We are pleased to welcome Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling as our pastor this September, 2024.

On Sunday September 1, the Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling will become the settled Pastor of The Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona. He was selected by the congregation following an extensive national search process of the United Church of Christ.  Following his first Worship Service, September 1, there will be a Welcome Coffee Hour hosted by members of the Transition Team.  On September 8, The Church will host a Welcome Celebration Lunch for Pastor Guillermo and the members and friends of The Church of the Red Rocks.

Pastor Márquez-Sterling comes from the Pass-A-Grille Community Church in St. Petersburg, Florida since 2015 and previously Coral Gables Congregational Church in Coral Gables, Florida, 1999-2015.  For seven years he served the Miami-Dade Public Schools as a Middle School Math and English Teacher.

In his autobiographical description he shared, “I am passionate about integrating our faith into our daily lives, so that faith is not a rote tradition but rather a way of being. I am passionate about creativity as an instrument of the Holy Spirit to transform people’s lives and the community. I am passionate about extending God’s love to all people and about forming meaningful relationships that reflect that love.  I am passionate about interpreting scripture so that it is relevant and meaningful to every member of our community and the Church.  I am passionate about creating God’s peaceable kingdom by addressing the systemic injustices that keep people from living their lives with dignity.  I am passionate about enjoying all the abundant blessings in our lives and sharing them with the community and those we love.”

Márquez-Sterling has lived out his passions serving in the wider community, identifying “the ones that were a transformative experience:  Pinellas County Emergency Management Faith Team, Interfaith Tampa Bay, South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, Project Medishare in Haiti, and Episcopal Aids Ministry of Miami.”

He has authored several publications, “Praying for an Eclipse: A Trilogy” (Black Rose Writing, Castroville, TX); “The Easter Message and Modern Day Empires” (Huffington Post: www.huffingtonpost.com); and “The Rise of the Spiritual Activist” (Westbow Press, Bloomington, IN).

His education includes Doctorate of Ministry, Chicago Theological Seminary; Masters of Divinity, South Florida Center for Theological Studies; Masters of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in English, Florida International University.  He was ordained June 1, 1997 in the Florida Conference UCC.

Above all he is a devoted family man. He and Maria, his wife of 37 years, have three adult children, their 90-year-old mothers, an extended family, and group of friends in Florida. Maria is also an educator.

The Church of the Red Rocks of Sedona also serves families and friends in Camp Verde, Cornville, Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Flagstaff.

The Church of the Red Rocks affirms all are welcome, “Whoever you are, or wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”  Come, join us for this wonderful new beginning in the life of The Church of the Red Rocks and Pastor Guillermo Márquez-Sterling.  The Church of the Red Rocks meets weekly for worship at 9:30am at 54 Bowstring Drive.