Apache Stronghold invites all of us who care for God’s creation to take part in a day of prayer for the protection of the beautiful and sacred Oak Flat area near Superior. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and members of the Dayspring S.A.G.E. (green) team and Pastor Jeff are planning to attend. For more information or to sign up, contact Maureen Rojas at 602-339-5609. This diverse ecosystem in the Tonto National Forest is a sacred site known to Apaches as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel. A last-minute federal land-exchange provision in 2014 gave the area to a multinational mining company to build one of the world’s largest copper mines, which would leave behind a crater two miles wide and 1,000 feet deep, spreading toxic waste over the entire area. Efforts to halt the mining have gained President Biden’s support but Congress must act to protect the area.

Our final new member orientation of the year will be held on Sunday, November 5 at 11:45 in Room 112 and on Zoom. Please email the church office if you are interested in attending or would like to learn more. 

Euphony, a gifted ensemble of alumni of the ASU School of Music, presents a concert of Peace and Consolation on November 5 at 3:00pm. The theme of peace, hope, and consolation anticipates the celebration of Veterans Day with works by Adolphus Hailstork, Suzzette Ortiz, Moses Hogan, Undine Moore, and featuring the deeply emotional Requiem by Herbert Howells, written in the 1930s, but not performed publicly until 1980. Tickets are available online HERE. 

Children’s Ministry hosts Awake on Friday, November 10 from 5:00-8:00 pm. Awake is a ministry for children in 3rd – 6th grade to build friendships, explore their Bibles, and have fun at church. We will eat dinner, have a fun Bible activity, do a Veterans Day service project, and end the night with s’mores and songs around the campfire. Registration is required. The cost is $5 per child. Please email Andrea to register or for more information. (Please note, Awake will NOT be an overnight event this year.)

The 38th Annual Dayspring Preschool and Kindergarten Holiday Boutique is from 9am-7pm on November 17 and 9am-4pm on November 18. Featuring more than 50 local vendors, food, raffles, entertainment and more, this is our preschool’s primary fundraiser and helps the school pay for things that are outside of the operating budget (including financial aid, playground equipment, professional development for teachers, books for the library, and more!) 

The 2023-24 Borderlands Produce Rescue season is just around the corner. Dayspring partners with Borderlands to bring unsold fresh produce from regional farms directly to our neighborhoods. Starting the third Saturday of November, we will host a monthly event for the Arcadia neighborhood. Volunteers are needed to pack food boxes of approximately 70lbs. This is a great chance to spend time in the neighborhood, interact with neighbors, reduce food waste and bring healthy food to local families. Our next event is November 18 from 6:00 - 11am. If you’re interested, please email Amy.

Bishop Carlo Rapanut will deliver the message at the 10:00 service on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 19. He will also hold a Q&A Session in the Fellowship Hall following the service on the future of the United Methodist Church.

Our annual food drive is Sunday, November 19. We will have a refrigerated truck in the parking lot to collect donations (including frozen turkeys!) for the United Food Bank in Mesa. Last year’s Fall Food Drive collected 2,533 pounds of food, including dozens of turkeys!

During a Taizé service, we sing uncomplicated, repetitive songs, uncluttered by too many words, allowing the mystery of God to become known through the beauty of simplicity. Email Pastor Shirley for more information. The next service is Sunday, November 19 at 4pm in the Fellowship Hall.