Staff – Desert Skies United Methodist Church

Rev. Candace Lansberry

Senior Pastor

Lent, Holy Week and Easter brought great reflection and excitement as we became more aware together of how God works in our lives all the time, perhaps especially in the tough and dark times of our lives. As we celebrate the Risen Christ in our midst, we will explore together what it means to be an Easter People, full of hope. With our 2018 focus being discipleship, we are looking at ways to connect us to God and each other in meaningful dialogue about life in the world today. I am looking forward to listening, learning and leading with all of you as we live together into what it means to be a joyful community drawing people to Christ. Let’s dare to dance in new and meaningful ways this Easter/Pentecost season.
Reverend Doctor Candace Lansberry is the Senior Pastor at Desert Skies United Methodist Church. She came to the church in 2015 excited about the possibilities for growth and ministry in the northeast part of Tucson. That excitement is fueled by the belief that vital mainline churches are an important part of reaching people of all ages who have been turned off by more extreme expressions of Christianity. The Desert Skies congregation is a vital, service-oriented congregation ready to take on the challenging task of reaching new people for Christ in new ways… and that is Rev. Candace’s passion as well.
Rev. Candace most recently served as a District Superintendent in the North District of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference (Las Vegas area) and prior to that planted two new United Methodist Churches, one in Mesa/Queen Creek and one in Las Vegas. She earned her Master of Divinity Degree at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California where she received the President’s Award for Academic Excellent and her Doctor of Ministry at Drew Theological Seminar in Madison, New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in Theater and Cinematic Arts.
Candace has been married to Mark, also a United Methodist pastor, for 30 years. They have three daughters and four grandchildren.

Rev. Matthew Colby

Associate Pastor

Each day the resurrection reminds us that true life is possible. In our relationship to Jesus, we can walk out of our tombs of dead ends and prisons. Each day we can choose life being offered to us. We are following a risen and living Lord to come out of darkness into who we were created to be…loving God with all that we are and serving/sharing with others the best news ever.

Whatever age and stage in life you are, come find others who want to journey together in the Lord at Desert Skies. Whether it be through connection, service, sharing and discipleship let us follow our purpose found in Christ.

On a personal level, I love my family and time spent together traveling and experiencing new things together. My wife, Cathy, enjoys singing and music. My son, Andrew, enjoys being in theater productions and choir, photography and scouting. My daughter, Christiana, is a good musician on the baritone and guitar, and loves all things “dragon.” She also enjoys scouting as well.

I look forward to meeting you and discovering what God has in store for us in 2018!

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Tammy Concienne

Administrative Assistant

Somehow, it’s already April, spring has arrived, Resurrection (Easter) Sunday has come and gone, time is flying by me, and yet, I have such feelings of peace, comfort, hope and a tremendous amount of gratitude.

Gratitude in knowing that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a gift from God and fulfillment of HIS promise. Peace in knowing that I have put my faith in Christ. Comfort in knowing that I will live forever in the presence of God, and hope for those who do not have a relationship with the Lord, to seek his presence and feel the love and grace that awaits them. As Christians, if there was ever a day that gives us hope it is Resurrection (Easter) Sunday…A celebration that Jesus is alive and has never-ending love for us!
On Resurrection (Easter) Sunday, while others may look forward to brightly colored eggs, chocolate Easter bunnies, wearing pastels, the smell of the Easter lilies, or enjoying a big meal surrounded by family and friends, as a Christian, I look forward to, and give thanks for, the Resurrection of Christ. In my belief, Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is given to all who believe in him. Resurrection (Easter) Sunday means HE lives!

Whatever your beliefs or memories, Easter is a time of renewal and awakening…a new beginning. A time to reflect on the past, the present and the future of our lives. A time to rejoice and be grateful for the blessings we have been given. A time to celebrate our life and those in it. A time to look around and see the beauty of today!

God has a plan for you and God is watching over you. To everything, there is a season. With every season comes change. Are you ready to make that change to walk in the light of faith?

Blessings,
Tammy

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Dr. Alex “Doc” Shawn

This summer I am looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with my wife, Joanie and our furry children while working on some home renovation projects that get “pushed aside for a better time” during the academic year. Along with having more time with my family, I usually spend the summertime reading more and just enjoying a non-rushed cup of coffee in the morning while lazily reading one of my many historical fiction books that pile up over the year. When I’m not reading or tinkering around at my workbench, I spend more time playing the tenor drum with my pipe band, Tucson and District Pipe Band. The summer brings several piping competitions and Celtic games to attend, so I’ll be traveling to some of the nearby games. Lastly, I will take some much needed time in July to visit my parents in Calgary and reconnect with some old friends.

I’m eagerly anticipating the opportunity to rest, renew, and plan for some of the events that will begin again in the fall of the year. So this summer I will feed my soul with family, friends, projects, and books and look forward furthering and deepening my relationship with God and His Word.

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Dr. Alexander “Doc” Shawn, D.M.A. joined Desert Skies United Methodist Church in January 2016 with extensive experience in choral, orchestra, and band conducting. Doc previously lived in Calgary, Canada, teaching/conducting choirs and band for the Calgary Board of Education, as well as conducting a number of community choral groups and bands. After receiving his doctorate in Conducting from the University of Arizona in 2006, he was offered a teaching position at St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson, and has just recently retired from teaching for the Tucson Unified School District.

Upon joining the staff at Desert Skies, Doc is doing what he loves the most: reaching out and connecting with people and creating music that expresses what words cannot. In his words, “Music has the ability to be the bridge that speaks to the hearts and souls of everyone who listens”. He looks forward to keeping the music program at Desert Skies a strong and vital part of worshipping God and reaching out to the community through the gift of music.

Since moving to the United States, he and his wife, Joanie, have settled down to a happy and peaceful life with their dog, Sir Bailey, and two cats, MacKenzie King and Sammy Blue.

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Scott Jones

“Easter people, raise your voices…” , the opening admonition of the famous hymn by William M. James, is for many Christians as comfortable and predictable a part of the celebration of Easter as baskets full of goodies, coloring eggs, or a traditional feast with family and friends. Less comfortable and predictable is the challenge to live our lives as “Easter people” – to embrace the transformative reality of the resurrection, the empty tomb, our sins forgiven. Proclaiming these truths contained within the hymns and liturgy on Easter Sunday reflects an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual reality that we are called to embody as we live out our everyday lives amidst the often frenetic, technologically driven pace of the second decade of the 21st century, fraught with deterrents and distractions from without and within that challenge our faith. To live out the joy and power of the resurrection as Christ-followers, as a community of faith, we are called to share the great Good News of the resurrection in how we live our lives each day, reflecting the love and forgiveness of Christ in our thoughts, words and actions. In this way, we authentically live our lives as “Easter people”, and in so doing, proclaim the Gospel.

Scott Jones, Music / Worship Leader at our Vail campus, grew up in Gloucester, MA, where he began his musical studies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, and a Master of Music Education from Boston University. Prior to joining the staff at Desert Skies, Scott served as Organist / Choir Director at the United Methodist Church in Ipswich, MA, and as Praise Band Director at Christ Church United Methodist here in Tucson, where he and his family have resided for the past ten years.

Michael Jenkins

We welcome Michael Jenkins, our new custodian, to the staff at Desert Skies as of November 3, 2017. He and his wife, Josie, and their children, Sean and Nichelle, have been long time attenders at Desert Skies, and we are blessed to have on our staff team. He will be working Tuesday-Friday, 8-12ish, Saturdays when needed, and Sunday mornings. Please say Hi! when you see him around the campus.

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Rev. Candace Lansberry

Rev. Matthew Colby

Tammy Concienne

Dr. Alex “Doc” Shawn

Scott Jones

Michael Jenkins

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