We invite you to join us tomorrow, November 8, at 5:30pm, for a talk from Palestinian Christian human rights lawyer Jonathan Kuttab, who started the well-respected Al Haq human rights organization in Palestine in 1979. He is also a co-founder of Nonviolence International. Mr. Kuttab has worked nonviolently his entire career for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel by upholding and protecting human rights.

Mr. Kuttab was the head of the Legal Committee negotiating the Cairo Agreement of 1994 between Israel and the PLO. He serves on the Board of Bethlehem Bible College and is President of the Board of Holy Land Trust. The talk will include discussion of his 2023 book, The Truth Shall Set You Free. As much about a spiritual journey as a saga of political activism, it tells the story of his Christian faith and his career as a human rights lawyer embracing nonviolent resistance in Palestine/Israel. For more information, visit jonathankuttab.org/about or fosna.org. 

We mourn the passing of the passing of a longtime member of our Dayspring family, Kurt Hegland, on September 21. A skilled craftsman, Kurt was a member of the Board of Trustees and a regular volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. He joined the staff at Dayspring in May of 2015 as a part-time maintenance specialist. We will hold his memorial service this Saturday November 9, at 11:00am in the Sanctuary. Following the service, refreshments will be served in Fellowship Hall. 

This Sunday, November 10, is the next Second Sunday! Each month, Dayspring’s new Second Sunday open house offers a variety of food, music, and activities for all ages from 8:30am - noon.

The 10am service will feature Vaughan Williams’s Five Mystical Songs with John Pierce Kraft as the soloist and an instrumental ensemble. These beautiful, moving pieces on deeply affecting texts will enrich your season of gratitude.

This Sunday, November 10, at 4pm, Stephanie Sadownik and Nathan Arch will present a voice and piano recital in the sanctuary. “Meditations on America: Songs by American Composers” explores the rich tapestry of American concert music and explores ways that the USA is a chorus of many voices.

Join ASU’s Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict on Wednesday, November 13, at 4:30pm at ASU for a panel discussion featuring prominent Arizona voices as we explore the results of the 2024 election, with a particular eye on religion’s influence on American political life. Learn More/Register

Cantilena, under the direction of David Schildkret, presents “In Praise of Music” next Sunday, November 17, at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary. The program honors the patron saint of music, St. Cecilia (her day is November 22) and features Benjamin Britten’s magnificent “Hymn to St. Cecilia.” Also included are works by Moses Hogan, Stephen Sametz, Alice Parker, local composer J. Edmund Hughes, and many more.

The Dayspring youth are selling Butter Braid pastries starting Sunday, November 17, following the 10:00 service on the patio. You can also order online HERE. Pickup is on December 15 and 22. If you haven’t tried these delicious Butter Braids, now’s your chance! This fundraiser will support the youth program and summer trips!

Learn how to make your own compost by turning kitchen scraps and garden cuttings into a rich source of organic matter that recycles nutrients right back into your garden. Master Gardener Emily Heller is an energetic speaker who invites participants to ask questions. You will leave class overflowing with ideas of how to be a better gardener and composter. Register HERE. Please email Chris with questions. 

Join us in Arcadia for a Pancake Breakfast in Striving Hall from 9:00am - noon on November 16. If you missed Blessing of the Animals in Tempe last month (or you have a pet that needs extra assistance!) pets are invited to be blessed in the park during the same time.

The 2024-25 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 23 from 6:00 - 10am. If you’re interested, please email Pastor Michael.

Save the Date! Dayspring Preschool & Kindergarten's 39th annual Holiday Boutique is Friday, November 22, from 9:00-7:00 and Saturday, November 23, from 9:00-3:00. 

Our annual food drive is Sunday, November 24. 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 2,409 pounds of food, including 48 turkeys, and provided more than 2,700 meals to those experiencing food insecurity in our area! 

We also celebrate Thanksgiving and Commitment Sunday on November 24 by offering our pledges to the General Fund of Dayspring for 2025. This service has become a beloved tradition at Dayspring as we celebrate with all of our choirs, special music and liturgy to pledge our financial commitments to the future of Dayspring.