you tell a story in music,
and even a little theology! Please come and share
your insights and ideas about this important (and
often misunderstood) figure in the stories of the
prophets.
So many events have had profound effects on our lives and thinking in the last year. My wish is that we may
all find calm and serenity in a turbulent world. For some of us, music can be a way into that space. However
you find it, may you know the peace that passes all understanding.
- David Schildkret
February 2021 10CHURCH
SOCIETY &
COVID, Vaccines, Unemployment, School, Children, Parents, Seniors, Homeless, Isolation….. There is no end
to the needs, nor a time soon for it to all be over. What we do have is our community, the church and our
networks. And an opportunity to extend our arms (virtually) and embrace our neighbors. Dayspring has
stepped up in so many ways and we will continue to share the concerns of one another and to work
together for solutions, small and large.
Watch for announcements of upcoming House meetings. We invite everyone to join in at least one where
you can listen to concerns of one another in small groups.
Feel free to contact me for further information, current needs, or ideas for issues at
blambrecht@dayspringumc.org.
Loving like Jesus, Acting for Justice and UNITED in Hope.
- Bethany Lambrecht
How to influence your state legislators
Request to Speak (RTS) is a tool provided by the Arizona state legislature to allow each of us to express our
opinions on pending legislation. Due to COVID, there will be extremely limited opportunities to testify in
person this year. Therefore, RTS will be even more important.
Step 1 – Get an RTS account – Sign up here to get your account set up - https://bit.ly/3aov6eO
Step 2 – View online training - https://www.cebv.us/rts.html
Step 3 – Log into the system and set up your account. Now you are ready to take action!
If you need additional training, you can attend a weekly online class - https://bit.ly/3czPHiW
Reach out to a member of the Dayspring Church and Society team if you need help or have questions.
February 2021 11Halt Arizona’s Death March to Executions
By Paul Bullis, Chair of Desert Southwest Conference Prison Reform Ministry
WE NEED TO HALT ARIZONA’S DEATH MARCH TO EXECUTING PRISONERS
The State of Arizona is poised to resume executing its death row prisoners. We must act now to halt
Arizona’s death march to executions.
ARIZONA IS READY TO EXECUTE PRISONERS
There are 116 men and women on Arizona’s death row, 21 of whom have exhausted all of their appeals to
the courts. That means those 21 men and women are now ready for execution.
Arizona has been unable to execute any prisoners for the past six years because of a lawsuit involving the
lethal injection procedure, and then difficulty in obtaining a lethal drug. However, the state government has
recently found both a supplier of a lethal drug and a pharmacist willing to prepare the drug for lethal
injection and is now ready to resume executions. Attorney General Mark Brnovich is urging Governor Doug
Ducey to take steps to carry out executions “expeditiously” so that “justice” may be done.
THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD NOT BE USED
The United Methodist Church strongly opposes the death penalty. We believe the death penalty denies the
power of Christ to redeem, restore, and transform all human beings.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
• Read more at: https://bit.ly/3ah7OYh
• Make your views known to the Governor, Attorney General, and other leaders, and demand that they put
a halt to this death march to executions. Sample letters are available, as well as a copy of a letter sent by
Bishop Bob Hoshibata to Governor Ducey on this issue.
• Join United Methodists Against the Death Penalty which connects United Methodists working for
abolition and coordinates state groups working for abolition.
• Join People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, a leading organization mobilizing people of faith
throughout the United States to abolish the death penalty. Find state-specific resources, and more at
www.pfadp.org
February 2021 12Conference-wide Book Study
In honor of Black History month, the DSC Race Coalition is sponsoring a book study and conversation
based on the new book "I'm Black, I'm Christian, I'm Methodist" by Rev. Rudy Rasmus. The book is a
collection of stories from ten United Methodist who share compelling personal narratives on being Black
and the conflicts presented with also being Christian and Methodist.
On Monday evenings in February, registrants can gather via zoom to discuss the book. Then, on Feb. 28,
the Race Coalition will host a webinar with Rev. Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey and Rev. Dr.
Vance Ross to talk about the book and racism in The United Methodist Church. To learn more or to
register for the class and webinar, go to:https://bit.ly/2L37Ni6.
The conference is also sharing resources for
the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, with
different areas of focus throughout the year:
•February: Black History Month
•May: Asian American/Pacific Islander Month
•Sept 15-Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
•November: Native American Heritage Month
More information is available at dscumc.org/
religion-and-race/dsc-race/
February 2021 13Dayspring UMC Endowed
HBCU Scholarship Fund is Founded
The Board of Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church began a critical endeavor at a New York
meeting in November of 1866. They declared that since the States in the South had not yet made
provision for the education of freed slaves and their children, that it would be the work of the church to
found institutions of higher learning to provide this educational opportunity. This declaration led to the
founding of dozens of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) by Methodists across the
South. Today there are 100 HBCU’s still in existence, twelve of which were founded by the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
To continue the work started by our denomination,
the Dayspring UMC Endowed Scholarship Fund
has been created to support African-American
students attending Morgan State University, a
Historical Black University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Morgan State University was founded in 1867, just
two years after the end of the Civil War, as the
Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Its
original mission was to train young men in ministry
and it subsequently broadened its mission to
educate both men and women as teachers. Today
it is part of the University of Maryland System offering more than 125 academic programs and is known
as the premier public urban research university in Maryland. MSU is one of ten HBCU’s having received
the highest rating of “Dean’s List” by the Campus Pride HBCU Clearinghouse for LGBTQ inclusion. MSU
was the only HBCU founded by Methodists to receive this distinction which was an important factor in the
selection of an HBCU to receive the Dayspring endowment scholarship.
The Dayspring UMC Endowed
Scholarship Fund was started to honor
Dayspring’s efforts to make God’s world
more peaceful, just, compassionate, and
inclusive and call for an end to systemic
racism. As an endowed fund, it will
c o n t i n u e t o s u p p o rt s t u d e n t s i n
perpetuity for their educational needs.
If you feel moved to contribute any
amount toward the Dayspring Endowed
Scholarship Fund, please make a
donation either by check mailed to the
church or by going to our online giving
site at www.dayspringumc.org/give.
Thank you for your support!
February 2021 14TAKING ACTION
THANKING HEALTHCARE WORKERS
As tired as we all are of dealing with this global pandemic,
imagine how tired medical workers are of it! One Dayspring
member who works at a local hospital wrote:
"My colleagues working the inpatient COVID units and ICU are
really burning out emotionally with the pandemic, the number of
death/poor outcomes and the challenges associated with
this. This stress has been placed on them non stop since April."
Help us remind these essential workers how important they are
and how much we STILL appreciate their hard work. Please
consider writing notes, drawings, cards, signs that we can distribute to the inpatient COVID staff at
our local hospitals. We have set a collection box outside the church gate or you may mail these to
the church (please write "COVID Medical Thank You" on the back of the envelope).
VACCINE POD VOLUNTEERING
If you are healthy and able to stand for long periods of time, consider
volunteering (no medical experience needed) at one of the vaccination
distribution sites. You'll help others receive this important vaccine and you
may even receive a vaccine as a thank you for volunteering if it is available. A
background check is required, so the process does take some time.
Step1: register with the county at: https://mcdph.samaritan.com/custom/501/
Step2: fill out the docusign embedded in the application.
Step 3: upload a driver’s license and complete application
Step 4: Wait for email confirmation to sign-up for volunteer opportunities at
the vaccine pods.
We created a memory place to honor those who are sick or who we
have lost during the last few months. This sacred place offers another
way to grieve. A tree along Juniper St. in Tempe has been designated
for this purpose. Ribbons and markers are in a box at the base of the
tree for you to use. You can park directly by the tree to add your ribbons
and prayers. Please socially distance as you use this. Please email Mary
at MaryT@dayspringumc.org if you want names added to the tree but
can’t make it to Dayspring.
February 2021 15Borderlands Produce Rescue
Borderlands hosts a monthly produce distribution
event at Aldersgate UMC where families can
purchase 70 pounds of rescued produce for
$12. In this time of increased unemployment and
food insecurity, this ministry is critical for the
neighborhood. If you are healthy and looking for a
chance to serve, please consider joining us there
on Saturday, February 20 from 6-11am to help sort
Family Promise produce, pack boxes and load cars! Be sure to
bring a mask and gloves if you have them. Please
email amy@dayspring-umc.org to sign up or for
Thank you to all who cooked and/or donated to more information.
Family Promise, a temporary shelter for homeless
families, in December! In addition to providing
breakfast, lunch, and dinner to twice as many
families as we typically do, we also provided
financial support to the Help Us Move In (HUMI)
program, a partnership with Family Promise that
provides homelessness prevention services.
Good things are happening! We will provide food
to Family Promise again the week of February 21.
Sign-ups for food donations will be available
starting the week of February 7. If you would like to
cook or deliver meals, please reach out to Tammy
White at tammywhite@cox.net or to Kathleen
Devereux at kdevereux@cox.net.
We look forward to the time when we can host
families again at Dayspring. Until then, we will
happily provide meals. Questions? Please contact
Maria Hase at MariaRMDHase@gmail.com or at Dayspring Stitchers met in December to sew, shop
480-636-0963. for and stuff 70 Christmas bags for the Domestic
As Clare Booth Luce said, "Love is a verb." Thank Violence Center at UMOM. They also supplied 116
you for loving! blankets and 148 pillowcase bags.
February 2021 16College Care PackageS
Let’s show our college students how much we
love them! During the week of March 7-13,
Dayspring individuals and families are invited to
create care packages for our current
undergraduate students and mail them so they
receive them before finals.
These care packages can be filled with snacks,
pens, journals, and cards of encouragement.
Parents of college students are requested to send
their students’ current mailing addresses to
Jennine at Jennine@dayspringumc.org. Parents,
please indicate their favorite snacks, t-shirt size,
and if they have any allergies. If you and/or your
family would like to sign up to create a care
p a c k a g e , p l e a s e e m a i l Pa s t o r J o e l a t
Joel@dayspringumc.org.
Giving Garden Seed Sorting
The Giving Garden Team has 10 types of seeds saved in the garden shed and ready for processing (dill,
alyssum, basil, calendula, bachelor buttons, artichoke, luffa, eggplant, chukkakura and moringa). The team
is seeking volunteers who would have time and motivation to give us a hand in separating the seeds from
the chaff and placing them in envelopes. No experience is necessary, as training will be provided. A
masked garden team member would meet interested persons by the shed (at a distance of six feet or
more) to distribute the seeds, give a demonstration, and answer questions. If you are interested,
February 2021 17 please
call the church office at (480) 838-1446 or email garden@dayspringumc.org.OPENING TO GOD
You are invited to join with others who are searching for ways to
OPEN TO GOD on Friday mornings at 10:30 through Zoom. We find
that opening to God is also a way of opening to the riches of our
deeper selves and, equally important, to deepening relationships
with those whom we love. Our sacred time together includes
PRAY
practices which lead us to experience God in a deeper way: guided
imagery, lectio divina, centering prayer, the Jesus Prayer, use of
prayer beads, silence, and time for personal prayer, to name just a
few. For more information and to receive the link, please contact
Pastor Shirley at shirley@dayspringumc.org.
Pandemic Prayer
These are different times that we are experiencing.
One way we can stay in touch, even though we are
apart, is through prayer. God hears each and every
one of our prayers. We are not alone! And we want
those who are especially struggling during this
time to know that we care for them and love them.
On Wednesday evenings at 7pm, please pause to
chat with God about the needs of others who are
PRAYING TOGETHER hurting. You may use your own words or the
following prayer by Pastor Shirley:
A small group of people gather together on Monday
evenings at 7:00 p.m. through Zoom to remember all
those whose names have been shared on Sunday
morning in worship and others that we know who
need extra care and prayer. You may be involved in
two ways! If you know of someone who has a Prayer of
Concern or Thanksgiving and they don’t want it public
on Sunday morning, please contact Pastor Shirley. We
will confidentially share these Prayers with those who
attend Praying Together. Also, you may want to join us
on Monday evenings as we share these concerns with
our Loving God. You need not attend each and every
week. Just attend when you choose.Following the
spoken prayers, we offer them to God and say, GOD,
IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYER. This is another
way for us to be connected with each other and with
our Compassionate God. For more information or the
link, email Pastor Shirley at shirley@dayspringumc.org.
February 2021 18FINANCE
In 2020, donations to the General Fund by the congregation totaled $842,000, not as much as was
planned, but with an additional $50,000 in forgivable loans and $40,000 in facility usage fees, it totaled
$932,000. The other side to this story, the expenses, were less than planned for 2020. While most of the
planned expenses were paid in full, such as salaries, apportionments, equipment leases, software costs,
and missions commitments; savings were found in utilities, facilities costs, administrative expenses, and
program costs. The total expenses for 2020 were $904,000 which allowed Dayspring to finish 2020 with a
positive cash flow.
Clearly the giving to the general fund was a sign of the generosity and priorities of the congregation, but
the data that really tells the story of generous giving are the donations that went out to other
organizations on the front lines of responding to community needs. Over $67,000 was shared with 21
non-profit organizations responding to hunger, housing needs, medical emergencies, education, and
justice issues of people in our local community and beyond. These dollars became over 50,000 meals
served, dozens of days of shelter for those without homes, medical equipment to protect healthcare
workers, and many more services to assist those in need.
Within our Dayspring church family, when the Preschool and Kindergarten were in danger of having to
close for lack of funds to pay teachers, church members responded to raise $27,000, which when added
to the $28,000 raised by Preschool and Kindergarten families and alumni, totaled $55,000. This amount
allowed the teachers to be paid through 2020 until the Preschool could reopen in a limited fashion in
2021.
Given the uncertainties faced in 2020, Dayspring has met the financial challenges and moves into 2021 in
a healthy financial position. Thanks to the generosity of the people of Dayspring, the church continues to
do the work of making God’s world more peaceful, just, compassionate and inclusive!
February 2021 19FROM OUR PASTORS
What Does it Mean to Be a Christian? Indeed, that’s one of our membership vows at
Dayspring. What might that mean for you? And
A man was confronted by one of those aggressive where do we turn in the Bible to find out more? I
Christians who buttonholed him and asked, “Are like to point people to The Sermon on the Mount,
you a Christian?” The man stopped and thought Matthew, chapters 5 – 7. It’s sort of a “beginner’s
for a moment. He said, “I really don’t know.” Then guide” to what it means to follow Jesus. When
he took a piece of paper and a pencil and wrote reading this primer on the Christian life we
some names on it. He gave the paper to the discover it’s more about practice than beliefs. As
questioner, and said, “Here. These are the names Dallas Wilard says, “The gospel is less about how
of people. This name here, the first one, that’s a to get into the Kingdom of Heaven after you die,
member of my family. This next name, he’s a and more about how to live in the Kingdom of
business associate. The last name, she’s my Heaven before you die.”
neighbor. Ask them if I’m a Christian.” New Testament and Jewish Studies scholar Amy-
While many tend to emphasize a set of beliefs, my Jill Levine wonders if the title, “Sermon on the
shorthand for a Christian is one who seeks to Mount,” can be off-putting. “Who wants to read a
follow Jesus and live according to his teachings. continued on next page
February 2021 20sermon, anyway – even if it is by Jesus?” Plus, she and 5:30pm, Wednesdays with Amy at 10:30am,
adds, it’s a bit of a misnomer, because there’s no Thursdays with Shirley at 7:00pm, and Sundays
way he would have packed all those teachings with Joel at 8:00am. For more information or to
into one talk. Prof. Levine suggests a better title register for a session and receive the Zoom invite,
might be “A Sampling of Jesus’s Greatest contact the Church Office at (480) 838-1446 or
Teachings.” These three chapters in Matthew churchoffice@dayspringumc.org.
contain some of Jesus’ most profound and most
Blessings,
memorable teachings. What might these
Pastor Jeff
teachings have meant to his disciples and to the
others who first heard them? How do they speak
across the centuries to listeners today? How, if we *Please order your own digital
pay careful attention to his words, does Jesus or paperback of the book
provide us a road map to living as God would Sermon on the Mount: A
have us live? Beginner's Guide to the
Kingdom of Heaven by Amy-Jill
This year during Lent we will be offering five
Levine at cokesbury.com.
opportunities each week for adults to carefully
consider “Jesus’s Greatest Teachings” with Dr.
Amy-Jill Levine as our guide. In Sermon on the
Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Join the discussion on:
Heaven*, Prof. Levine introduces its major topics
and explains historical and theological contexts, Tuesdays at 11:00am with Jeff
and shows how the words of Jesus echo his
Jewish tradition and speak forward to reach
Tuesdays at 5:30pm with Jeff
hearts and minds today. I invite you to join Amy, Wednesdays at 10:30am with Amy
Joel, Shirley and me on this Lenten journey
beginning Feb. 18 (Ash Wednesday, which marks Thursdays at 7:00pm with Shirley
the beginning of Lent, is Feb. 17). The study will Sundays at 8:00am with Joel
meet virtually on Tuesdays with me at 11:00am
February 2021 21MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS
The Cooper Family
We are so excited to become members of Dayspring! Ryan
and Kristen both grew up in Ahwatukee and started dating in
high school. We both went to U of A and moved to Chicago
after graduating. We lived there for eight years and moved
back to Tempe two years ago. We have a 2 1/2 year-old
named Connor and a three month-old named Finn. Kristen is a
nurse, but is currently staying home with the boys, and Ryan is a
Senior Manager at DoorDash. We can’t wait to join this
community!
Rudy and Maureen Rojas
Rudy was born and lived in Southern California for the first part of his
life. He served his country in Vietnam and Cambodia from 1969 to
1970 in the U.S. Army and worked as a shipping manager, expediter,
and computer technician. Maureen was born in Maryland and moved
with her family to Arizona at the age of 10. She lived in California for a
few years, which is where she met Rudy. They have been in Arizona
since 1981 and have been married 43 years. Rudy and Maureen are
both cancer survivors and share a love of nature, hiking, camping, music,
and traveling. Rudy also enjoys shooting sports, anthropology and Native
American cultures. Maureen retired from Honeywell after a career in
communications. She sails competitively and enjoys cooking, sewing, and
gardening. They are both passionate about protecting the environment and social justice.
Erica and Alex Wood
Hello Dayspring! Erica and Alex are recently married and
share a love of kayaking, animals, and the great outdoors.
Alex is an army brat who moved around the world and Erica
is lifelong native of Arizona. We have been attending
Dayspring for a few years now and finally made the leap to
becoming members. We look forward to being active and
engaged dayspring community members and look forward to
getting to know you!
February 2021 22DAYSPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1365 E. Elliot Road
Tempe, AZ 85284-1608
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Koinonikos
February 2021
Volume 27, Issue 2
FREE* Published Monthly
Dayspring UMC is a Reconciling Congregation. All
DAYSPRING UNITED
people, regardless of age, sex, race, color,
METHODIST CHURCH
A Stephen Ministry Congregation ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity,
1365 E. Elliot Road economic status or ability are welcome into the
Tempe, AZ 85284-1608
full life of our congregation.
Church Office Telephone: 480.838.1446
Email: ChurchOffice@DayspringUMC.org
Office Hours: Dayspring UMC affirms the value and worth of all
Mon. - Thurs.: 9:00am-2:00pm
Website: www.dayspring-umc.org persons, recognizing that everyone is a child of
Watch: livestream.com/dayspringtempe God. We call all to live by and attest to gender
Preschool Telephone: 480.838.9097
equality and to observe Jesus' principles of love
and non-violence in all our relationships.
February 2021 23You can also read
