About Dayspring
Through the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.
Dayspring offers a rich heritage of Christian community, 208 acres of contemplative landscape, with the beauty and blessing of trees, meadows, and creeks.
A small community of faith, Dayspring Church was born out of The Church of the Saviour in 1976. We continue with the traditions and wisdom of our parent church: commitment to follow Jesus in non-violent ways of being and acting in resistance to systems of domination, integrity of membership, a foundation of Biblical vision, and the call to ministry in small groups. We listen for God’s Word in scripture, in silence, and in creation. We hope to grow in both the inward journey of relationship with God and the outward journey in service to the needs of the world.
We believe that God created the great diversity of humanity. We celebrate and welcome people of all races, sexual orientations, gender identities, and cultures.
Our worship service is at 10 AM on Sunday in the Farmhouse most of the year and in the Pavilion in the summer. We have evolved a practice of shared servant leadership in the church community and discernment of direction by the Spirit. Out of God’s great gift of the community of all life at Dayspring, we have heard the cry of Earth along with the cry of the poor, and we are committed to moving into a more sustainable way of life at Dayspring.
Mission groups are part of the legacy of The Church of the Saviour. Those who are called to a particular ministry focused on some point of need or suffering commit to work together, to practice certain disciplines for spiritual growth, and to share responsibility for Dayspring as a church and as a place.
On a Sunday in October, those who are called to be part of the worshipping community join together
in making the following commitment:
I come today to claim Dayspring Church as a significant place of belonging. I commit myself to deepening my relationship with Jesus Christ and to growing in my relationship with the community of all life at Dayspring. I seek to open my heart to God’s great love for me and to welcome and respond to God’s call on my life. I will support this community with my presence and participation, with my gifts, and with my prayers.
Those who have gone through a process of learning and discernment usually taking 2-3 years may become core members upon approval by the existing core members. Core membership involves participation in the Church decision-making process, being a part of a mission group of the Church, accepting certain spiritual disciplines as a regular part of their lives, and tithing financially to the Church. Core members make a much longer commitment statement.
Dayspring Church brochure (as of 2016)
Dayspring Church Bylaws (includes a description of the core membership process)
by Heart Light Digital