Summer Update: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Borrego Springs Community United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School is underway in Borrego Springs, bringing kids, youth counselors, adults, and volunteers together for four days of free summer fun. This year's Snowball Mountain Challenge includes Bible stories, arts, science, crafts, music, and hands-on activities for children ages 3–11. Ollie the Seal helps teach the daily lessons, along with the many volunteers who make the program possible. The program is free for all children and provides a positive, welcoming place for Borrego kids to stay engaged during the summer months. Children are creating art projects, exploring science activities, enjoying games, making new friends, and receiving a healthy lunch each day.

A Hand Up for Neighbors in Borrego Springs

The Borrego Ministers Association hosts the annual Blessing of the Animals at Christmas Circle, celebrating St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church expands its ongoing collaboration with Rostros y Corazón For the first time, Fr. David Madsen and Jan Naragon of St. Barnabas (Borrego Springs) are leading a regular Eucharist service at Rostros y Corazón in Salton City. The gathering will take place the first and third Wednesday of every month, creating a new opportunity for worship, fellowship, and community connection. The service builds on an existing relationship between the two organizations and reflects the many connections already shared between Borrego Springs and Salton City. Many West Shores residents work in Borrego Springs, attend school here, shop here, receive services here, or have family and friends in the Borrego Valley. The two communities are neighbors in many ways. The new service reflects St. Barnabas's commitment to extending ministry beyond its church walls while continuing to support relationships throughout the desert region. By gathering regularly at Rostros y Corazón, organizers hope to create a welcoming space for prayer, conversation, encouragement, and connection. Rostros y Corazón , led by Graciela Mendivil Ramos, is a nonprofit community center serving Salton City and the surrounding West Shores area. The organization is known for supporting families and connecting residents with needed resources. For upcoming service dates or questions, contact Graciela Mendivil Ramos at gracielamramos@gmail.com .

Community joins global moment of reflection in Borrego Springs St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Borrego Springs marked World Labyrinth Day with visitors gathering throughout the day and at the shared “Walk as One” moment at 1:00 PM, joining others around the world in a quiet act of reflection and intention for peace. The church’s outdoor labyrinth, located just south of the main building, remained open all day, allowing people to walk at their own pace. Some came for a few minutes, others lingered, taking time in the center to pause, reflect, or pray. Fr. David Madsen described the experience as accessible to anyone. “You do not have to know the right words or follow a certain tradition. The labyrinth welcomes anyone seeking peace, clarity, or a moment to breathe.” Unlike a maze, the labyrinth offers a single path to the center and back out, encouraging a steady, intentional walk. “The labyrinth offers a quiet way to pause, pray, and listen for the presence of God in the stillness,” Madsen said. Modeled after the 11-circuit design at Chartres Cathedral, the Borrego Springs labyrinth sits in a peaceful desert setting that naturally invites stillness and reflection. Participants walked for many reasons, including seeking calm, releasing burdens, or simply taking a break from the pace of daily life. “In the desert quiet, the labyrinth becomes a place to release burdens, center the heart, and return to the world with peace,” Madsen said. World Labyrinth Day is observed globally each year, bringing people together through a shared act of walking with intention. In Borrego Springs, the day offered a simple but meaningful opportunity to connect, reflect, and step into stillness.

Borrego Ministers Association Receives $35,000 BVEF Grant