Rev. Dr. Amanda J. Burr

Dr. Burr is a graduate of the Claremont School of Theology. She earned her Master of Divinity Degree there in 1983 and her Doctor of Ministry degree in 1987.  Rev. Amanda was ordained on October 30th 1983 at the First Christian Church of Pasadena. She has served as the sole pastor of several congregations: The First Christian Church of Reseda, The First Christian Church of Hemet, and Interim Pastor at both the Indio and Palm Springs United Methodist Churches.  Appointed to the Winchester Community United Methodist Church in July 2006 Dr. Burr accepted a permanent appointment to the Palm Springs congregation in July of 2007.  Until moving to the desert Rev. Amanda lived in Hemet for 11 years and was actively involved in the community on the Board of Directors of the Ramona Hillside Players and a member of the Hemet United Methodist church. She has receive 8 awards from the Inland Theatre League for acting and set design.  Rev. Amanda is a graduate of Columbia University where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She served in the Peace Corps in Colombia, South America from 1972-1974 and remains fluent in Spanish.

OUR BEGINNINGS IN THE TEMPLE

The very first meeting of the congregation of the United Methodist Church of Palm Springs took place at Weifel’s Mortuary in September of 1962. After that initial service the congregation moved to Temple Isaiah in downtown Palm Springs. Since the Temple wasn’t in use on Sunday mornings the Methodists were invited to use the sanctuary for worship. They worshiped at Temple Isaiah from 1962 to 1965 rent free. During that time the church built a strong bond with the Jewish community in Palm Springs. The first service in this sanctuary took place just three years later in September 1965. A plaque commemorating our three year relationship with Temple Isaiah adorns the wall in the Narthex and another hangs on the wall in the Narthex of the Temple.

The cast metal cross standing tall in the reflecting pool was created by J.B. Thompson in 1965 and the stained glass window that adorns the front of the sanctuary was created by Jos Maes stained glass in Laguna Beach.

The United Methodist Church of Palm Springs was the first church in the area to be involved with social concerns. As a matter of fact Ceasar Chavez negotiated the grape worker’s contract in the minister’s office. Caesar’s guard dog kept watch just outside the pastor’s office door.

Our goal as a congregation is to live out our mission growing in faith and finding ways to reach out to our community as people of Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors. We are the people of the United Methodist Church.