During my ten years of ministry here at Dayspring, I’ve often heard newcomers say something like, “I never knew a church like Dayspring existed!” Our commitment to missions, a strong music program, vibrant children and youth ministries, and informal traditional services are the keystones of who we are. But there’s something more we’ve discovered—many people are searching for a different kind of church, a church like Dayspring that:
- Embraces without judgment
- Celebrates full inclusion
- Empowers women
- Respects science
- Honors all faiths
In other words, they’re seeking a community of faith that truly follows the teachings of Jesus!
Last August, Dayspring member Dale Dauten led a transformative retreat for our 25-member Covenant Council, guiding us toward a renewed vision for Sunday mornings. With a history of innovative work with organizations like NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Honeywell, and Caterpillar, Dale encouraged us to rethink what it means to gather as a church. Through individual reflection and small group discussions, we explored fresh perspectives.
From that retreat, the concept of “Second Sundays” was born, inspired by Phoenix’s “First Fridays.” The idea is to host an OPEN HOUSE at Dayspring from 8:30 am to Noon on the second Sunday of each month. We believe that people may feel more comfortable visiting an open house than a traditional church service. A variety of opportunities to explore spirituality will be offered, each lasting about 30 minutes. Dale envisions that “Second Sundays might take on a life of its own, perhaps attracting once-a-month attendees, and eventually serving as a bridge to deeper engagement with all our offerings.”
We began experimenting with Second Sundays this past Spring, offering sessions like “Faith Unplugged” with Pastor Michael and “Love Lessons” with Gary Lovejoy, alongside our traditional 10 am service and Sacred Space contemplative setting at 8:50 am. Beginning Sept 8th, we are greatly expanding the menu of options (see inset). Our 2nd Sundays Team has worked tirelessly to help realize this vision. Recently Dale shared with the team,
During my career I’ve gotten to work with the elite of corporate America … Our team would impress any of them. Indeed, they’d be startled by how much we’ve done with almost no budget. Thank you for letting me be part of it. Also, I learned from doing innovation work that “experiments never fail.” Maybe 2nd Sundays won’t catch on, but here’s a truth: we broke out of the ordinary and hit escape velocity from the gravity of the mundane. That’s a worthy accomplishment. Now we see if anyone else notices.
Let’s embark on this exciting journey together, reshaping Sunday mornings at Dayspring Tempe into something truly extraordinary!
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff