One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (NRSV, Mark 12:29-32)
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to your community, and its benefits extend far beyond the immediate help it provides to others. For individuals, volunteering offers a powerful sense of purpose and fulfillment. Whether it’s tutoring students, helping at a food bank, or cleaning up local parks, these acts of service create a tangible impact—and being part of that impact fosters deep personal satisfaction. Volunteering also helps people connect with others, building strong relationships, enhancing communication skills, and creating a sense of belonging that’s often hard to find elsewhere.
Dayspring Volunteer Opportunities
Giving our time, talents, and spiritual gifts to further God’s Kingdom
If you would like to explore some of the ways to serve Dayspring, we would love to talk to you about how you’d like to get involved. Please see below for numerous ways to volunteer. If you’re unsure about what might best suit your interests and availability, please email Andrea.
Are you comfortable with public speaking? We're looking for volunteers to serve as worship assistants at the 10:00 service. Please email Andrea if you would be interested in serving during one service every couple months.
Shepherds greet people as they enter the church, hand out bulletins, and collect the offering. Plus, they help direct people during communion on the first Sunday of the month.
Strong multi-taskers who are comfortable with technology and a fast-paced environment are needed to help broadcast our services on Livestream! Audio and video positions are available - you will receive training. Serve one month at a time or fill in as needed.
Help keep our sanctuary welcoming and organized by becoming a pew restocker! This simple yet meaningful task involves tidying and restocking the pews once a month, either after Sunday service or during the week— whatever fits your schedule best. It’s a small commitment that makes a big difference for our congregation.
Support the church office by helping put together mailings or holiday bulletins. This is needed only occasionally - we email interested volunteers to see if they're available on specific dates.
Interested in sharing your gifts for hospitality, organization, or encouragement, but have been waiting for the right opportunity to come along?
Join our Memorial Service Team here at Dayspring.
Our service to families on a day of grief (or the celebration of life) is perhaps one of the finest opportunities we have at Dayspring to reflect God's light: our gifts as individuals, and as a congregation, shine during these very tender times.
Our team approach is designed to:
- Share the load so the same two or three individuals won't be asked to carry the weight of volunteering every time.
- Equip You to let your God-given talents SHINE!
Be part of something special! Come and join us.
Beyond Our Campus: Mission Opportunities
The main mission of the church is to reach out to others, to look beyond ourselves, and touch the lives of those in need, both in our own community and internationally. Dayspring has many avenues in which we can express our love and concern for others.
Dayspring is one of approximately 15 churches in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area to host homeless families for Family Promise, a nationwide program. Three to four times a year we host 2-4 families for one week. Volunteers provide and prepare meals for the week and spend the night to handle emergencies. On Saturday, we take the families to a movie, or the science center, or to a local event.
Tempe Community Action Agency’s food bank provides emergency food aid to all in the Tempe area. Food collections are taken on the 4th Sunday of every month. Your donations help feed our neighbors here in Tempe!
Items that are always needed:
- canned meat and meals
- peanut butter
- canned fruit and vegetables
- cereal
- dry rice and beans
- dry milk and "helpers"
Other Food Drives
Sprouts also hosts a big food drive before Thanksgiving to collect food (including frozen turkeys!) for those in need.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical, grass-roots, non-profit housing ministry building homes on Christian principles in partnership with limited income families who could never qualify for homeownership on their own. This project recognizes the need for good, decent housing to bring hope, dignity and new life to families in need.
We work with the Valley of the Sun branch, serving the entire Phoenix metro area. As a part of the Mighty Methodist coalition, we build at least one house for a new family each year.
Each year a medical work team from Dayspring goes to the tiny, mountainous village of Tochimizolco, four hours southeast of Mexico City. This team assists the Methodist Church of Mexico in establishing a permanently staffed medical clinic; providing medical, dental and Bible school support. The work team encourages spiritual growth for all those involved. This program includes three churches: Dayspring UMC; First UMC of Olathe, KS; and the Mexican Methodist Church, Mexico.
Dayspring’s Female Prison Ministry is excited to propose a variety of levels of participation in this new ministry. The team is pleased to offer: (1) serving as a mentor with training, (2) serving as a pen pal, (3) sending monthly birthday cards to inmates, (4) providing books for the prison libraries, (5) providing yarn for inmates to knit sweaters & hats for children at a crisis center in Phoenix, and (6) providing resources for the Magdalene House (free housing for seven women released from prison). One last ministry for which we have applied to the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) is developing and providing a guided self-study to women in medium & maximum-security yards focusing on identifying “healthy values” and “healthy choices.” If you would like to be a part of any of these exciting ministries, please email Karen.
India has a population of 1.2 billion people who speak 1652 different languages. Indian Bible Translators was founded in 1978 to translate the Bible in Bible-less languages in India. To date, they have translated the full New Testament into eight languages, with ten more in progress and the full Bible currently being translated into 37 languages. Dayspring has supported its work through prayer and financial resources.
IBT has grown over the years and now employs more than 100 people full time. It has also expanded to include a Children’s Home in Orissa, in the eastern part of the country. This Children’s Home is currently undergoing a renovation, thanks, in part to a donation from Dayspring. The kitchen, pantry/storage room, and bathrooms are all under construction.
Dayspring Junior High and Senior High youth are quite involved with mission projects throughout the year. The biggest being:
- Sierra Service Project: The youth travel to different Native American reservations or a city site in California to spend a week repairing homes for families who cannot afford it or are unable to have the work done professionally.
Since 2006, Justa Center has solely focused on older adults experiencing homelessness. In the first five years, the average age of a senior experiencing homelessness was 57. Today, the average age has gradually increased to 65 due to more seniors over age 70 becoming homeless for the first time.
We are currently recruiting a Justa Center Coordinator to support our work with Justa Center and delivering donations. Please email Andrea with questions or if you are interested in helping.
Connectional United Methodist Missions
The United Methodist Church is organized by congregations, districts, conferences and then the General Church. We are a Connectional Church.” Together, every part of the United Methodist Church contributes to our local, national, and global mission programs through a “tithe” called benevolences. We also support global missions by Advance Special Giving (identified as giving to selected projects) and by giving to the United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR). In addition, our local UMW and UMM give to United Methodist missions. A sampling of UM missions includes church colleges, seminaries, hospitals, children’s homes, disaster relief, and agricultural and medical missions.
Tempe Community Action Agency’s food bank provides emergency food aid to all in the Tempe area. Food collections are taken on the 4th Sunday of every month. Your donations help feed our neighbors here in Tempe!
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical, grass-roots, non-profit housing ministry building homes on Christian principles in partnership with limited income families who could never qualify for homeownership on their own. This project recognizes the need for good, decent housing to bring hope, dignity and new life to families in need.
India has a population of 1.2 billion people who speak 1652 different languages. Indian Bible Translators was founded in 1978 to translate the Bible in Bible-less languages in India. To date, they have translated the full New Testament into eight languages, with ten more in progress and the full Bible currently being translated into 37 languages. Dayspring has supported its work through prayer and financial resources.