HI, NICE
TO MEET YOU.

GOD'S WORK,

OUR HANDS

As we learn about each other, what emerges is a unique personality that is River of Hope. Sharing our stories and listening to others as they share theirs, shapes us as persons. The beautiful result: a caring and welcoming faith community like River of Hope!

OUR MISSION.

GATHER. A new faith community is an open invitation for people who have no church home to find a place of belonging. Those who have never been churched or who were disenfranchised from church are especially welcomed. We seek people of differing spiritual understandings and experience. You need not be Lutheran or even a professed Christian, for that matter, just a person who recognizes the need for a spiritual community and a willingness to offer yourself in shaping it.

LOVE. Central to our self-understanding as a new faith community is that we are called to love. Our motivation is simple: God loves us and having been loved and knowing what it is to be loved, we are compelled to love others.

SERVE. Love is a verb. It finds its deepest expression in action. We recognize within our faith community our own need and brokenness as human beings. We discover an affinity with all people when we acknowledge our common dependence upon others for help. We seek to be sensitive to the needs of the Palm Springs community and will do whatever we can to address those needs: issues surrounding poverty and homelessness; issues of equality and human rights; issues of human dignity and respect. God’s work, our hands.

OPENAFFIRMINGEMBRACING.

All people are loved by God and we are called to love one another. River Of Hope is a full inclusion faith community. Regardless of status, economic condition, or political affiliation, we celebrate all people of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expressions.

We intend to be more than open and affirming, we are embracing of all people, recognizing that within us all is the divine spark of the Creator. Each of us has gifts to share with one another. Diversity makes our community richer in spirit and kinder in heart. We seek equality for all and will strive to be an example of this within the Palm Springs community and beyond.

If you are a believer, a doubter, a seeker, or a non-believer looking for a community — you have a place here.

If you own, rent, or have nothing at all — you are welcome here.

If you are fully abled, disabled, or a person of differing abilities,

if you have regrets, fears, addictions, or afflictions — you have a place here.

All who are wise and all who are confused, all who have found love and all who have lost it, all who celebrate this welcome statement and all who fear it — are welcome here.

For these are just some of the things that make you who you are: the person God loves. Come as you are and be celebrated for who you are. The time is now. Your place is here.

AFFILIATION.

A Partner Community

River Of Hope is anchored in partnership with Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert. Shared resources, staffing, and spiritual encouragement fortify our efforts at a successful launch. www.hopepd.org

A Mission Congregation

We are part of the Pacifica Synod, a geographical area of our larger Lutheran church. Pacifica drives our efforts and guides the overall vision of our mission. www.Pacificasynod.org

A Congregation of the ELCA

We fall under the umbrella of the largest Lutheran family in the country, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, nearly 10,000 congregations across the 50 states, Caribbean and U.S. Virgin Islands. www.ELCA.org

MEET OUR
LAUNCH TEAM.

I'm Tim and I've been a pastor for 31 years. It's always been a vocational dream of mine to start a church from the very beginning. I have to say it's been one of the most beautiful and challenging experiences of my life! God's Spirit is at work among us, gathering a gifted group of folks who share a common passion to create a faith community that is radically inclusive and reflects the diversity of Palm Springs. I am grateful to all of them (especially the Launch Team) for their partnership in this work!

When I'm not up to my ears in the joy of church work, I love to spend time with family, including my two grandkiddos. I also enjoy hiking, pickleball, bowling, and hanging out at the pool or a local watering hole with friends. Living in PS is amazing --the beauty of the desert, the lovely people, the small "village-like" feel of this marvelous community. Let's have Koffi and talk more about how, together, we can shape a church!

I’m Kurt Kelley and I came to Palm Springs in 2018, via New York. However, I am a native born and bred Midwesterner (Iowa and then Nebraska). I have played the piano since childhood, taking lessons all through school. My family was very musical and also very involved in our church. At a young age, I started playing the organ at church and helping my grandmother with the choir. I sang all through high school and college and beyond. I have participated in nearly every aspect of music making imaginable, from solo piano, to church, to accompanying singers, to musical theater, conducting, choral singing, cabarets, regional theater, pit orchestras, rock bands and music education. The only thing I do not do is write music. Locally, in addition to my duties with ROH, I sing with the men’s group A Cabbello and teach music (band, choir, keyboards) at Painted Hills Middle School in Desert Hot Springs. I love hiking, playing pickle ball (new obsession), crossword puzzles, and spending quality time with my friends. I have a husband of 3+ years (we’ve been together for 19 years) and two senior sibling cats.

I got involved with Hope Palm Springs (now, River of Hope) in the early planning stages —spring of 2019. I met with Tim and he convinced me to join the team. I really enjoy our wonderful diverse and caring worship community, and I could not be happier living in Palm Springs. The desert is so incredibly beautiful!

Howdy! My name is Jim Wood… I go by “Jimmy”. Palm Springs has been my year round residence the past 18+ years. I was raised Presbyterian, but have participated in a variety of spiritual communities through the years. I’m a native of Michigan and have lived in Stockholm Sweden, Wiesbaden Germany, Dallas, San Francisco & Seattle. I was in San Francisco & Seattle for the horrors of the AIDS epidemic through the 80’s & early ’90’s and am myself a long term survivor of HIV/AIDS… nearly 40 years now. The long term effects of the disease & medications, both physical & emotional, have gradually taken a huge toll on my life. Losing my successful career in Medical Imaging Management in 1992 was but the 1st of what would be too many losses to enumerate. My interests & activities have included country-western dancing, writing, rigorous gym workouts, hiking, bowling, camping, spiritual endeavors, community organizing, intimate conversations with friends & in support groups, + a great love for dogs. These days, most of my interests have had to take a back seat to chronic pain, debilitation & way too many medical appointments. Treatment resistant clinical depression as part of a formal PTSD diagnosis has been my constant companion for quite a few years. Yet, I am very grateful to have found "new hope” at River of Hope, where I have been warmly embraced by so many in this incredibly loving faith community. My health issues limit my involvement, but I do enjoy serving on the community’s Launch Team in keeping with my background in community organizing, & I love feeling connected via the on line fellowship activities offered by River of Hope, attending in-person activities whenever I’m physically able to.

I’m Jeane. I’ve lived in Palm Springs for 30 years! It is a great place to live and raise children. I learned of River of Hope (formerly Hope Palm Springs) at a street fair just prior to COVID 19 arriving. I fit right in and love to serve with this wonderful community of believers.

I volunteer with an organization called SOS which gives marines from 29 Palms rides to and from the Palm Springs airport. I love to drive and travel around the US. I have 6 children who live all over the country and love to spend time with them. I have been enjoying the Spirit Hikes a member of the congregation has been organizing.

I’m Carl. I have lived in Palm Springs for 3 years. I grew up in Orange County and lived the last 7 years before moving to Palm Springs in Key West Florida. I am a happily retired trial attorney. However my passion, wherever I live, is Service. I attended Hope Palm Springs, now River of Hope, at its first official service on Easter 2018 after meeting Pastor Tim. I have been honored to have been able to serve on the Launch Team for most of the time since then.

I love to hike in the beautiful mountains surrounding our valley. I love to walk in the quiet of the pre-dawn city. I love to sing in Modern Men, The Coachella Valley Gay Men's Chorus, and I love to visit my 6 year old Granddaughter in Orange County. My hope is to expand our in person and on-line presence in this community and to honor our lord in doing so. ALL ARE WELCOME HERE!

Hi, my name is Erik Zellers. At 21ish, I escaped from the Missouri Synod Lutheran church with the help of a mysterious and handsome ballroom dance instructor and my trusty Mustang Mach I. In what seemed like no time at all, I was loving church, clapping on 2&4, swaying, singing in the gospel choir at MCC SF, now confident God loves me.

It was there I met my beloved, Matthew, carpooling to a church retreat. At the end of 2000, we moved to Palm Springs, and shortly later, I was forced onto disability by side effects of HIV. I've exchanged the drama of the office for the drama of caring for a parrot, three cats, a dog, and Matt. Matt and I have been with Hope Palm Springs, now River of Hope, from almost the very beginning. The director of the Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus introduced me to Tim, for which I am very grateful. Tim says we can shape the church, so I'm aiming for a hypercube, to blend my love of God with science. I'm currently working on our presence in the Pride Parade and Celebration.

Hi, I'm RickyB! As a native Kansan, I moved to the desert in the Fall of 2019 and soon began attending Hope Palm Springs, now River Of Hope. Loving the passion of our developing congregation, I joined the Launch Team in 2020. In addition to taking notes during meetings, I am leading the Worship team.

Formerly, I was the Choir Director/Accompanist at Our Savior's Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Topeka. In addition to my musical responsibilities, I also served on their Worship Committee, planning services and themes for the liturgical seasons.

I’m Brad. I’ve lived in Palm Springs for the last 16 years and love it here! I previously lived in Atlanta for 15 years, and before that, I grew up in Michigan. I have an IT background, primarily consulting in healthcare IT and working with clients nationwide for over 30 years. For the last 13 years, I’ve had my own business working with clients to establish project management standards and methodologies and in managing projects. My focus has been to stop the coast-to-coast travel and focus on clients both in Southern California and the Bay Area. I’m now “semi-retired” and am very active in my free time: hiking, walking around the neighborhoods in Palm Springs, daily workouts at the gym, and playing pickleball. I’ve made a large group of friends over the years here in Palm Springs and we enjoy getting together for happy hour every Friday and for Holiday parties and cookouts. Palm Springs truly is a wonderful place to live!

I first discovered River of Hope (Hope Palm Springs) while attending service at Hope Lutheran in Palm Desert in December 2018. Pastor Tim was introduced one Sunday, and I immediately made contact and offered to help start a church. I joined the Launch Team and accepted the responsibility of collecting the offering and doing the bookkeeping and monthly reporting. I started attending the Tuesday morning (breakfast) bible study from the beginning and look forward to learning something every week. The current topic comparing Judaism, Islam, and Christianity has been enlightening. I feel much closer to my Jewish and Muslim friends knowing how much we have in common in our faith. River of Hope truly is a unique and special faith community.