As we step into 2026, the Christian Church in the Southwest invites you to walk through a year of gatherings, camps, trainings, and assemblies. These aren’t just dates on a page — they are invitations into community, learning, and shared renewal.

Bookmark this guide and share it with your congregation. Dates will be updated on https://www.ccsw.org/events. Many events have online or hybrid options.

When I preached most Sundays, the Fourth of July weekend always presented a challenge. I love the United States, and Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. Most years, I spend it in Canyon, Texas—a town with a vibrant parade, a festival in the square, and a fireworks show that lights up the sky.

I love what Independence Day stands for. I’m stirred by the familiar words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...”*