is now retired, by her own choice, at age 65. So, the first question went something like this, "So, how are you enjoying your retirement?" The unexpected answer, "I don't know. I haven't even had a chance to miss going to work yet. My week started out at 6 a.m. Monday morning, with someone banging on my door. I had to get out of bed to see who it was, and it was three of my friends from the Eagles. They're standing on my doorstep, wanting to take me out to breakfast. So the first thing I had to do was get dressed and go with them to the Carousel. And that was the first day." Norma and I talked between taking bites of our sandwiches at the Finicky Coyote. She started out as a specialty clerk working behind the camera counter. Norma would take the literature home to study at night so she could explain all those professional features that were a part and parcel of photographic equipment made available to Marines. She was promoted to supervisor of women's wear and then became the buyer, which led into a long career of buying products for the Exchange. She said she had bought everything in the store, at one time or another…"except for men's wear and electronics. I bought everything else." Norma was born and raised in the little, west Texas town of Wink. She enjoyed traveling with her Marine Corps husband, and in her duties as a buyer for the Exchange. She returned in 1966 to the little-known Marine Corps Base at Twentynine Palms, and started her career in earnest. She told me, "…But of all the places I traveled, I had never been in a place as cold as Chicago in the wintertime in my life. I just wasn't prepared." The most favorite part of her job was to buy toys, she told me. Toys and giftware. She said that "women were too hard to please…" when it came to clothing. She enjoyed traveling to New York and coming back with the really big toy of the season, such as the furby that could "reprogram" itself to talk to it's owner in terms they could relate to and understand. Norma's new job involves communication for Little Church of the Desert. She has been elected as an elder and assigned the task, to begin once she retired. It's like starting up a brand new job. She will let us know what the job is, once she has had time to take it home and study it, herself… Milton Merritt, a long-time retired Navy chaplain, still greets her as his "Number one Sunday School teacher." Norma started attending Little Church in the 1970's when her friend, Shirley McClay, told her the choir needed her voice. She stayed with the Little Church congregation because of the love of God she felt, and family fellowship she experienced. "That's the whole thing," she said, "is the love that we have for one another."
We really mean business!
See Bill and Dianne McGinn for grocery store certificates, available for sale after services on Sunday, during the coffee hour. A percentage of what you spend on groceries at Stater Brothers and Desert Ranch Markets go to help support Little School of the Desert with these certificates. Buy certificates and help support the Christian education mission for free! Lube Plus is another way to donate money to our mission. The stamped certificates are available at the church office, open weekdays from 0800 a.m. to 12 noon. Just ask for one from the church secretary, Charlene Locy. 
Bill and Dianne McGinn
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History of Little Church of the Desert
The church of the desert started within the hearts of men, pioneers who lived in Twentynine Palms during early years of the Twentieth Century. The historical narrative for Little Church of the Desert,compiled over the years by various members, began officially in 1929, with help of dedicated ministers."The Rev. George C. Butterworth came out and organized the church...
The Rev. William and May Carle came to take a homestead in Twentynine Palms, in hopes that her health might benefit from the desert climate. It was Pastor Carle's desire to bring the Word of God to the handful of fellow homesteaders. Though he was ordained Presbyterian minister,in an effort to meet the need of the entire community, he initiated non-denominational services at the little one-room schoolhouse, while Mrs. Carle taught Sunday School in various homes. The Carles moved to Lakecreek OR and services were discontinued for some time,except on special occasions as the first Easter sunrise service held in the early 30's, when a portable organ was annually carried to Trigg Hill,the home of Wallace and Muriel Trigg (East of Utal Trail, between Twentynine Palms Highway and Amboy Road.)
Mr.and Mrs.Burl Stonecipher,another homesteader and brother of Maude Martin,was a great influence in reviving religious activities,bringing Sunday School messages and organizing the younger generation in those early days. At first,they were meeting at the schoolhouse, and sometimes at the American Legion Clubhouse, which had been built in 1929.In 1931-32,the Rev.George Burkhart of Coachella came out and held services in the one-room elementary school.In 1950, his son, John Burkhart supplied our pulpit for the summer. No records were kept between 1932 and November of 1936. In a public meeting in September, Ralph Scheneider, president of Southwest Subdividers Ltd.,donated two large lots, located on the east side of Adobe Road between the old Post Office in the plaza area and Four Corners for a church edifice.Burl Stonecipher was elected Church Committee chairman, all being in agreement that this would be a community church, a nondenominational church. At subsequent meetings, other offers for church sites were tendered.
Meeting with architects, the committee had tentative plans drawn for a building 30 feet by 40 feet, with seating for 150 people. Articles of Incorporation were filed in October with the San Bernardino County Clerk by the directors and committee of the Twentynine Palms Interdenominational Church.On November 3,1935,Raymond Smith,son of homesteaders Bill and Thelma Smith,being the first white child born in Twentynine Palms,at four years of age turned the first shovel of dirt for ground breaking of the Twentynine Palms Interdenominational Church,with 100 citizens,friends and tourists looking on.
Many faithful people, civic-minded people and merchants, from as far away as Banning, philanthropic sources and friends of Twentynine Palms throughout Southern California and other parts of the country, as far away as Ohio, who seemed to look on our new community as a 'little sister',made contributions and pledges to the church building fund. The Desert Trail published names of contributors and promoted the effort with the slogan,'Help build Little Church on the Desert'. By February, building pledges and cash totaled $583.50.In March a tractor...began excavating the site. Beginning in May, Lincoln Stonecipher, another brother of Maude Martin, and dedicated to the eventual completion of the Interdenominational Church edifice, spent weeks traveling throughout Southern California, contacting merchants and businessmen to accept their donations and pledges.It was during that month he prevailed upon one generous gentleman to sponsor a half-hour radio program on station KMTR,Los Angeles. The Rev.Gerald B. Harvey, minister of education of the First Methodist Church in Los Angeles, spoke in behalf of what was being termed, "Little Church on the Desert." He requested donations and this brought a pleasant response, as most World War I veterans, upon receiving soldiers' bonus, rallied to the cause because they had chosen Twentynine Palms for their home. They realized the supreme value of a community building, consecrated to divine worship...It was through efforts of Lincoln Stonecipher, in October the Presbyterian National Missions Board first recognized the Twentynine Palms Interdenominational Church, and paved the way for the local church group to obtain financial aid. It was then the church became Presbyterian.
Mr. Williamson reported in the third year:'We had looked forward to this year of work with great enthusiasm. During the summer vacation many plans had evolved and we felt that with a better place to hold our services (the High School auditorium) and the evident enthusiasm of the young married people in the church we would accomplish much in Twentynine Palms. We arrived on the field the first week in September and had our initial service well planned -- special music, consisting of orchestral and vocal numbers, hymnbooks, a printed order of service and other details thoroughly worked out. Invitations were ready to mail to various organizations and we really expected to have a real soul-inspiring service. But-the very day that we were to put our announcement in the Village Newspaper and mail our invitations - we had a caller and something happened. Never in my life have I experienced so bitter an experience. "Dr. Williamson," said the caller, "I have come to tell you the school is no longer available for church services -the County is going to enforce State Law now in effect, that prohibits religious assemblies in school buildings." There was only one thing to do - get another place - but where? We did get a place-the dressing room of the bathhouse by the swimming pool at the Legion Grounds. It was small and inadequate, but we carried on 'til the church was finished."
Finally, a bid was accepted for construction of the church by a member of the Lion's Club in 1940. The sanctuary was built and equipped with donated hymnals, bells and an old pump organ. The first service was held in the present sanctuary on September 15, 1940.
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