Staff

Spring time in the desert is here! The warm rays of the morning sun shining upon my face, the sweet smell in the air of all that is blooming around me, green grass, open windows, evening walks, the weather is not too hot or too cold…it’s just a beautiful time of year! It’s a time to look around and see the beauty of each day…life is alive in everything! Welcome… to the season of renewal.  

This time of year brings me feelings of peace, comfort, hope and gratitude for the gift of life I have been given. With Resurrection (Easter) Sunday around the corner, I am ready to celebrate that Jesus is alive and has never-ending love for me! I am ready to rejoice for the blessings that I have been given, and I am ready to reflect on my past, present and future. To everything, there is a season. With every season comes change.

During this season of your life, may the Lord fill your soul with the light of hope and give you a new start to your life…a new beginning! Remember, that HIS resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is given to all who believe in him. Resurrection (Easter) Sunday means HE lives! And, isn’t it great to be ALIVE in the spirit of our savior!

If you are interested in being a part of the music program at Desert Skies UMC., please contact Doc Shawn.  

Dr. Shawn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Alaska; a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Calgary, Canada; and Doctor of  Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Arizona.

For several years “Doc” combined his talent as a performer and a touring artist for the Artist in Schools Residency Program in Alberta and established a successful musical theatreprogram throughout Western Canada and Alaska.  After several years of traveling, he began teaching as a music specialist for the Calgary Board of Education.  During this period of time he was also the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Savridi Singers, Calgary’s Premier Women’s Choir, as well as a festival adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician for choirs and bands in and around Western Canada.

In 2006, he was offered a position to teach at the prestigious St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson, Arizona.  After seven years of teaching in the private sector, he transferred to the Tucson Unified School District for four years for the opportunity to teach the more under-privileged children in southwest Arizona.

After twenty-five years in the education field, “Doc”, retired from teaching and presently works as the Director of Music and Congregational Care at Desert Skies United Methodist Church in Tucson, Arizona.

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In the midst of a career in computer information systems, Rev. Mark was called to ministry. He received an M.Div. Degree from the Claremont School of Theology and the Doctor of Ministry from Drew Theological school. He has served churches in Los Angeles, Camp Verde, Fountain Hills, Las Vegas and Tucson.

Rev. Mark retired from active ministry in 2017 and began helping with the praise band at the Vail Campus of Desert Skies UMC. For the past several months he have been preaching there on Communion Sundays as well. In March he accepted a larger role in the ministry in Vail as the campus pastor. This exciting Desert Skies ministry is inspiring and growing. Rev. Mark feels privileged to be part of this dynamic community and to once again use his pastoral and preaching gifts.

“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.

Paige McDowell, an intern here at Desert Skies, is a Senior at Empire High School out in Vail. She started attending Desert Skies when she was about 9 years old, her first Sunday was a Western Sunday, a very unique first impression. Nevertheless they returned the next week and the week after that as this church became her home. From the day she started youth group her 6th grade year to now she never fell out of love with the program only wanting to get more and more involved. While exploring her call to ministry this year she was offered an intern position and Desert Skies she could not refuse. While she will be leaving this fall to attend Boise State University, she looks forward to all the time she will get to spend with her church family and grow deeper and deeper into her faith.