About Us
Thanks so much for visiting us online. My name is Jim Crelin. I am the senior pastor at Desert Palms and I work with a terrific associate pastor, Linda Bailey. Desert Palms is located in a retirement community, Sun City West, AZ, and is made up of a group of fun but imperfect people who have been extended immense grace from God. We are in the process of being changed to live for God by becoming disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our goal is to invite others to become Christ-followers as well. We accomplish this by serving people in Sun City West and the surrounding area.
Jesus has called us to be salt and light. We are salt in the many ways we season our community with our ministries. We are light in that we are attempting to guide one another to live lives according to Christ’s teachings.
The Apostle Paul says that the Church is both the foundation and the pillar of God’s truth. This means that the good news of what God has done to save us in Christ is what creates us as a people. We stand on that foundation. At the same time, we celebrate what God has done for us in Christ. We want to demonstrate the power of God’s good news in our community. Just like a pillar, we want to lift up to the world what God is doing among us. By God's grace we are created by the gospel and for the gospel.
There are many ways you can learn more about the church. On this site you can join us for virtual worship on Sunday mornings or choose a service from our archives. We have many different ways to reach out to our community and world, you can learn more by reviewing our mission page. Our health ministry page provides opportunities to assist in becoming healthy, well-rounded people. We have an extensive music program, so take a moment to check out our music ministry page. Basically, we are a loving and forgiven group of people who are trying to get the gospel clear in our own hearts and minds so we can make it clear to others for the glory of Christ. Linda and I invite you to browse the website. Come check us out on a Sunday in person or online. We look forward to seeing you!
Staff
Reverend James W. Crelin, 3rd
Senior Pastor and Head of Staff
Reverend Linda J. Bailey
Associate Pastor
Wendy Fentiman
Director of Music Ministry
Judy Penick
Worship Accompanist
Dan Chaney
Audio Visual Technician
Leoma Lightner, RN
Faith Community Nurse
Amy Wall
Church Administrator
Nicole Celentano
Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Baldisseri
Ministry Assistant
Patsy Boman
Bookkeeper
Tony Gonzalez
Sexton
Susan McGrath
Sexton
Mark Frantz
Sexton
Community Focused
Health Ministries
Led by Nurse Leoma, Desert Palm's Health Ministry facilitates fitness classes, blood drives, access to resources for church members and the community, and much more. Click the link below to learn more about our Health Ministries.
Outreach
Community outreach is important to us. Our Outreach Committee holds events year-round, including concerts, summer movie nights, and game nights. Click the link below to learn more!
What We Believe
Organization of the Presbyterian Church Government
The primary point of Presbyterian belief is that Christ as the head of the church rules the church. Because Christ directs the entire church as a body, we believe that no special group exists within the church that is of a higher spiritual order than any other. Those selected to govern the Presbyterian Church are chosen by the congregation because of their special leadership skills.
Desert Palms Presbyterian Church is a Member of:
Presbytery of the Grand Canyon – Presbyteries are the regional "governing bodies" made up of several churches.
Synod of the Southwest – Synods are the regional "governing bodies" made up of several presbyteries.
Presbyterian Church USA – The main governing body of the Presbyterian Church.
History
The Confessional Banners of the Presbyterian Church symbolize nine creeds and confessions from the early Christian era to the twentieth century. These historic statements of faith represent our Christian heritage from the Roman Empire to the Reformation, including contemporary reflections of faith in our own time.
How Desert Palms Came to Be
Desert Palms Presbyterian Church is a part of the Synod of the Southwest which includes most of Arizona and New Mexico and is in the Grand Canyon Presbytery of that Synod.
In December 1979, a group of Presbyterians, guided by the Reverend Paul Calhoun, began Sunday morning services in the R.H. Johnson Social Hall. In June 1980, the Reverend Arthur Dahlberg was designated as the Organizing Pastor. Desert Palms Presbyterian Church was chartered with 119 members on November 23,1980.
A contract for building a sanctuary was awarded to Taliesin West Architects of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in August 1984. The sanctuary was completed and dedicated on November 16,1986. The sanctuary was designed to seat 500 in 180 degree fan geometry. No parishioner would be more than 48 feet from the pulpit.
Ground breaking for Phase II, which included Fellowship Hall, Administration Building, Chapel and the Memorial Gardens (including the Columbarium) was held on December 10, 1989. Dedication of these additions was held on November 19, 1990. On August 20, 2000, groundbreaking was held for an expansion that added office space, a library, a conference room, and drama and storage areas. Dedication was held on April 29, 2001.
Desert Palms Presbyterian Church is now a congregation of approximately 775 members. We are a friendly congregation, with excellent programs for Christian Education, Outreach, Mission and Music. Desert Palms is also blessed with a fine ministerial staff. Many spiritual, social and service activities are available to its members.
Send us a Message
Contact info
Address:
13459 W. Stardust Blvd.
Sun City West, AZ 85375
Email:
dppc@desertpalmschurch.org
Phone:
(623) 584-4602
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Useful Links
Contact info
(623) 584-4602
dppc@desertpalmschurch.org
