Lay Servant Ministries: Leading Worship

Lay Servants who have completed the Basic Course are invited to participate in this four-week class on leading worship, led by Rev. Dr. Desi Larson, from November 1-22, 2025. The class will be held on Zoom on Saturdays from 9:00-11:30am. This class is worth 1 CEU and counts toward either Lay Servant or Lay Speaker Certification. It is also a prerequisite for Certified Lay Minister Modules.

Using Hoyt Hickman’s book, Worshiping with United Methodists, this course will help students understand the basic pattern of United Methodist worship within the broader context of Christian worship. Drawing upon five basic principles, the author explains the formative nature of worship and how it can revitalize persons’ lives.

The Rev. Dr. Desi Larson is a member of the Oregon-Idaho Conference, currently serving as Pastor of Trinity UMC in Sequim, WA. Prior to moving to the western US in 2016, Desi was a member of the New England Conference and served as Pastor of several churches in Maine. Desi holds a BA degree in English and Visual Arts from Waynesburg College in Pennsylvania and a Master of Divinity from Boston University in Massachusetts. Being a life-long learner, Pastor Desi also received MS and Ph.D. degrees in Adult Education from Cornell University in New York.

DATES: November 1, 8, 15, and 22

TIME: Saturdays, 9:00-11:30am PST    

WHERE: Zoom (Link will be sent with registration confirmation) 

FEE:  the cost of the book — Worshiping with United Methodists by Hoyt Hickman ($13.99 at Cokesbury, or $20.99 at Amazon; ISBN 13: 9780687335268)

Participant Requirements: Must have completed the Basic course. Each participant must have a book, read it prior to the first session, complete assignments, and be fully engaged in all 4 sessions with audio and video capability active. The registration deadline is October 20.

Contact Rev Sheila Miranda, smiranda@pnwumc.org, with questions or if you need assistance.

To register, please complete the form on our registration website.